Friends of Bushey Museum

The Friends of Bushey Museum is a UK-based nonprofit organization with the registered charity number 1039713. It operates in support of Bushey Museum and Art Gallery, located in Bushey, Hertfordshire. The Friends group plays a significant role in the museum's community engagement and fundraising efforts, helping to preserve and promote the area's local history and artistic heritage.

Purpose and Activities

Founded to support Bushey Museum, the Friends of Bushey Museum functions as a large volunteer and membership organization with over 800 members, making it one of the largest and most successful friends groups for a museum in the country. Its activities include organizing fundraising events, educational meetings, and cultural programs, which help to enhance the museum’s offerings and facilities.

Relationship to Bushey Museum and Art Gallery

Bushey Museum and Art Gallery is renowned for its extensive collection focusing on the artistic and social history of Bushey. The museum holds the largest art collection in Hertfordshire, spanning over two centuries, with particular emphasis on the works of Sir Hubert von Herkomer and the Monro Circle of 19th-century artists, as well as paintings by Lucy Kemp-Welch. In addition to art, the museum showcases local social history, including Bushey’s wartime experiences, local manufacturing heritage such as Bushey Heath lustre pottery, and memorabilia such as items linked to the pop duo Wham!, who attended local schools.

The Friends of Bushey Museum supports the museum’s mission by helping to fund these collections and exhibitions, facilitating educational outreach, and organizing events that attract visitors and maintain community interest. Their support ensures the sustainability of the museum's programs and its historical archives, enriching public access to Bushey’s cultural legacy.

Significance

The Friends of Bushey Museum exemplify a robust community partnership model that bolsters a local museum’s role as a cultural and educational institution. Through their volunteer efforts and fundraising, they enable the museum to maintain its status as a key heritage venue in Hertfordshire, preserving distinctive local art and history for future generations.

Note: The article is based on the publicly available information regarding Friends of Bushey Museum and its association with Bushey Museum and Art Gallery as detailed in sources related to the museum’s history and operations.

[1] https://busheymuseum.org [2] https://artuk.org/visit/venues/bushey-museum-and-art-gallery-3581 [3] https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g1791615-d1742698-Reviews-Bushey_Museum_and_Art_Gallery-Bushey_Hertfordshire_England.html [4] https://www.hertsmere.gov.uk/parks-and-leisure/museums-and-theatres/bushey-museum-and-art-gallery [5] https://www.artfund.org/explore/museums-and-galleries/bushey-museum-and-art-gallery