About & Join

The Friends of the William Morris Gallery are a registered charity (No. 800513)

As a friend of The William Morris Gallery you will be invited to attend events all across the UK where you can meet people with similar interests, learn about Morris and the Arts & Crafts Movement and at the same time, your membership fee helps support the gallery and the events that the Friends arrange.

In summary, as a member of the Friends, you will enjoy the following:

  • Our quarterly newsletter
  • Private views of gallery exhibitions, with special introductory talks
  • Lectures at the gallery by leading authorities on Morris and related topics
  • Visits to houses, and other historic buildings connected with or decorated by Morris and his associates
  • Social events including annual parties at Christmas and in celebration of Morris’s birthday

Membership fees

  • Adult single (over 18) within UK: £8.00, overseas: £12.00
  • Family membership (2 people at the same address or parents + any children under 18 on 1st April) within UK: £12.00. overseas: £16.00
  • Youth membership (14-17) UK only: £2.00
  • Concessionary membership within UK: £4.00 (over 60 and full-time student) overseas: £8.00
  • Corporate membership within UK: £25.00 minimum, overseas: £30.00 minimum
  • Voluntary additional donations are always welcomed.

To become a member please download and print this PDF application form or send an email to Jennifer Davies.

Current Committee

  • Bill Measure, Chair
  • David Brangwyn,Vice-Chair
  • Helen Dunstan- Smith, Secretary
  • John Philpott, Treasurer
  • Jennifer Davies, Membership Secretary
  • Pat Stannard, Minutes Secretary
  • Martin Adams
  • Fay Crowder
  • Katherine Green
  • Roger Huddle

Background

The Friends group was set up in 1987 against the backdrop of a threat to close the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow.

That was the year in which the Government ordered local authorities to reduce expenditure and the London Borough of Waltham Forest  proposed shutting the gallery to make a twenty per cent cut in the libraries and arts budget.

Local residents and admirers of Morris and the Arts & Crafts movement in Britain and throughout the world protested through the international media.  The council backed down but insisted on a reduced budget.

The Friends sprang again into the global spotlight in 2007 when they campaigned  to save the gallery in the face of renewed local authority cuts to the service.

In the years between, and since the 2007 battle, the Friends have not been idle. As a registered charity, we have publicised the gallery and raised over £100,000 towards its collection purchase and display funds. 

At a time of reduced public spending in the arts, the contribution of the Friends is invaluable.  By becoming a member you will be helping to maintain the high standards of this unique museum.