RESEARCH SHOWS 50% OF PARENTS BELIEVE ART GALLERIES AREN’T FAMILY FRIENDLY. AT CLARENDON, WE BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE, AND WE’RE LEADING THE WAY.
Clarendon Fine Art believes this perception is outdated and is on a mission to reposition galleries as welcoming, vibrant. In response to the findings, Clarendon Fine Art is inviting families across the UK to experience their local gallery, one that places creativity, play and inclusion at its heart.
The Subtle Art of Family campaign is a unique social experiment from Clarendon Fine Art which highlights both the individual and shared art tastes of UK families - reinforcing how almost any piece of art can increase familial bonds and bring happiness and even harmony.The campaign aims to demonstrate the transformative power of making art accessible and to dispel the narrative that art galleries are solely exclusive venues for adults.
Presented by Lauren Laverne, this engaging short film blends storytelling with thoughtful social experiment as it follows three families discovering art the Clarendon way. The film captures honest reactions, shifting tastes and the surprising ways in which art can bring people together; watch the stories unfold as our families share their responses to everything from their first gallery visit to living with their chosen pieces at home.
Our research revealed that many parents still feel unsure about bringing children into galleries, often expecting silence, formality or a sense of not quite belonging. At Clarendon, we’ve always championed a different experience: welcoming, vibrant and designed to be enjoyed together. The Subtle Art of Family shows how important the initial gallery experience can be as a catalyst for transformation. When our three participating households lived with art they’d chosen together, the impact went far beyond decoration, building confidence, encouraging interaction and reinforcing family bonds. Explore the insights and discover what happened next.
“When families choose art together, they build confidence, emotional literacy and shared identity — an everyday practice that supports belonging as surely as any mindfulness app or gratitude journal,”
Sara Hill, Chief Creative Officer, Clarendon Fine Art