Appointments
The National Justice Museum has announced three new appointments as part of its National Lottery-funded Reframed project. Victoria Symes joins the Nottingham museum as Fundraising Partner, Eliza Gilbert has been appointed its full-time Volunteer Coordinator, and Iain Watson OBE and Catherine Hearne have been appointed as Evaluators of the project.
Gordon Morrison has been announced as the new CEO of the Association for Cultural Enterprises (ACE). Morrison is currently CEO of the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions, and will take up the new post in September 2023.
Openings
Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has announced that Linlithgow Palace will reopen on Saturday 10 June following renovations, allowing visitors to explore the site with over 2,000 years of history and the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots.
The home of famed garden designer, horticulturist and author Gertrude Jekyll has been purchased by the National Trust and will be opened up to visitors. The property was purchased as it came up for private sale, with the support of the government.
National Trust to open Surrey home of pioneering garden designer
Beamish is to open a series of replica 1950s buildings as part of its Remaking Beamish project. New semi-detached council houses from Red House in Sunderland, police houses and office from Leam Lane in Gateshead, and a bowling green and pavilion from Billingham will be revealed in the 1950s town area as it opens this week.
Exhibitions
Rare Spanish Armada maps are to be put on display for the first time in their history by the National Museum of the Royal Navy. The Armada Maps National Treasures exhibition will display ten maps which chart the defeat of the Spanish Armada in August 1588. The Armada Maps were first drawn in 1589 and are thought to be the earliest surviving representations of the campaign. Runs 24 June – 8 August 2023 at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year comes to Dorset in July, as photographs on loan from The Natural History Museum are exhibited at Dorset Museum, alongside an events programme featuring family activities, talks, and a photography workshop for adults. Runs 21 July – 29 October 2023.
Judges’ Lodgings Museum in Lancaster has opened a new exhibition looking at Black Lancastrians living in the area in the 1700s. The exhibition, officially opened by Turner Prize winning artist Lubaina Himid, includes a series of portraits by artist Lela Harris depicting historic individuals; Thomas Anson, Frances Elizabeth Johnson, John Chance, Isaac Rawlinson, ‘Ebo Boy’, Molly. The new artworks are shown alongside some of those who benefitted from slavery, including portraits from the museum collection by George Romney and Joseph Wright of Derby. Runs until 5 November 2023.
Summer 2023 sees the third iteration of the National Gallery’s Visits tour, this year seeing John Constable’s The Cornfield displayed in unusual and unexpected public spaces around England.Working with teams from arts charities, local museums, and community groups, the painting will be appearing in high streets and community spaces across June and July.
A new free exhibition, The Fashion Show: Everything But The Clothes, has opened at V&A Dundee. Curated by Iain R Webb, Professor of Fashion & Design at Kingston School of Art and respected fashion writer and editor, the majority of objects featured come from Webb’s personal archive. On display are Webb’s sketch books from the front row, invitations, personal notes and memorabilia from designers such as Christian Lacroix, Chanel, Dior, Vivienne Westwood, Versace and Yves Saint Laurent.
A major new art exhibition, exploring society’s relationship with food, has launched at the Eden Project in Cornwall. ‘Acts of Gathering’ includes pieces from artists Jonathan Baldock, Serge Attukwei Clottey, Jumana Manna, Maria Nepomuceno, Uriel Orlow, Nina Royle & Lucy Stein. Audio, sculptures, traditional masks and a harvest table are among objects on display. Runs
The 300th anniversary of a celebrated UK portrait artist is being marked in a new exhibition at The Box in Plymouth. ‘Reframing Reynolds: A Celebration’ will explore the life and legacy of the famous 18th century portrait artist, born in Plympton St Maurice, just outside Plymouth, in 1723. The exhibition will feature over 30 paintings from The Box’s permanent collection, significant national lenders and private collections, including Tate, The Woburn Abbey Collection, the National Trust, National Maritime Museum and The Barber Institute of Fine Arts. Runs 24 June – 29 October 2023.
Funding
Arts Council England has launched the second round of its Capital Investment Programme, through which it plans to invest up to £20 million to help cultural organisations adapt buildings, equipment and other assets. The programme will provide grants from £100,000 – £750,000 to help organisations operate safely post-Covid, improve access to their facilities, integrate new technology into their work, and reduce their environmental impact.
Arts Council England to invest £20m in second round of investment programme
