School Groups Offered Previews To Goldman Sachs Sponsored Pablo Picasso Exhibition at National Portrait Gallery

Pupils from six schools across London will be given an exclusive free preview to a major exhibition of portraits by Pablo Picasso before it opens to the public at the National Portrait Gallery next week.  The Schools Preview of Picasso Portraits, which is sponsored by Goldman Sachs, and in association with the Museu Picasso, Barcelona, is the first time the Gallery has organised exclusive pre-exhibition access for school groups. The Preview gives teachers and pupils the opportunity to explore the exhibition, draw directly from works and respond to themes through a range of facilitated discussions and activities.

A variety of events and resources form part of a Picasso-inspired programme of education and public programme activities supported by Goldman Sachs. In another first-time initiative, members of the Gallery's Youth Forum, along with Gallery Learning staff, visited Barcelona in September to develop two short films to inspire other young people aged 14-21 around the exhibition. Working closely with staff from the Museu Picasso, the two short films will give a youth perspective to the artist's life, social circle and early career in Barcelona, through footage on the streets and through exclusive access to the Museu.

Goldman Sachs has also funded a full programme of public talks including ticketed events with Picasso's granddaughter, Diana Widmaier Picasso, Simon Schama and the artist's last muse, Sylvette David.

Liz Smith, Director of Participation and Learning, National Portrait Gallery, London, said: “The generous support by Goldman Sachs of the Learning programme has enabled the Gallery to develop a range of 'experimental firsts' in its activities for schools, families and young people. We are incredibly grateful to Goldman Sachs for the confidence they have shown in the development of this programme. Without their support the realisation of our ambition would not have been possible.”

Michelle Pinggera, Partner, Goldman Sachs says: 'We are extremely proud to partner with the National Portrait Gallery to bring this fascinating exhibition to London. Goldman Sachs has a long history of supporting arts and culture in the UK and through our sponsorship, we are very pleased to be able to support the Gallery's wider access and learning programme linked to this exhibition.'

In addition to supporting a wide ranging learning programme linked to the exhibition, Goldman Sachs is enabling the Gallery to introduce for the first time a special ticket offer, whereby every Friday morning throughout the run of Picasso Portraits, the first 100 tickets will be £5.