Communications Assistant Rachel Wade shares here experience of visiting York Art Gallery’s touring exhibition in Harrogate.

This month I visited the Mercer Art Gallery in Harrogate which since 25 October 2014 has been host to several of York Museums Trust’s most prized artworks as part of the touring Masterstrokes exhibition.

The works chosen for the exhibition reflect the diversity of our collections, including 15th century Italian paintings, 18th century portraits, household names such as Hogarth and Lowry, and personal favourites chosen by the Curatorial team.

Since the closure of York Art Gallery in 2013 for a major redevelopment project, these pieces have been able to reach new audiences as they have travelled across the region, starting at Scarborough Art Gallery in March 2014 before moving on to Cannon Hall in Barnsley in July 2014, and finally the Mercer Art Gallery in October 2014.

The Mercer Art Gallery have arranged the pieces from the exhibition alongside artworks from their own collection, making observations and comparisons between them which offer new perspectives of the works for visitors.

There is also the opportunity for children to engage with the works using picture books, art materials and interactive games.

Having spent literally hours looking at these artworks during my time as a Guide at York Art Gallery, it was really enjoyable to be ‘reunited’ with my favourites and to see them afresh.

I hope people will take the opportunity to see these special and much-loved pieces at their temporary home in Harrogate.