The Harris Receives £25,000 Towards Alexander Frieze Conservation from Pilgrim Trust, Henry Moore Foundation and Friends of the Harris

The Harris Museum, Art Gallery and Library is pleased to announce successful awards totalling £25,000 from the Pilgrim Trust, Henry Moore Foundation and Friends of the Harris to support conservation and redisplay of the Alexander Frieze. This significant funding will play a crucial role in displaying the frieze for future visitors to The Harris following the current Harris Your Place project, aimed at reimagining The Harris for future generations.

The plaster frieze depicts classical hero, Alexander the Great, leading his army into the city of Babylon in 331 BC after defeating the Persian king. The original version of the frieze was made in 1812 by Danish neoclassical sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, with several copies made in his lifetime. The Harris’ version was brought to England in 1862 and was gifted to the Harris by the V&A in 1987. It has become a visitor favourite over the years and fits perfectly with the neo-classical design scheme of the building. The sheer scale and intricate details of this masterpiece present a substantial challenge for the conservator and specialist installation team involved in its preservation.

Conservation work being carried out by Mareva Conservation

The conservation project, from March 2025, will involve meticulous work to ensure the frieze is preserved for future visitors to enjoy. The funding will enable The Harris to address the complex needs of this significant piece, ensuring its structural stability and visual integrity.

Councillor Hindle, Cabinet Member for Culture and Arts at Preston City Council said: “We are delighted to receive this generous grant from the Pilgrim Trust, Henry Moore Foundation and Friends of the Harris. The Alexander Frieze is an important part of our collection, and this funding allows us to undertake vital conservation work to ensure it can be enjoyed by visitors for years to come.

“The Harris Your Place project is all about protecting our historic collections while making them more accessible, and this support is a significant step towards that goal.”

A section of the frieze

Pilgrim Trust, Director, Sue Bowers added: “We are delighted to support the conservation and redisplay of the Alexander Frieze with a £20,000 grant. It is a visitor favourite but now requires work form a specialist conservator to help stabilise and safeguard it for future generations to enjoy.”

Prof. Peter Lloyd ARE, Chair of Trustees for the Friends of The Harris, said: “The Friends of the Harris are proud to support the conservation of the Alexander Frieze, ensuring that people in Preston and beyond can continue to enjoy and be inspired by this remarkable piece of our shared heritage.”

The Harris will provide regular updates on the progress of the conservation project through its website and social media channels. For more information on the Alexander Frieze conservation project and the Harris Your Place project, visit Harris Your Place.

Harris Your Place

Harris Your Place is a £16million project to restore and reimagine the Harris. When the new Harris opens in 2025, inventive blended displays will give access to remarkable collections. New spaces have been designed to activate curiosity, creativity and reflection and offer library services in enriched settings, positioning the Harris as a uniquely blended venue, true to its original purpose.  The new Harris aims to attract a further 100,000 visitors a year on top of the existing 350,000 and will be a real visitor destination for Preston and Lancashire.

Harris Your Place is made possible with support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund; Towns Fund; Preston City Council; Lancashire County Council; the Preston, South Ribble and Lancashire City Deal; DCMS; Arts Council England, public donations and a wide range of Trusts and Foundations.