Amanda Croft Lecture Series: Age of Austerity

Age of Austerity: Art in Post-war Britain

The Festival of Britain and Coventry Cathedral are just two of the artistic, cultural highlights of the 1950s and 1960s that launched and showcased the careers of many young artists, architects and designers.

This series of illustrated talks will examine developments in painting, sculpture, architecture and design by local, national and international artists against the backdrop of the post-war shift from austerity to affluence in Britain and Ireland. We'll look at the work of artists and sculptors such as Graham Sutherland, John Piper, William Scott, Francis Bacon, Lucian Freud, Elisabeth Frink, Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore and F.E. McWilliam.

Slight price increase

Since we launched the Amanda Croft Lecture Series over a decade ago, we’ve been delighted to share so many engaging art history lectures each season – and your enthusiasm and support have been key to that. We’ve proudly kept the ticket price unchanged since the series began in 2010. To ensure we can keep delivering the high-quality experiences you value, we’ll be introducing a small price increase, effective from 4th September 2025. 

We know price increases are never easy to share. This is our first adjustment in 15 years and it’s only to allow us to continue offering inspiring, inclusive and educational art experiences for all.

We're so grateful to everyone who has joined us over the years and we look forward to welcoming you to many more lectures in the future.