ORATORS from some of America's leading museums and universities are to speak at the Bermuda National Gallery (BNG) as part of the PartnerRe Art Lecture Series.

The series features five lectures by distinguished speakers on a range of topics, all of which have art in common, and represents a reunion of sorts between the BNG and PartnerRe ? the reinsurance firm began sponsoring the series in 2002.

At that time however, it was known as the David McLaughlin Lecture Series, in honour of PartnerRe's former chairman who was a former president of Dartmouth College and a passionate supporter of the arts and education.

"We are delighted that PartnerRe is continuing to support this very important component of our education programme," said BNG director Laura Gorham. "As Bermuda's national art museum, we are committed to encouraging a broader and deeper understanding of the arts throughout our community.

"One of the most dynamic ways we can do this is to make available to the public lectures by notable figures in the art world so that they can share their specialised knowledge. PartnerRe's generous support makes it possible for us to invite a consistently high calibre of lecturer whom many of us would not normally get the opportunity to hear.

"For that we and the Bermuda arts community are very grateful to PartnerRe."

The first lecture takes place next Thursday. Entitled "The American Impressionists at Lyme", it will be given by Jeffrey Andersen, director of the Florence Griswold Museum in Old Lyme, Connecticut.

"Drawing from the Griswold Museum Collection as well as others, Mr. Andersen will illustrate the history of the Lyme School, an important centre of Impressionism in America," a BNG spokesperson said. "His lecture will portray their fascination with both the New England landscape and Bermuda and discuss their contribution to American Art."

The series continues March 3 with Lowery Stokes Sims, director of the Studio Museum in Harlem, who will lecture on Cuban avant garde artist Wifredo Lam (1923-1982).

March 24 and May 12 will see a return visit from popular past lecturers, Dr. Mary (Polly) Nooter Roberts and Ori Z. Soltes. Dr. Roberts, deputy director and chief curator of the UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History, curated the BNG's ground-breaking African exhibition in 1993. Author and curator Ori Soltes is Goldman Professorial Lecturer in Theology and Fine Arts at Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. and co-curated Inside & Out: House & Home at the BNG in 2003.

A fifth lecture is to be confirmed for November.

Said Celia Powell, head of corporate communications at PartnerRe: "We are thrilled to be involved with the Art Lecture Series again this coming season. Now in its third year, the increased interest in the material and attendance has made it an established component of the art community calendar, and the fusion of art and education aligns this series with PartnerRe's promise of a thoughtful and intelligent approach to our business. It is a great partnership."

The first lecture in the series, 'The American Impressionists at Lyme' by Jeffrey Andersen, will be held at the BNG on October 14. A 5.30 p.m. reception will be followed by the lecture at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $10; $5 for members. To reserve, telephone 295-9428. For more about the Florence Griswold Museum, visit