On 21 January 2003 an open day for members of the Courtauld staff was held in the Prints and Drawings Study Room to encourage greater use of the collection. Joanna Selborne, Acting Curator of Prints and Drawings, gave an introductory talk on the nature of the collection and the use of the Study Room. Several of the finest works were on display and visitors were shown how to access MODES — the computer data base listing all 7,000 or so drawings — and the Object Files on individual works.

Caroline Lefley, the photographer responsible for digitizing the drawings collection, arranged an on-screen demonstration which revealed the high quality of the images and the potential for research and publicity purposes which this New Opportunities Fund project will enable. A number of teaching staff expressed an interest in bringing their students to visit the collection and several visitors have since been back — a pleasing indicator of the day’s success.

JOANNA SELBORNE — Acting Curator, Prints and Drawings