The Friends of the Harris Museum & Art Gallery in Preston are launching a £20,000 Guild 2012 Acquisitions Fund, providing cash for the Harris Museum to buy works of art for visitors to enjoy.

Excitement is building amongst supporters of the Harris Museum & Art Gallery as the date for nationwide arts fundraising challenge The Big Arts Give draws closer. Harris fans who donate will see their money doubled, at no extra cost –  but only if they donate online at the right time. They are the only Lancashire-based arts organisation, the only Friends group and the only North West-based Museum taking part in the challenge, which goes live on December 6th.

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The challenge is being supported by Arts & Business, which promotes individual giving to the arts and www.theBigGive.org, a website designed to help charities raise more money.

Chair of the Friends of the Harris, Greta Krypczyk-Oddy, said: “The last time we held a public donations campaign we raised over £6000 from the public which enabled us to generate another £204,000 in grants and purchase a portrait of Richard Arkwright by Joseph Wright, so your money really does go far.

“This time people who donate between 6^th and 10^th December through the Big Give website will have their donations doubled so they are worth twice as much to the museum and its visitors.

“We have already received £5000 worth of pledges so are well on the way to our £20,000 target. This is the Friends’ chosen project to celebrate Preston Guild 2012.”

The money will be used to purchase works across the art collections, including the painting Puck by Richard Dadd, which was a popular exhibit in the museum’s Enchanted Worlds exhibition last summer, studio pottery and digital art, all of which are important collecting areas for the Harris. New acquisitions enable the museum to expand its programme of exhibitions, interpretation, events and activities for visitors, including many for families and school groups.

Donations can be made from 10am on 6^th December by going to www.thebiggive.org.uk/donate/harrisfriends