The purpose of this organization shall be to encourage public interest, support, knowledge, and appreciation of the visual arts known as Sporting Art through membership, research, scholarship, and publications. The Friends of Sporting Art, formerly The Friends of British Sporting Art, will continue our support and participation in lectures and newsletters to promote engagement in the sporting community. The Friends of Sporting Art will provide links on our webpage to the following organizations: The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Paul Mellon Sporting Art Collection, Richmond, VA, The National Sporting Library and Museum, Middleburg, VA, The National Racing Museum, Saratoga, NY, The British Sporting Art Trust & National Horse Racing Museum, U.K., Yale Center for British Art founded by Paul Mellon and featuring part of his Sporting Art Collection, New Haven, CT.

The Friends of Sporting Art encourages public interest, support, knowledge, and appreciation of this field of art. In furtherance of this objective, the Friends will provide opportunities for viewing art exhibitions at public galleries and in private collections, as well as lectures on the subject. In order to provide background and to add to the understanding and appreciation of field sports,Friends of Sporting Art will plan trips to sporting events and sporting venues, such as thoroughbred breeding farms, horse races, sporting art auctions, and the Westminster Kennel Club Annual Dog Show in New York City.

Our past trips for members have included visiting Lexington, Kentucky to tour some of the area’s award winning thoroughbred breeding farms, touring the Kentucky Horse Park to learn the history of the development of the industry in the United States, viewing Andre’ Pater’s art exhibit at the Cross Gate Gallery, and other exhibitions at the Yale Center for British Art, the National Sporting Library and Museum, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, the Paul Mellon Collection of Sporting Art and lecture, New York City for Sporting Art auctions, Cross Gate Gallery/ Keeneland Sporting Art auction in Kentucky, and The Munnings House, Dedham, England.

Patricia St. Clair
President
757.566.9041
pattistc@cox.net