Research
Access to works in stores
As the gallery can display only a very small percentage of the collection at one time, it also offers good access to works in store. Access is arranged by appointment with the relevant curator. You don't have to be a specialist to use these facilities but curators do need to know what you would like to see. The more notice you can give the better, two weeks is usually sufficient. Normal access is Monday to Friday, 10am-5pm.
You can get an idea of what is in the collection from this site and from gallery publications. Curators can provide assistance with reading lists but will assume that general research has been done. Please see the Contact Us page for more information on how to get in touch. If you would like to ask specific questions on collections, please use the Enquiry Form. The Gallery also offers an opinions service if you would like staff to give an opinion on a work of art.
Study rooms
There are study rooms for Prints and Drawings, Textiles, and Wallpapers on the first floor. Mobile storage and plan chests enable easy access to collections in the study rooms and the Prints and Drawings and Textiles study rooms are spacious enough for group teaching. Further stores for the collections are in the lower ground floor.
The Prints and Drawings Study Room houses almost all the mounted and unmounted collections of fine art. Object files give access to correspondence and research information. Framed works are stored in three picture stores.
The Textile Study Room houses smaller objects. Larger textiles, such as rugs and rolls are stored in the Textile Store.
The Wallpaper Study Room houses flat and rolled wallpapers and some ephemera. Framed works and sample books are housed in the Wallpapers Store.
The Collections Catalogue is available online in the Prints and Drawings and Textiles Study Rooms. There is also access to wireless networking in these rooms.
The reference library, containing a wide range of publications relating to works in the collection and a significant collection of exhibition catalogues, is housed in the different study rooms.
Unfortunately, there is no lift access to the first floor and the stairs are demanding. If you wish to study material from these stores arrangements can be made to present the material in another fully accessible area of the gallery.
Stores
The Picture, Textile and Wallpaper Stores are located on the lower ground floor, which is accessible by lift. While these spaces can accommodate individual visitors, it is not usually possible to manage groups.