1 August 2025 (past event)
- 14:00 to 15:00
Talk
Art and Diplomacy: Inside the Government Art Collection
Explore how the Government Art Collection has evolved since it's establishment in 1899, and the role it plays today.
- Date
- 1 August 2025
- Location
- Online
About this image
The Government Art Collection
Crown copyright
The Government Art Collection, established in 1899, is a national collection of British art spanning six centuries that is displayed in government buildings in the UK and in over 125 countries worldwide.
Each year, artworks from the Collection are seen by hundreds of thousands of visitors, promoting British art, history and culture, and contributing to cultural diplomacy.
Celebrating its 125th anniversary through 2025, the Collection actively seek ways to widen public engagement with its artworks through partnerships, exhibition loans, and by participating in national and international events.
Join Theo Weiss, the Government Art Collection’s Curator of Modern and Contemporary Art, to discover more about this unique collection.
Work by eight leading artists, offering their own takes on the Coronation’s significance to them and their communities, are on display at The National Archives in the free exhibition Happy & Glorious: Coronation Commissions from the Government Art Collection. Open from 2 May to 2 November.
Event details
This event has sold out.
Dates for this event
How to join online
What you need to join
This event will be live streamed on the website of our streaming service, Vimeo.
When you book, you will receive an email that includes the link you need to join the event. This link will also be shared with you in a reminder email in advance of the event.
- Vimeo provide guidance on How to watch a live event.
- You do not need a Vimeo account to join. If you do sign up for a Vimeo account, please be aware you may be asked to verify your age. You can find out more here: About age verification in the UK and EU
- You can join from your browser from a laptop or mobile device.
- For the best experience we recommend using either a laptop or desktop computer.
Help during the event
To access the live event, click on the link in the Eventbrite confirmation email you received when you booked the event. Vimeo will open in your web browser.
- If the live event hasn’t started at the advertised start time, please refresh your browser window and click the play button on the event again. If that doesn’t work, try closing the browser window and clicking the link in your confirmation email again.
- You can enable live subtitles by clicking on the ‘CC’ button at the bottom of the video player. ‘CC’ stands for ‘Closed Captions’.
- When you join the event, you may have to click on the sound icon at the bottom of the video to unmute the sound. If there is still no sound, please make sure that you have got your speakers turned up to full volume.
- If you have a query that has not been answered above, please email us at whatson@nationalarchives.gov.uk
Watch after the event
This talk will be available to watch after the event, using the same link you will receive to join it live. It will remain available for a limited period of 48 hours after the event has finished, unless otherwise stated.
