LONDON.- The Art Fund, The UK's leading independent art charity, is hosting a series of exclusive talks entitled Art and Cities. Each talk is a must for anyone planning a city break, as they will provide unique cultural insights that can't be found in the guide books.

At each revealing talk a leading expert will inspire and inform about the chosen city – from Paris to St Petersburg, exposing the events and celebrities of the past that helped to shape the city’s culture today.

All talks will take place at the Wallace Collection in London and proceeds will go towards The Art Fund’s work enriching the public collections in museums and galleries across the UK.

PARIS: Paris in 1900: Thursday 23 October, 2.30pm, Patrick Bade, Senior Lecturer, Christie’s Education

ROTTERDAM OR AMSTERDAM: Vermeer and Delft: Weds 29 October, 2.30pm, Rebecca Lyons, Lecturer, Christies’ Education

BERLIN: Berlin in the 1920s: Weds 5 November, 2.30pm, Patrick Bade, Senior Lecturer, Christie’s Education

PRAGUE: Prague during the reign of Charles IV of Luxemburg: Thurs 13 November, 2.30pm, Professor Paul Crossley, The Courtauld Institute

ST PETERSBURG: St Petersburg and the Walpole Collection: Thurs 20 November, 2.30pm, writer and art historian Linda Bolton

MADRID: Goya and Madrid: Thurs 27 November, 2.30pm, Emeritus Professor Nigel Glendinning, Queen Mary University of London

FLORENCE: David and Florence in the 15th century: Thurs 11 December, 2.30pm, Actor, museums lecturer and TV presenter Richard Stemp

FLORENCE (STUDY VISIT): Thurs 4 December, 2.30pm, writer and art historian Linda Bolton

To book tickets please call 0870 050 3688. All talks are £10, and the Study Visit is £15. All the talks detailed take place at the Wallace Collection, Hertford House, Manchester Square, London W1U 3BN. The study visit will be held at The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London, WC2N 5DN. For more details on all the events listed, please visit www.artfund.org/events