Last-minute Change for The Arts Society Ealing Event
Alan Read steps in to give talk about the Elgin Marbles
A section of the Elgin Marbles
July 27, 2026
The Arts Society Ealing has moved swiftly to reshape its programme for Monday evening (27 July) after the unexpected withdrawal of its scheduled lecturer, Marie-Anne Mancio, who had been due to present 250 Years of American Art in 25 Iconic Works.
In a stroke of good fortune, art historian and gallery lecturer Alan Read has stepped in at very short notice to deliver a completely different talk: The Elgin Marbles: A History of Meaning. Many regular visitors will remember Read’s well-received lecture last year on Dora Carrington, and the society says it is “extremely fortunate” to have secured him for Monday’s event.
Read’s lecture explores how the meaning of the Parthenon sculptures—removed from Athens by Lord Elgin in the early nineteenth century—has shifted over two centuries. He begins by examining the extraordinary artistry and architectural purpose of the original works before tracing the turbulent history of the Parthenon itself, Elgin’s controversial acquisition of the marbles, and their eventual sale to the British Museum. From treasured architectural fragments to fiercely contested cultural objects, the sculptures have accumulated layers of political, historical and emotional significance.
The talk promises an objective account of the restitution debate, a subject that is rarely far from the headlines. Read aims to equip audiences with the context needed to form their own view on the question that continues to divide opinion: should the marbles remain in London, or should they return to Athens?
Read brings extensive experience to the subject. He holds a master’s degree and a first-class honours degree in History of Art from Birkbeck College, University of London, and works as a gallery guide at Tate Britain, regularly lecturing at both London Tates. For two decades he guided visitors through the National Portrait Gallery and Dulwich Picture Gallery, and he also practises as a London Blue Badge Guide.
The lecture takes place at St Barnabas Church Hall, Pitshanger Lane, Ealing W5 1QG, on Monday 27 July, with doors opening at 6.45pm and the talk beginning at 7.30pm. Visitors are welcome at £10 per lecture (£3 for students), payable by card on the evening.
Ealing audiences will not have long to wait for another opportunity to explore the arts in depth. On Wednesday 12 August, The Arts Society Ealing hosts a Special Interest Morning titled The Brilliance of British Architecture, featuring two one-hour lectures by Ian Swankie on London’s skyline and the work of designer Thomas Heatherwick. The session runs from 10am to 1.15pm at St Barnabas, with tickets priced at £25 and advance booking required.
The Arts Society Ealing belongs to the large umbrella organisation, The Arts Society, previously known as the National Association of Decorative and Fine Arts Societies (NADFAS), which was founded in 1968. The local Society has a membership of around 140.
The Arts Society Ealing holds 10 lectures a year and more information can be found by visiting its web site.
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