The Collections Care gallery has opened in response to visitor feedback, offering access and insights into object conservation.
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The Bowes Museum in County Durham has opened a newly refurbished gallery space dedicated to showcasing the efforts and challenges of preserving the museum’s growing collection.
The Collections Care gallery has opened in response to visitor feedback which it said contains a desire for more “behind-the-scenes” access and insights into object conservation.
The new gallery, located on the museum’s second floor, features a selection of larger, rarely-seen items from the Designated collection, including furniture pieces and architectural fragments that were previously kept in storage.
Guests can observe curators and volunteers cleaning and conserving objects, and learn about the tools and techniques used to prepare items for future displays and exhibitions.
“As a charity, our visitors’ support through admission, membership, and donations is vital to
preserving the Designated collection, with around 19% of our income dedicated to the care of
these objects,” explained Vicky Sturrs, Director of Programming and Collections.
“The new gallery will greatly enhance access to the collection, making it more accessible for
visitors to discover, learn and connect with items on display.”
The project builds on the museum’s mission to improve public access to its Designated collection, following the success of the Curiosity Project launched in 2024. That initiative introduced four new gallery spaces and collections stores with input from over 100 community members.
With the addition of the new collections care gallery, over 10% of the museum’s collection of more than 58,000 objects are now accessible for public viewing. The museum hopes this will inspire visitors and provide new, engaging experiences.
Upcoming events in the space will include talks and live demonstrations on conservation and best practices for collections care and handling. Details can be found on the museum’s website.
The new collections care gallery is now open to the public at The Bowes Museum.
