Discover the radical vision for the future that lies behind the pioneering decorative designs and romantic storytelling of British designer and activist William Morris and the Pre-Raphaelite artists. 

Grappling with many of the issues we still face today, William Morris and his circle – including makers and designers such as Kate Faulkner and his daughter May Morris, and Pre-Raphaelites Edward Burne-Jones, Dante Gabriel Rossetti and Elizabeth Siddal – dared to imagine an alternative, fairer future with art for all. 

A Call to Art goes beyond the decorative motifs and medieval love stories, taking us deeper into their collective vision, collaborative action and shared belief in the power of art and beauty to bring about positive social change. Still faced with rampant industrialisation and the ongoing destruction of the natural world, can we too look to the past and reimagine a better future? 

Bringing together paintings, drawings, textiles, ceramics and more, including rarely seen examples from our own collection, A Call to Art offers a fresh perspective on one of the world’s most influential thinkers on art, craft and design. 

‘A Call to Art’ is generously funded by The Arah Foundation, the Marlay Group, the Albert Dawson Educational Trust, a donation in memory of Arnold Stern, the Tavolozza Foundation, Shawn M Donnelley and Christopher M Kelly, Christian Levett and the FAMM Museum, and the Charlotte Bonham-Carter Charitable Trust, alongside our other supporters, including anonymous donors. The accompanying catalogue is supported by Carol Atack and Alex van Someren.