Charleston is a living time capsule; the only complete example of a Bloomsbury interior in the world. One hundred years ago, it became the country retreat of the Bloomsbury group, including the artists Vanessa Bell and Duncan Grant, who painted its walls, furniture and canvases with swirling motifs and innovative, modernist designs.
Thanks to the support of our donors, the project to help restore and conserve these painted surfaces to their former glory has been a success, and within 16 days of the closing date we reached our target. The funds raised will go towards the services of conservators specialising in furniture, wood, paintings and interiors to repair the very fabric of the house and its collection. We will now be able to restore the Kitchen, Library and Spare Room; all of which are in desperate need of conservation.
However, can you help us go a little further? If we can reach 120% by 1 September we will be able protect the newly restored surfaces for the future – with a state-of-the-art environmental control system which will monitor these magnificent paintings and preserve this magical bohemian home for years to come.
Help Charleston continue to inspire future generations. Without your help, the walls will crack, the paint will peel and the surfaces will crumble. Donate now and get a great reward, including tote bags, silk scarves, framed fragments of Charleston's wallpaper and the chance to see the completed restoration work at an exclusive unveiling event.
This project is now closed, having raised 130% of the target. Thanks for your support!
The Spare Room – an individual pattern
Vanessa Bell decorated the Spare Room that we can see today in the late 1930s, having initially whitewashed the walls when they first arrived at Charleston... Read moreKitchen – hand painted cupboard doors
Vanessa Bell hand-painted these beautiful cupboard doors in the 1950s... Read moreLife in Squares premieres tonight
The new three-part drama that features Charleston will be on tonight at 9pm on BBC 2... Read moreHave lunch with a true child of Charleston
Find out more about the fascinating Henrietta Garnett, Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell’s granddaughter – and donate for the chance to have lunch with her... Read moreFive things inspired by Charleston
As it continues to capture the public's imagination, we look at some of Charleston's most recent moments in the spotlight... Read moreHelp protect these precious surfaces further
With a little extra support we can make sure that Charleston is kept in the best of conditions for future generations... Read moreWe did it and a whole lot more!
Thanks to your help we've raised over £7,000 more than our target... Read moreWith thanks to...
Susan Reid
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Darren, Lewes
13 July 2015 - 13:27
Our first update to thank our first 60 donors! Thanks for all your lovely messages and your donations to date, please remember to share this wonderful act of support with your friends and family. Thank you!
Celia, WOKING
5 February 2016 - 17:01
I sent you a photo of myself to put into the Funders spot but it does not appear. Maybe I just wasn't pretty enough???!!!
Celia Clarke
9 February 2016 - 14:26
Hi Celia, we're very sorry that your photo is not showing up on the funders list. You can upload a photo to your artfund.org account by going to 'Edit profile' in your dashboard and uploading an image. If this does not work, please drop us a line: website@artfund.org.