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Media Release
COLUMBIA THREADNEEDLE SUPPORTS PRIMARY SCHOOL EXHIBITION
OPENING AT THE NATIONAL GALLERY THIS WEEK
Take One Picture showcases the work of school children from across the UK Exhibition details: 9 May - 11 August 2019, Sunley Room, The National Gallery Admission free
LONDON, 9 May 2019: As part of a three-year partnership, Columbia Threadneedle Investments and
Columbia Threadneedle Foundation are proud to support the National Gallery’s annual ‘Take One Picture’
learning programme and exhibition. The National Gallery selected An Experiment on a Bird in the Air
Pump (1768) by Joseph Wright ‘of Derby’ as the source of inspiration for the 2019 exhibition which opens
in London today.
Every year Take One Picture invites primary schools to focus on one of the National Gallery’s paintings
and to respond creatively to its themes, subject matter, historical context, or composition. Schools are
encouraged to use the focus painting to inspire cross-curricular work over the school year and submit their
work for consideration for the exhibition.
Joseph Wright’s painting depicts a travelling scientist demonstrating the formation of a vacuum by
withdrawing air from a flask containing a white cockatoo. The painting was chosen for the wide range of
subjects that are explored: the depiction of a scientific invention and its entertainment value, the human
drama happening in a night-time domestic setting, and the references to the Age of Enlightenment.
The bird will die if the demonstrator continues to deprive it of oxygen, and Wright (1734–1797) leaves us
in doubt as to whether the cockatoo will be reprieved. The painting reveals a wide range of individual
reactions, from the frightened children, the reflective philosopher, the excited interest of the youth on the
left, to the indifferent young lovers concerned only with each other. The figures are dramatically lit by a
single candle, while in the window the moon appears. On the table in front of the candle is a glass
containing a skull.
Alison Jefferis, Head of Corporate Affairs at Columbia Threadneedle Investments and Chair of
Columbia Threadneedle Foundation, said: “The rich variety of works presented in this year’s Take One
Picture exhibition attests to the strength of the programme - from a multicoloured fabric print of birdcages
to large paper wings with colour-coded feathers showing the different emotions linked to the painting, and
plans drawn for imaginative machines invented by the students. Take One Picture inspires teachers and
children to interpret the same painting in myriad different ways and encourages collaboration and
teamwork among students to deliver their best work. This is very much aligned to our way of working at
Columbia Threadneedle, and we are pleased to support the programme again this year.”
Dr Gabriele Finaldi, Director of the National Gallery, said: “Take One Picture is a highlight of the
National Gallery’s schools programme, inspiring children up and down the country to engage with
masterpieces from our collection. Motivated by cross-curricular learning, the children’s work displayed in
this exhibition shows just how much learning and creativity can come from taking just one picture. We are
grateful to Columbia Threadneedle Investments and Columbia Threadneedle Foundation for their ongoing
support of this wonderful programme.”
- ENDS - For media enquiries please contact: Laura Cook +44 20 7464 5650 [email protected]
Wendy Svirakova +44 (0)20 7464 5697 [email protected]
Notes to Editors About Take One Picture Launched in 1995, Take One Picture is the National Gallery’s countrywide scheme for primary schools. Each year the Gallery focuses on one painting from the collection to inspire cross-curricular work in primary classrooms. As part of a one-day Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course at the Gallery, teachers are given a print of a painting and a soundscape that the National Gallery has put together. The challenge is then for schools to use the image imaginatively in the classroom, both as a stimulus for artwork, and for work in more unexpected curriculum areas. Each year a display of work produced by schools based on the painting is shown at the National Gallery, and a selection is published on the National Gallery website. In order to be considered for the display, schools submit examples of how a whole class or school has used the picture in a cross-curricular way to the Gallery’s Education Department by a set date.
Further information about the programme, related CPD courses for teachers, and the annual Take One Picture exhibition at the National Gallery can be found at nationalgallery.org.uk/learning/teachers-and-schools About Joseph Wright ‘of Derby’ Joseph Wright was born in Derby, the son of a local lawyer. He trained with Thomas Hudson in London, before returning to Derby. Two of his most important patrons were Josiah Wedgwood, credited with the industrialisation of pottery, and Richard Arkwright, regarded as the creator of the factory system in the cotton industry. He painted landscapes, portraits and night scenes, as well as paintings with scientific and industrial 'subjects', but principally as investigations of dramatic lighting. Between 1773 and 1775 he was in Italy, then in Bath, returning in 1777 to Derby, where he died. About Columbia Threadneedle Foundation Columbia Threadneedle Foundation is committed to investing in the community through partnerships that create positive social impact. It focuses on charities that use education, art and sport to engender lasting social change. Common threads in its programmes and charity partners include the ability to build skills and confidence, challenge perspectives, and broaden horizons. About Columbia Threadneedle Investments Columbia Threadneedle Investments is a leading global asset manager that provides a broad range of actively managed investment strategies and solutions for individual, institutional and corporate clients around the world. With more than 2000 people including over 450 investment professionals based in North America, Europe and Asia, we manage £352bn of assets across developed and emerging market equities, fixed income, asset allocation solutions and alternatives. Our priority is the investment success of our clients. We know investors want strong and repeatable risk-adjusted returns and we aim to deliver this through an active and consistent investment approach that is team-based, risk-aware and performance-driven. Our investment teams around the world work together to uncover investment insights. By sharing knowledge across asset classes and geographies we generate richer perspectives on global, regional and local investment landscapes. The ability to exchange and debate investment ideas in a collaborative environment enriches our teams' investment processes to ensure the best insights are applied to portfolios. More importantly it results in better informed decisions for our clients. Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global asset management group of Ameriprise Financial, Inc. (NYSE:AMP), a leading US-based financial services provider. As part of Ameriprise, we are supported by a large and well-capitalised diversified financial services firm.
Source: Columbia Threadneedle Investments as at 31 March 2019 1 Source: Ameriprise Financial Q1 2019 earnings release.
www.columbiathreadneedle.com Past performance is not a guide to future performance. The value of investments and any income is not guaranteed and can go down as well as up and may be affected by exchange rate fluctuations. This means that an investor may not get back the amount invested. This material is for information only and does not constitute an offer or solicitation of an order to buy or sell any securities or other financial instruments, or to provide investment advice or services. Issued by Threadneedle Asset Management Limited. Registered in England and Wales, Registered No. 573204, Cannon Place, 78 Cannon Street, London EC4N 6AG, United Kingdom. Authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority. Columbia Threadneedle Investments is the global brand name of the Columbia and Threadneedle group of companies.
