One of the perks of working in the heritage sector is getting to go to conference and shows and this month our Collections and Exhibitions team went to London for the Museums and Heritage show. We thought it might be interesting to share what we did while we were away.
Day one of the Conference
Arriving in London, we faced a choice: brave the Underground on a warm day or cut through Hyde Park to reach Olympia. The gorgeous weather swayed us toward the park, but as soon as we stepped in, we were both immediately consumed by sneezing, wheezing, and streaming eyes, all thanks to hayfever.
We finally made it to Olympia, and after initially joining the wrong conference line (of course!), we eventually found our show. We checked in and received a map and a small box on a lanyard with headphones. The conference featured multiple stages where speakers gave talks, with the audio transmitted to our boxes so we could hear over the crowds. They also recorded all the talks, so if we missed anything, we could catch up online later.
We spent the morning at the conference, enjoying an interesting selection of talks and Browse the stalls. Afterward, we headed back to Hyde Park for some food before making our way to the Science Museum. We hoped to find some inspiration there for our future displays and gallery fittings.
The Science Museum had some really great interactives and the ground floor displays gave us lots of ideas for future gallery changes. We also went on to prove that we can find a loom anywhere as we came across this lovely Jacquard loom on the ground floor!
Conference Day Two
It was a long first day so we were glad for the comfy beds in the hotel. We still set off bright and early the next day as there were lots more to do at the conference. After the morning talks were over, we geared up for another afternoon visiting other museums and galleries. We had a lot to look at and not a lot of time! First we headed over to the Young V&A and we were so impressed by what they did with such a relatively small space. Late in 2023 we received a grant that allowed us to create a separate gallery space on our Upper Gallery. We use this space for exhibitions our young visitors curate or inspire. We really wanted to understand how best to create displays that spark children’s interest in history and culture. The museum laid out the cases well and offered excellent explanations. We gained some truly simple but effective ideas we’re eager to try. We recommend a visit if you’re in the area, even if you don’t have children with you!
London Mithraeum an Tate Modern
After this visit we went to the London Mithraeum and the current installation in their Bloomberg Space. As soon as we learned the theme for this installation we knew we had to visit. It ties in so well with our upcoming exhibition ‘The Sheep Ate Up the Fairies’. ‘Drawing on the rich history of the Bloomberg site, home to the ruins of the Roman temple of Mithras, Jonathan Baldock’s 0.1% explores myths, legends, gods, rituals, and their influence on our lives. The British artist’s sculptural installations: formed from natural materials like hessian wool, clay, wood and metal, take influence from folklore and paganism.’ We found this installation to be beautiful and effective in the space. The Mithraeum itself was also an amazing display. The immersive experience within the temple itself is well worth a visit.
With not much time before our return train we popped in to the Tate Modern. We only managed a quick look at a few of their galleries. We got some inspiration for a new interactive/feedback activity from one of their gift shops of all places.
After a whirlwind tour, it was quickly over to Paddington to get our return train. It was two very packed days with lots of new ideas we can’t wait to put in to practice.
