Pearl Patrons Circle

Named after Valerie Pearl, President of the College 1981 -1995 who did so much to grow the Collection, the Pearl Patrons Circle gives members the opportunity to get closer to the art, the artists and academics who support it.

Annual benefits

  • Invitations to Women’s Art Collection exhibition launches at Murray Edwards College (twice per year)
  • Private Preview with the President, and where possible, the artist/s, before the exhibition launch (twice per year)
  • Invitations to the public programme curated by The Women’s Art Collection including talks, tours and art performances, as well as offsite events and exhibitions (up to 10 events per year) [NB can include but does not guarantee tickets to Frieze]
  • Complimentary tickets to College-wide events and concerts (five per year)
  • Dinner at Formal Hall as part of Women’s Art Collection talks or events (twice per year)
  • Naming in the Murray Edwards College Roll of Benefactors in the Dolphin (annually)
  • Acknowledgement and naming in the Women’s Art Collection newsletter “With thanks to our Patrons”

Membership of the Pearl Patrons Circle is £5,000 per year, or £416 per month by direct debit. A three-year commitment to Patronship is reduced to £14,000, or £388 per month by direct debit.

Example Patrons Benefits for 2023

7 February

Best-selling author, broadcaster and art historian ‘Katy Hessel in conversation with Murray Edwards College President Dorothy Byrne’. Followed by Formal Hall dinner in the Dome at Murray Edwards College

2 March – 3 September

Radium Dreams exhibition celebrating Marie Curie, in collaboration with artist Eileen Cooper RA and poet Sue Hubbard at Murray Edwards College

2 March

Radium Dreams

  • Private Preview and Tea with the President (afternoon)
  • Launch event and drinks reception (early evening)

30 March

Cambridge Festival

  • Associate Curator Naomi Polonsky presenting research on the history of the Women’s Art Collection
  • Curator Harriet Loffler presenting on the founding artists of the Women’s Art Collection

June (tbc)

National Portrait Gallery collaboration with the Women’s Art Collection

22 September 2023– 14 January 2024

A Spirit Inside exhibition in collaboration with the Ingram Collection at the Lightbox in Woking featuring Dora Carrington, Paula Rego, Lubaina Himid among others. 22 September reserved for Patrons only.

20 October (tbc)

Private view for Patrons for A Spirit Inside exhibition. Further lunch for Patrons on a date to be determined.

November (tbc)

Performance by interdisciplinary artist to be confirmed at Murray Edwards College