IT’S COMING HOME – LS LOWRY’S GOING TO THE MATCH TO RETURN TO THE LOWRY NEXT FRIDAY

LS Lowry’s iconic painting Going to the Match is coming home – returning to public display at The Lowry, Salford, from Friday 25 November.

It follows the successful bid last month by The Lowry at the Modern British & Irish Art Sale at Christie’s in London, to buy LS Lowry’s Going to the Match for The Lowry Collection, thanks to the generous support of The Law Family Charitable Foundation.

This hugely important and much-loved work of art has been on public display in The Lowry’s galleries since it opened in 2000, on loan from the Professional Footballers’ Association.

Following their decision to sell Going to the Match, there were no guarantees that any future owners would share the commitment to keeping the work on public view and free to access.

However, The Lowry’s successful bid at Christie’s means the artwork has been secured for the city of Salford’s LS Lowry collection, and it will now be rehung at The Lowry, where it will be free to view.

The painting’s iconic status has been recognised and loved by visitors of all ages: those who love art, those who love football and those who celebrate this quintessentially Northern experience.

Julia Fawcett OBE, CEO of The Lowry, said: 

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“We passionately believed Going to the Match needed to remain on public view. Its safe return to our Galleries, thanks to the wonderfully generous gift from The Law Family Charitable Foundation, will be a huge moment for Salford, and we cannot wait to bring it home. We know visitors will be coming in large numbers in the coming months to view this iconic and much-loved work of art, and we can’t wait to welcome them. Again, I’d like to thank everyone who has helped achieve this fantastic outcome.”

Paul Dennett, Salford’s City Mayor, said: 

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“This painting was created in the north and belongs in the north and thanks entirely to the generosity of the Law family it is coming home to Salford where it should be.  It is so important to have this iconic piece of art on view to the public for generations to come and I will be delighted to welcome it back.”

Situated on the waterside, at the heart of Salford Quays, The Lowry is an award-winning venue housing two major theatres, extensive art galleries and a range of public spaces including cafes, bars, a restaurant and shop. The Quays is also home to MediaCityUK, which includes BBC North, ITV Studios and Imperial War Museum North.

The Lowry galleries are free to everyone and display the famous LS Lowry Collection, alongside a vibrant programme of special exhibitions. Bringing visual arts and performance together are central to The Lowry’s exhibition and engagement programmes.

The Lowry galleries are named The Andrew and Zoe Law Galleries in recognition of the couple’s £1m donation to the arts centre, which is a registered charity.