Museum Moves 12 – 18 April 2024

Appointments

Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums (TWAM) has appointed a new Commercial Manager to run its independent trading company, TWAM Enterprises Ltd. Hugh Stolliday joins the company from Ouseburn Farm where he was manager of the North East charity, and brings experience from roles in business development and marketing in the UK and Germany, including at the Natural History Museum in London.

Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums appoints new Commercial Manager

The Prime Minister has appointed Anna Eavis, Chief Executive of Oxford Preservation Trust, and Roisha Hughes, who works in public services in London and in national Government, as Trustees of the National Heritage Memorial Fund and The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Both have been appointed for a three year term which began in February.

Exhibitions

The story of the kimono is explored in a major exhibition opening at V&A Dundee next month. ‘Kimono: Kyoto to Catwalk’ traces the influence of the kimono from 17th century Japan to present-day couture. 17th and 18th century kimonos will be displayed alongside modern designs from Issey Miyake, Yohji Yamamoto, and Alexander McQueen. Runs 4 May 2024 – 5 January 2025.

This summer, an exhibition inspired by the poem The Star – more widely known as Twinkle Twinkle Little Star – opens at Firstsite in Colchester, the birthplace of its author Jane Taylor. ‘Lunar Lullabies’ will commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Essex writer’s passing with an “immersive playscape of imagination and discovery” featuring interactive space objects, immersive extraterrestrial landscapes, and robot sculptures. Runs 8 June – 6 October 2024.

Bailiffgate Museum & Gallery has a new exhibition opening next week for all ages. ‘The World of Childhood’ has been locally curated, and will provide visitors with an opportunity to engage in games, with a range of historical toys and examples of life at school on display as well as a range of childrens clothing. Runs 25th April – 8th Sept 2024.

A temporary exhibition at the National Army Museum in London has been extended until 1 September 2024. ‘Shakespeare and War’ draws on objects and records from the British Civil Wars to the present day, and explores how Shakespeare’s plays have shaped attitudes about soldiers and the Army. Among the displays is a 1942 radio recording of a programme originally broadcast by the BBC Overseas Services on Shakespeare’s birthday, during the nadir of the war for the British Empire.

A new exhibition at Lady Lever Art Gallery in Wirral, will present British landscape art, focusing on work by women artists. ‘Another View: Landscapes by Women Artists’ will showcase paintings by Elizabeth Campbell which have recently been acquired by National Museums Liverpool, entering a public collection for the first time.The exhibition includes around 40 works dating from the early 1800s to the 1980s. Runs 20 April to 18 August 2024.

Sculptures by Emma Rodgers and comedian Johnny Vegas are coming to the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool later this month. The St Helens-based comedian originally trained in art and ceramics at the University of Middlesex and during the COVID pandemic returned to the studio following a chance encounter with Wirral-based sculptor Emma Rodgers. Together, they have created new works inspired by the Walker’s collections, exploring the idea of ‘metamorphosis’. Metamorphosis will be on display at the Walker Art Gallery from 30 April 2024 – 31 March 2025.

‘Royal Portraits: A Century of Photography’,will chart the evolution of royal portrait photography from the 1920s to the present day at The King’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. More than 150 photographic prints, proofs and documents from the Royal Collection and the Royal Archives will be on display. The photographs presented in the exhibition will be vintage prints – the original works produced by the photographer, most of which have never been on public display. Runs 17 May – 6 October 2024.

Funding

Over £300,000 has been awarded in the second round of AIM’s Connected Communities programme. Funded by the DCMS Know Your Neighbourhood Fund, via Arts Council England, the scheme offers grants of £15,000 – £100,000 to museums delivering projects that will “improve community connections through high-quality volunteering opportunities and/or reduce loneliness and increase social bonds”. Recipients in the round are The National Museum of the Royal Navy , Ushaw Historic House and Gardens, Gawthorpe Textiles Collection, Museum of Cannock Chase, Sundrland Culture, and Signal Film and Media.