Museum Moves 26 July – 1 August 2024

Appointments

Yorks​​hire Sculpture Park (YSP) has announced the appointment of several new trustees to its Board. Among them, Helen Whitehouse OBE, Chief Operating Officer of the Natural History Museum; Alice Boff, Head of Development at Artangel, and Hannah Cork, Financial Advisor at SXSW London.

Openings and closures

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) has paused its plan to create an single archive facility for its collections.The organisation said “escalating costs” were to blame for the ‘Archive House’ project being put on hold.

Rising costs force Historic Environment Scotland to pause ‘Archive House’ project

Birmingham Museums Trust has revealed plans for the next phase in the phased reopening of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Several gallery spaces will welcome visitors again from Thursday, 24 October 2024, following the completion of essential maintenance work across the Council House complex.

Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery announces October 2024 reopening

The National Science and Media Museum in Bradford, closed since summer 2023 for extensive renovations, will reopen in January 2025, later than initially planned.

Exhibitions

A new full-length portrait of human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, painted by Sarah Jane Moon, is now on display in the National Portrait Gallery‘s ‘History Makers’ collection. The near life-size painting features bright, gestural marks and a rainbow tie, symbolizing Tatchell’s LGBTQ+ advocacy work. It is the first painted portrait of Tatchell and the first work by Moon to enter the Gallery’s Collection. Also announced this week is ‘Gloria’ (2023), a never-before-seen portrait of singer Sam Smith by Pierre et Gilles, on loan from the singer’s personal collection. The portrait will be displayed in the Gallery’s History Makers section.

A temporary exhibition at Cromford Mills in Derbyshire explores Florence Nightingale’s life and legacy, focusing on her childhood in the county, her nursing career during the Crimean War, and her work in healthcare reform and nursing education. Visitors can examine Nightingale’s complex character beyond the ‘Lady with the Lamp’ image, analysing her decisions and achievements. Runs until 3 November 2024.

The Beacon Museum in Whitehaven presents a new exhibition on the history of the seaside since the Victorian era, featuring an indoor beach, traditional games, and interactive elements. The exhibition covers changes in seaside recreation, from woollen bathing suits to bikinis, and includes photographic opportunities. ‘Seaside at The Beacon Museum’ runs until 13 October 2024.

At the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow, ‘William Morris & Art from the Islamic World’ will explore the influence of Islamic art on Morris. It will feature over 60 works, including Morris’s iconic designs and examples of Islamic textiles, ceramics, metalwork, and manuscripts from his personal collection. This exhibition will reveal the impact of these objects on Morris’s creative output and discuss the broader implications of categorising art from the Islamic world. Runs 9 November 2024 – 9 March 2025.

Funding

Significant funding has been awarded to several projects to support rare collections. The National Lottery Heritage Fund’s latest £7.6m round includes £2.7m for Wrexham’s ‘Museum of Two Halves’ project combining the Football Museum for Wales and new Wrexham Museum, and £3.4m for The Leach Pottery in St. Ives, Cornwall.

£7.6m rare museum collections fund to support ‘Museum of Two Halves’