British Association of Friends of Museums

BAFM MEMBERS NEWS - 6

Power from the Past
The Friends of Beamish

The wonderful ‘Power from the Past’ event again featured a great many members of the Friends of Beamish, who had a large input in helping the museum put on - in the words of the visitors - ‘a spectacular show.’ They were out in the Autumn sunshine dressed in all manner of strange costumes, doing strange things like riding ancient bicycles, including a genuine ‘penny farthing.’ Amongst the many special features emerging from the Friends’ workshop was a horse drawn road sweeper, which almost missed the great day. The new brush for the sweep arrived only the day before the pageant, but the volunteers rose to the challenge and had it fitted by mid-morning. The staff from the stables, who were as keen as the volunteers to see it operate, brought the horsepower.

‘Lion’ was happily harnessed between the shafts and it made a most successful first sweep. The trail of dust following in its wake demonstrated how well it was working. The volunteers are now working on the restoration of a matching water cart. Other attractions included a wonderful procession of beautifully restored vintage trams, some of which had once seen long and joy filled service along Blackpool’s famous Promenade. Another was the 1928 SOS Bus and the ‘vehicle’ returned to smart and eye catching condition, in time for its first outing, was a Victorian child’s pram. It was displayed by the thriving Youth Group and on the Friends’ Exhibition. It proved to be a very popular talking point.

The Friends are also involved with the museum’s thriving Youth Group, helping young volunteers to learn new and unusual skills such as clog dancing. A regular feature about the younger members is included in the quarterly magazine, in which they are also encouraged to submit contributions. Beamish has just completed an extensive programme of refurbishment in its main tearoom and visitor centre, including a new introductory exhibition. The coal fired fried fish shop, has proved extremely popular and further work to extend the ‘1913 Town area’ has just commenced. In the ‘1820s area’ the rebuilding of St Helen’s church, originally from Eston, is proceeding rapidly and the Friends have worked on this project by sorting slates for the roof.

[Spring 2012]

INTERNATIONALLY IMPORTANT PAINTING
THE HARRIS MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY

An internationally important painting featuring the mischievous character Puck, from Shakespeare’s play, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, has been saved for the Harris Museum and Art Gallery. The oil painting, by the notorious Victorian artist Richard Dadd, has been paid for by the Heritage Lottery Fund, The Art Fund, the Friends of the Harris Museum and Art Gallery and a bequest administered by Arts Council England. Puck is now on permanent display in the Fine Art Gallery. The painting already has a historic Preston link - it was originally bought in the late 1840s by Thomas Birchall, a wealthy Preston solicitor, around the time that he was Mayor of the town (1847-8). Sara Hilton, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund North West, commented, “For over 150 years Puck has played a part in Preston’s cultural landscape and whilst on loan, it has proved wonderful addition to the Harris Museum. We are delighted that with our assistance it will form part of the permanent collection, so that visitors from near and far can both enjoy and be inspired by Puck for many generations to come.” The painting has inspired a community garden and events at Grange Park in Preston, in cooperation with City Council’s Community Engagement team. The project includes the creation of a Midsummer Nights Dream garden, featuring flowers and themes from the play. The launch and opening party took place at the Grange Park, where the garden will be maintained by the Friends of Grange Park. Further activities will engage local audiences with Puck, and help them learn more about A Midsummer Night’s Dream and about the history of the area.

[Autumn 2011]

MILLENIUM TAPESTRY
THE FRIENDS OF THE KNUTSFORD HERITAGE CENTRE

April 2011 was the 10th Anniversary of the completion of Knutsford’s Millennium Tapestry. The project, started in 1997, was intended to be a single panel approximately 3.3m x 0.6m (10ft x 2ft). It was thought that it would easily be completed by the year 2000. However it grew and grew, involved over 3,000 people and now measures more than 12.2m (40ft) long. Consequently it was not finished until 2001, but the end result was well worth waiting for. The project was overseen by Sue Newhouse and a team of dedicated stitchers and embroiderers. The Heritage Centre is fortunate in that one of the original team is now a trustee. In February the Centre’s first in a series of lunchtime talks was by Jenny Saint, one of that first team of volunteers. Jenny gave some fascinating insights into how the tapestry was made. She also drew attention to how much the town has changed in the ten years. The tapestry can be seen in the Knutsford Heritage Centre.

FRIENDS SUPPORT NORTHERN SPIRIT
FRIENDS OF THE LAING

Friends of the Laing, who regularly work on the Welcome Desk at the Laing Art Gallery in Newcastle, watched with interest throughout the summer, as the ground floor of the gallery underwent a series of changes. The sound of the builders was heard, as the old Art on Tyneside gallery, so cutting edge in its display techniques in its day, was removed and the impressive original gallery space was revealed, with its elegant plaster decoration.

The Friends had made a contribution towards the development of the new gallery, and to the associated installation in the Marble Hall, by locally-born artist Paul Noble. Members of the Management Committee of the Friends were delighted to be given the opportunity to join a small group to have a private preview of the Gallery prior to the opening ceremony on 22nd October. Many more of the Friends attended later in the evening, to get a first look at their new gallery. We were not disappointed.

Northern Spirit, as the gallery is now called, showcases three hundred years of art from the north east. As well as representing the work of artists such as Thomas Bewick, John Martin, and Ralph Hedley, together with more recent artists who had links with the north east, such as L. S. Lowry, Richard Hamilton and Victor Pasmore, there are beautifully lit displays of the work of local craftsmen, who created the glass, silverware and ceramics for which the region became famous. Northern Spirit is divided into three sections, River and City, Artists’ Stories, and Artists and Communities.

The gallery was developed in partnership with the International Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies at Newcastle University. Researchers worked with local people to explore the relationship between art, place and identity, through producing photography, films and stories which are incorporated into the gallery on touch-screens. Three of the Friends told their own stories of the significance of art in their lives, and felt privileged to become part of the Laing’s permanent display.Returning again to the Friends’ Welcome Desk, it has been most rewarding to receive the enthusiastic, positive response of the general public to the new gallery.

ADOPT A PICTURE SCHEME
THE FRIENDS OF THE VICTORIA ART GALLERY

The Friends of the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath are registered as a charity and the Trustees/Committee support the gallery in a multitude of ways. Recent tasks include checking pictures on display in public rooms in Bath, accessioning and shelving data. They support the gallery’s ‘Adopt-a-Picture Scheme’; with the help of the public, local businesses and the Friends, its aim is progressively to work through the backlog of conservation of oils, water colours, prints, frames and artefacts - to bring them up to exhibition standard. To date, 60 pictures have been rescued. In 2010, thanks to a very generous bequest from the Haber family, the Friends have commissioned a set of showcases, costing over £20,000, which are enabling the gallery to display the fabulous collection of 500 18th century drinking glasses, Delft chargers and other treasures. The same family have given the gallery the picture by Paul Klee ‘Small Harbour Scene’, now on public display for the first time. It is one of only two works by Klee, in oil, in the country and the Klee Foundation knew of its existence but had no idea where it was! The events committee of the Friends organise a variety of lectures, visits, and parties and they are growing in number. The openings of exhibitions are always a buzz and the Friends become wine-bar tenders for those evenings.

MUSEUM RE-OPENS
THE FRIENDS OF THE ULSTER MUSEUM

The Ulster Museum was re-opened to the public in October 2009, eighty years to the day of its opening in 1929, and after a massive three-year development programme costing £17.2 million. The first substantial re-development for almost 40 years has fundamentally re-shaped the character of the major museum, noted for its rich collections of fine and applied art, archaeology, history, natural sciences and world cultures.

Visitors to the new museum are welcomed into a new 40 metre-high entrance atrium filled with light and glass and with steel walkways leading into the History, Science and Art zones, all at different levels. These zones have their own interactive discovery areas. In the Art Discovery Area badge-making and other decorations have been crafted by visiting children and adults, based on the special exhibition of works by the Irish artist, Sean Scully. His paintings are displayed in the adjacent suite of galleries.

The Nature and History Discovery Areas have been equally exciting for visitors. The eagerly awaited tower, ‘Window on our World’ highlights various exhibits from different eras and invites visitors to travel upwards from the High Cross at ground level to the Triceratops at the top, passing much else on the way. A new large restaurant to the left of the entrance has been created with a terrace leading onto the Botanic Gardens.

The Friends were privileged to tour the museum just prior to the official opening and the turnout was huge. After a celebratory lunch there were speeches in the atrium during which the Friends’ President, Lady Carswell, presented their donation of £55,000 to support the Art Discovery Area.

In the first month the Museum welcomed 100,000 visitors, whereas before it averaged 200,00 per annum. It was no surprise to the Friends to learn that their Museum had appeared on the long list of this year’s Art Fund Prize; they fervently hope it will progress further and reach the short list, at least.

OVERWHELMING RESPONSE
THE FRIENDS OF THE CARPET MUSEUM

The Friends of the Carpet Museum have had an overwhelmingly positive response to a carpet museum for Kidderminster. The public gained a preview of the museum at a recent weekend at Morrison’s supermarket, when local shoppers were invited to choose between three logos to represent the museum. The feedback was extremely positive and the survey team was overwhelmed by the public’s interest in the history of Kidderminster and the town’s carpet industry. Many families interviewed had connections with the industry and welcomed the opportunity to share stories with their children and with the rest of the world.