2019 Preview: I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO…

As Christmas approaches, the arts and culture world prepares for 2019. Which events are hotly anticipated? We ask Lucy Worsley, Arts Society Lecturer Leslie Primo and our Chair, Julie Goldsmith, for their choices.

Lucy Worsley
Historian, author, curator and broadcaster

‘I literally can’t wait for 24 May, the culmination of years of work for me. The 200th anniversary of Queen Victoria’s birthdate will see the opening of our new exhibitions (yes, two!) at her birthplace, Kensington Palace. We’ve been busy scouring the world for exhibits, and have some particularly surprising costume items coming onto display, to tell the rich, sometimes dark, story of a woman and her empire.’ 

hrp.org.uk/kensington-palace; Lucy’s book Queen Victoria – Daughter, Wife, Mother, Widow is published by Hodder & Stoughton. hodder.co.uk

Image: Historic Royal Palaces/Bloomsbury/Ben Turner

Leslie Primo
Art historian and Arts Society Lecturer

‘There’s nothing like the buzz of Frieze Masters, held in October, along with its younger sibling, Frieze London. The Masters is about older, established art and artists across a period from Roman and Greek sculpture to Frank Auerbach. It affords a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see great art in the same place at the same time; art that may well disappear into private collections.’

frieze.com; primoartdiscoverytours.co.uk

Image: Courtesy Leslie Primo 

Julie Goldsmith
Chair, The Arts Society

‘Sorolla: Spanish Master of Light is the one for me. Since hearing Arts Society Lecturer Gail Turner’s talk on him in 2012, I have made hot pilgrimages across Madrid and Seville to delight in tender paintings of his family. His strength is light luminosity – how it dances on shimmering water, bathes beautiful faces and animates plants. Sensual, tender and captivating, and at last – long last – here in the UK.’

18 March–7 July; nationalgallery.org.uk

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