Exhibition of the Works 

As soon as was possible the works were displayed in the National Gallery in London. Although the paintings might not be overtly propagandist, they were very consciously used to give a boost to public morale through exhibitions.

Touring exhibitions were arranged so that galleries around the country could display the works. Between 1941 and 1944 exhibitions were sent to the USA, Canada, Mexico, the West Indies, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. One entire consignment of pictures was lost on the way to South America as the ship in which they were travelling was a victim of enemy action.

Throughout the war the National Gallery had an ongoing exhibition of war pictures, giving a huge and uninterrupted emphasis to contemporary art and artists in a way that had never happened before.

By the end of 1945 some 5,570 paintings had been produced under the scheme. The majority were given to galleries in this country and in the Commonwealth after those not already allocated to the Imperial War Museum and the British Council had been displayed at an exhibition at the Royal Academy.

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