Freda Matassa
Freda is a well-known expert on art collections management, launching her own art advisory company in 2006. Former Head of Collections Management at Tate and Registrar at the Royal Academy, she gained her first art collections experience in Philadelphia. As well as advising on the practical aspects of caring for art, she lectures internationally and is the author of ‘Museum Collections Management’, ‘Organizing Exhibitions’ and ‘Valuing your Collection.’
Working with both private and public collectors, she has held responsibility for the care and logistics of several significant collections, organised major international exhibitions and been at the forefront of strategy and policy for cultural collections. She advises on due diligence and immunity from seizure and is the UK Expert Representative on several European initiatives for art and culture.
Freda gained a Masters degree in art history from the University of Glasgow, followed by a Diploma in Education and in Art Profession Law and Ethics. She is a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an Associate of the Collections Trust.
Projects have included:
- Paolozzi Foundation – catalogued over 12,000 works of art and items from the artist’s studio.
- Royal College of Art – exhibition organiser for A Pefect Place to Grow: 175 Years of Royal College of Art
- Arts Council Norway – training programme on exhibitions and collections management for Norwegian museums, Trondheim
- Contemporary Art Society – Key Issues for Collectors of Contemporary Art; LAPADA – Caring for your Collection; Art Basel – Practical Issues for Buyers of Contemporary Art
- Art UK – cataloguer of all the paintings in public collections in Westminster; Oil Paintings in Public Ownership, The City of Westminster, Vols I-III, 2012–13; BBC Your Paintings website
Julia Toffolo
Former Deputy Director and Senior Registrar of the UK Government Art Collection, Julia Toffolo is an experienced art curator with over thirty years’ background in museums and galleries. She has extensive knowledge of museum collections management and curatorship. At the UK Government Art Collection she managed a collection of over 13,500 works of art in more than 400 buildings in London and around the world.
She created displays in high-level locations, including 10 Downing Street, Lancaster House and many British Embassies, using historical research to complement the historic architecture where relevant. She is the author of ‘The Lost Palace: The British Embassy in Berlin.’
Julia read history at Newnham College, Cambridge and is a graduate of Christie’s Fine Arts Course. She has the Diploma of the Museums Association, Foundation and Advanced Certificates in Art Law (Institute of Art Law) and is an alumna of the University of East Anglia Museums Leadership Programme.
Before working at the UK Government Art Collection, Julia gained experience in management and research of diverse social history collections at the Museum of the Order of St. John and at Sainsbury’s Archives.
Art display projects have included:
- UK Ambassador’s Residence, Vienna – new display of historic and contemporary works, 2006
- UK Ambassador’s Residence, Moscow – complete rehang of an historically significant building with new displays recreating the late 19th century interiors, 2010
- UK Ambassador’s Residence, Washington DC – ‘Print Hall’ of 118 prints inspired by 18th and early 19th century ‘print rooms’, incorporating contemporary art, 2012
- Lancaster House, London – rehang of historic Picture Gallery with over 80 paintings, echoing the 19th century display of the famous Sutherland collection, 2012