John Ruskin’s Bicentenary in Ruskin Park

Aim

Help us celebrate John Ruskin's bicentenary with a programme of free activities for everyone in Ruskin Park in 2019

John Ruskin (1819 - 1900) was one of the most progressive influencers on British culture and society today. The beautiful Ruskin Park, close to where he lived on Denmark Hill, was created in 1907 to perpetuate his memory and values. Today, hundreds of people enjoy the park every day but perhaps know little about its remarkable namesake. 

We are the Friends of Ruskin Park, a charity led by local people. We launched this appeal help us create a John Ruskin programme of engaging free activities for everyone in the park this summer and autumn, including:

• Guided walks
  
• Poetry workshops for local children and mental health service users led by artist Francesca Beard, leading to a performance at the Ruskin Park Summer Fete
  
• A talk on 'Why Ruskin Matters' by Suzanne Fagence Cooper
  
• An exhibition at the nearby Carnegie Library

Update: We are delighted to have been awarded a project grant from the Arts Council England to support all the planned activities. Donations made here will be used to cover any additional costs involved, or used for our plans to create a permanent John Ruskin trail in the park, which is out of the scope of Art Council funding.

John Ruskin believed in a fair and just society, the education of women, the ethics of work and alternatives to a profit-driven society.  He was an artist and art critic, writer, philanthropist and forthright social reformer.

This project successfully funded on 25th May 2019