The Bermuda National Gallery is celebrating after receiving ?one of the most important cultural gifts ever made to Bermuda?.

In what the BNG describes as ?a landmark bequest?, former Lantana Cottage Colony owners John and Nelga Young have donated their private collection of 68 paintings and sculptures to the gallery, along with ?a significant endowment that will provide for its ongoing care and upkeep?.

The collection, to be known as The John Hinson Young II and Nelga Young Collection, is the single largest private donation ever to the BNG.

And yesterday the Young family were honoured with lifetime memberships to the BNG, a level of membership that has never before been awarded.

Mrs. Young and other family members were on hand at a Press conference to announce the donation yesterday, although her husband was unable to attend the special event due to illness.

Their daughter, Penne Leseur, said: ?My parents shared a deep love of the arts which they in turn loved to share with others at the Lantana. It is my father?s greatest wish that his art collection should remain together in Bermuda for the enjoyment of all so we are delighted that a first-class national institution such as the BNG has agreed to accept this gift, which will ensure that it will be shared and enjoyed by future generations of Bermuda for many years to come.?

BNG chairman David White said: ?As custodians of the Island?s national art treasures, the Bermuda National Gallery is both proud and delighted to receive this generous bequest on behalf of the people of Bermuda. We consider the John and Nelga Young Collection to be not only a priceless addition to the national collection but the most significant cultural gift to date in Bermuda.?

The collection includes works from a variety of artists, including 14 Bermudians.

?It adds significantly to our Bermuda collection, including the works by John Kaufman, Stephen J. Card and Norman Black to come into the collection, together with two significant oils by Charles Lloyd Tucker. Other works are by S.W. Andrews, Desmond Fountain and Adolph Triedler. One of the finest pieces in the collection is a painting by an as yet unidentified artist of a Bermuda sailing regatta in 1882,? said BNG curator David Mitchell. Though specific locations have not yet been decided by the Corporation of Hamilton, the sculptures will later be part of an outdoor collection featured across the Island, a dream come true for Mr. Young, according to Mrs. Leseur.

The ?museum without walls? will start some time during the summer as the first sculptures will be placed within Hamilton. Later a city sculpture tour will be set up to attract both residents and visitors.