TULLIE HOUSE MUSEUM AND ART GALLERY ANNUAL REVIEW 2013/2014 CONTENTS CONTENTS Introduction 3 SUMMARY OF THE YEAR Learning/engagement 4 Collections 5 Exhibitions 6 Partnerships, funders and awards 8 Engagement: at a glance 11 2 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery is Carlisle’s most popular tourist attraction, the largest museum service in Cumbria which plays an important role in sustaining, preserving and enhancing the cultural heritage of the region. 2013/14 was a successful year attracting 253,235 people to Tullie House. This was an increase of 11,235 people on the annual visit target of 242,000 and 15% more than on the previous year reflecting the attractive programme of exhibitions and activities. Our customer charter pledge is “to ensure our visitors are at the heart of everything we do”. Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery opened to the public in 1893 as a Museum, Library, and School of Art and Technology. The Grade I listed buildings and gardens are located in the centre of Carlisle’s Historic Quarter on a site steeped in Roman and medieval archaeology. The museum’s extensive collections and displays of fine and decorative art, archaeology, social history and natural sciences are complemented by a changing programme of temporary exhibitions and events. These are all aimed at educating, inspiring and entertaining local residents and visitors alike. Tullie House Museum is a Major Partner Museum supported by Arts Council England and is the lead partner in the Cumbria Museum Consortium. Our philosophy is summed up in the Trust Vision to “be one of the leading and most influential cultural institutions in Cumbria, providing a vibrant and proactive centre for heritage and the arts in Carlisle”. Our Arts Council Accredited Museum status gives confidence to visitors and sponsors that we manage our business and collections to nationally recognised standards. We hope you enjoy reading about our achievements throughout 2013/14. Hilary Wade Roger Cooke Director Chairman of Trustees 3 SUMMARY SUMMARY OF THE YEAR LEARNING/ENGAGEMENT Learning In the course of the 2013/14 academic year, the number of pre-school to 19 year olds who visited Tullie House on a formal education visit or session totalled 10,561. Our learning programme focused on working with key audiences including primary, engagement with young people, families and adults. The highlights included: Primary Volunteers In partnership with Carlisle Castle (English Volunteers are welcomed from all sections Heritage) the Trust ran a Tudor week with of the community: from students, those over 500 children attending. Over 170 between jobs, retired or part-time workers. children participated in the George Howard Giving them the opportunity to share their Transitional Schools Project in conjunction knowledge, develop new skills and meet with William Howard School. new people. During 2013/2014 over 2,535 volunteer hours were contributed by 47 Engagement with Young People dedicated volunteers. Following an introduction to fashion through the ages, a group of young people aged Digital Engagement between 14 and 18 worked with a textile In addition to the website the Trust uses artist to create their own outfits from various on line platforms to communicate recycled materials and developing a portfolio with its audiences and interaction is increasing for their Bronze Art Awards. As part of the on a daily basis. The use of social media such The Mechanical Circus exhibition a group as Twitter, Facebook and Instagram enables of young people engaged in creating and the trust to post engaging and stimulating installing their own automata. content about the museum, its collections, exhibitions and events. Families In May 2013 Museums at Night, as part of the Culture 24 campaign, focused on Roman Carlisle and Minecraft, targeting family visitors. In partnership with Carlisle City Council’s Pageant, Tullie House Trust organised a Summer Fair which attracted 1200 people over the weekend. Adults During 2013/14 the Trust held two conferences. In November 2013 there was the Crosby Garrett helmet conference in collaboration with Lancaster University and in October 2013 a Living Wall conference was held in partnership with Hadrian’s Wall Heritage. 4 SUMMARY SUMMARY OF THE YEAR COLLECTIONS Acquisitions During 2013/14 Tullie House Trust acquired many outstanding items for the collections. Unique examples include: Herbarium from Lancaster University The Lancaster University herbarium of some 35,000 sheets of pressed plants was transferred to the Trust in March 2014. About 80% of the specimens are from the British Isles, the remaining being from continental Europe. Approximately a third of the British material is from Cumbria, much of it collected since the beginning of the Flora of Cumbria Survey in 1974. The Cumbrian material is of major importance. Many of the specimens, particularly of the less common and critical species provide confirmation of the many records cited in A Flora of Cumbria and in publications of the Botanical Society of the British Isles. This collection perfectly complements the existing historical herbarium of some 24,000 specimens at Tullie House and means that the museum now has one of the most significant botanical collections in northern England. “Haystack in a Cumbrian Landscape” by Kate Nicholson Haystack in a Cumbrian Landscape 1960-1970 By Kate Nicholson (1929-) Oil on canvas This important landscape painting was acquired with assistance from the artist and Belgrave St Ives Gallery in 2013. Kate Nicholson was born in Cumbria and is the daughter of artist Ben Nicholson and his first wife artist Winifred Nicholson. Kate studied at Bath College of Art (1949-1954). This acquisition fills an important gap in the Tullie House collection covering the important local and national artistic story of the Nicholson family in Cumbria. 5 SUMMARY SUMMARY OF THE YEAR EXHIBITIONS Over the year we hosted seven major exhibitions in our galleries: Transmitter Receiver: The Persistence of Collage, Into the Light: The Story of Freemasonry, George Howard: Artist and Aristocrat, Hartnell to Amies: Couture by Royal Appointment, The Crosby Garrett Helmet -Spotlight Loan, The Mechanical Circus and Natasha Daintry: Ocean. George Howard: Artist Crosby Garrett Helmet - and Aristocrat Spotlight Loan This exhibition commemorated the centenary of A particular highlight was the Crosby Garrett the death of George Howard, 9th Earl of Carlisle Roman Helmet. The Crosby Garrett Helmet is a (1843-1911). A significant figure in Cumbria’s copper alloy Roman cavalry helmet dating from cultural heritage, Howard was a dedicated and the late 2nd or early 3rd century AD. It was found accomplished artist who delicately captured by a metal detectorist near Crosby Garrett in works in oil and watercolour including portraits, Cumbria. On 7 October 2010, the helmet was landscapes, everyday scenes and family episodes. sold at Christie’s. George Howard: Artist and Aristocrat comprised the largest chronological and thematic display ever After nearly two years of negotiations, the mounted of works by the 9th Earl of Carlisle. It owner agreed to the loan of the helmet to Tullie was a major project for Tullie House and was House. It was displayed as a ‘spotlight’ object developed as part of an on-going partnership with for 3 months from October 2013 before being William Howard School, Brampton and Castle transferred to the British Museum. 360 degree Howard Estate Ltd. viewing was supported by enlarged detailed photographs and interpretation panels. Over The exhibition ran from 20th July to the 20,000 visitors came to see this nationally and 13th October and received 6,614 visitors. A internationally renowned helmet, far more than programme of talks, family learning activities the original estimate of 12,000. During the and lectures and tour programme to Lanercost exhibition the spotlight gallery became extremely Priory and St Martin’s Church, Brampton, were vibrant and animated with visitors, many of very popular and a number of the events had to whom had never been to Tullie House before, be repeated to meet demand. In all 673 people engaging with each other and sharing ideas about attended the programme which made it one of the helmet. Local businesses noted the increased the most successful events programmes to date. numbers of visitors to the city attracted by the An attractive catalogue of the exhibition was sold exhibition. in the shop. 6 SUMMARY SUMMARY OF THE YEAR The Mechanical Circus At the entrance to Tullie House there is a large moving sculpture called ‘The Flying Reiver’ by artist, Keith Newstead. This automaton is hugely popular with our family visitors and inspired us to host the blockbuster exhibition, The Mechanical Circus. Displayed in a fairground atmosphere the exhibition presented a combination of mechanical pieces of the Cabaret Mechanical Theatre and the scientific tricks, toys and spectacular experiments of the Museum Boerhaave – the Netherland’s state museum of science and medicine. This was a national premier for this innovative exhibition. The Mechanical Circus ran from 15th February to 1st June 2014 and opened with a Family Fun Day, launching a busy half term with over 5000 visits during the first week. Over 12,600 people visited the exhibition. 7 SUMMARY SUMMARY OF THE YEAR PARTNERSHIPS, FUNDERS AND AWARDS Major Partner Museum – The Cumbria Museums Consortium (CMC) is a partnership between Tullie House Trust Cumbria Museums (the lead organisation), Lakeland Arts and Wordsworth Trust. CMC is a collaborative Consortium 2012-2015 venture funded with a three-year grant of £3.2 million from Arts Council England (ACE) through the Renaissance Major Grants Programme. In an article about the successful applicants for this funding programme The Guardian commented that “The Cumbria group stands out as appealing, inventive and new.” Over the three year period the consortium is delivering innovative programmes that will celebrate excellence, raise standards and ensure that more people experience and are inspired by the richness of Cumbria’s museums and art galleries.