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Chatsworth Embarks on a Sparkling Year
Chatsworth, the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, has launched its sparkling 2012 season (March 11 to December 23) revealing the restored and re-gilded exteriors of the much-loved south and west façades of the house.
The programme of events at the Chatsworth offers something new in every area of the estate with familiar favourites and new features lining up to delight all the family, from floral festivals, Easter fun, horse trials and outdoor summer concerts to the outstanding Country Fair and popular Christmas celebrations. Also on offer is an exciting array of half and full day experiences, spanning everything from farmyard discovery days for children, to textile tours and workshops.
Already the home of one of Europe’s most significant art collections, this year at Chatsworth will be full of delights for the art lover with two remarkable exhibitions opening in the house and garden this Spring. The specially created exhibition space, the New Gallery, will showcase an exhibition of modern British masterpieces from Frank and Cherryl Cohen’s art collection and an exhibition of sculpture by Sir Anthony Caro will be on display in the garden. From early July, rarely seen treasures from the extensive collection of Old Master drawings will be displayed for the first time at Chatsworth, with works by Rembrandt, Leonardo Da Vinci and Van Dyck.
2012 Event Highlights (March to May)
Bronze, Silver and Gold, North Sketch Gallery
March 11 to October
A glittering display of gold, silver and bronze items from the Devonshire Collection has been created to mark the Olympic year. Many important items from the collection, some of which have not been on public display for many years, have been brought together and include racing trophies and medals such as the Ascot Gold Cup of 1891, won by the racehorse Morion. In addition, paintings of champion dogs and horses will be displayed alongside bronze sculptures.
Modern British Masterpieces
March 19 to June 10
Modern British masterpieces from the private collection of pre-eminent art collectors Frank and Cherryl Cohen are going on public display for the first time. Described by curator Robert Upstone as ‘one of the finest and most definitive private collections of modern British art’ the exhibition will provide a journey through all the modern greats showcasing the different treatment of the figure and 50s and 60s abstraction with paintings by Stanley Spencer, LS Lowry, Frank Auerbach, Leon Kossoff, William Roberts, William Scott, Paula Rego and Edward Burra and sculptures by Kenneth Armitage, William Turnbull, Eduardo Paolozzi and Reg Butler.
Caro at Chatsworth
March 28 to July 1
Caro at Chatsworth is the first exhibition dedicated to the work of one artist to be held in the garden at Chatsworth. The exhibition will comprise of 15 sculptures by Sir Anthony Caro sited around the famous Emperor Fountain. It will provide a once in a lifetime chance to see the work of Britain’s greatest living sculptors in one of Britain’s most famous historic settings. All the sculptures in the exhibition have been lent by the artist and reflect his major concerns over the past four decades. Free with garden admission.
Easter at Chatsworth
March 31 to April 15
Easter at Chatsworth is packed with fun things for all the family including the popular Easter Egg Hunts in the Farmyard’s paddocks throughout the four days of the bank holiday weekend; Shire Horse and Dray rides in the garden; rides on the Chatsworth Eggspress and appearances from the Easter bunny! Trails, crafts, floral displays and trailer riders will run throughout the whole of the school holidays. A new Climbing Forest is also opening in the Adventure Playground at Easter for children aged six upwards and adults too. As well as lots of daily activities to get up close to the animals, the working farmyard offers a programme of discovery days for children and adults throughout the year including Young Farmer days, Pony Essentials, Keeping Pigs and Keeping Chickens.
Chatsworth Food & Drink Fair
April 21 & 22
The wonderful produce of the Peak District will be showcased at the Chatsworth Food and Drink Fair, with stalls lining Lodge Hill. Produce from the Chatsworth Farm Shop suppliers will be on offer as well as gourmet treats from further afield and a tasty selection of sweet and savoury dishes to enjoy on the day. There is no charge for the fair other than the car park fee of £3 per car.
Spring Blooms
May 4 to 8
A colourful celebration of all things floral, visitors will see the garden transformed with the tulip and spring flower celebration, in partnership with renowned bulb specialists de Jager. There will also be six stunning displays in the house, designed by resident florist Jonathan Moseley, showcasing spring flowers including narcissi, tulips, hyacinths and bulb flowers used creatively, with ideas for decorating your own home. On the 5-6 May, there will also be a Spring Plant Fair outside the Stables on Lodge Hill, with specialist nurseries offering a wide range of plants for sale.
International Horse Trials
May 11 to 13
Chatsworth provides a spectacular setting for the International Horse Trials, with the cross-country course winding around the beautiful park on the banks of the river Derwent. The horse trials, which has the Duchess of Devonshire as President, offers three days of world-class equestrian sport as well as a brilliant family outing. Alongside the main competition events of Dressage, Show Jumping and Cross Country, there is the chance to see the ‘stars’ of the future in the Dubarry Burghley Young Event Horse qualifiers. To complete a great day for all the family, there are all the popular favourites from the Pony Club mounted games, ferret facing, gundogs, Dressage demonstrations and birds of prey displays. Punch & Judy, Maypole dancing, face painting, the exciting simulator and children’s rides are on offer and plenty of shopping opportunities with 100 quality trade stands and two Craft marquees selling an amazing selection of country clothing, equestrian products, fashion accessories and delicious food. Advance tickets are priced from £13 adult and £4 for under 14s, under 5s go free. Weekend tickets are only available online, priced adult £22 and child £7.
Lionheart
May 1 to June 10
Leicestershire artist Shauna Richardson’s ‘Lionheart Project’ will make its first appearance at Chatsworth. Her three giant crocheted lions will be displayed in 16 metre long illuminated glass case in front of Chatsworth’s Bastion Wall for five weeks and will eventually arrive at the Natural History Museum in London in time for the 2012 Olympics. Shauna Richardson is an artist known for her realistic crochet animal creations, a body of work she calls ‘Crochetdermy’. Over the course of two years, Richardson has individually crocheted the three lions over nine metre long structures. Celebrating the rich textile heritage of the East Midlands, Richardson has used 36 miles of Swaledale wool from the Derbyshire Dales, to create an interpretation of the three golden lions on Richard the Lionheart’s coat of arms, a strong symbol of England.
A new Chatsworth Complete ticket has been introduced to give unlimited re-entry to the house, garden and farmyard throughout the day, plus a half price voucher valid against the purchase of another Chatsworth Complete ticket within six months.
House, garden, farmyard and adventure playground open on March 11 2012. For more information and ticketing options including a 10 percent discount for online booking, visit www.chatsworth.org
Source:Chatsworth Estate
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