AnnualAnnual ReviewReview 2018-20192018-2019 Our year of highlights

On 20 April 1868, a new museum opened in , known as The last 150 years have seen momentous change but RAMM 2018 was an important year for RAMM, a busy year of it. Members receive a monthly e-newsletter, personalised the ‘Albert Memorial Museum, School of Art and Science and has remained true to the vision of its founders and central to celebration which saw 251,983 visitors pass through our doors. webpages, discounts in The Shop at RAMM, and other benefits. Free Library’. Since then, RAMM has been a place of wonder the cultural life of the city and county. It was also a year of commemoration as we marked the end of At a time when local authorities are facing significant financial and discovery, connecting people with the world around them the First World War with two poignant exhibitions: Canadians pressures, it is important that RAMM looks to its financial Of course, the museum couldn’t do this without its funders and encouraging them to be curious about their place in it. in Devon and Devon Voices. sustainability. The new membership scheme, alongside an and supporters. As well as the funding from Exeter City RAMM is Exeter City Council’s flagship cultural service and increased focus on fundraising and income generation from Council, RAMM is an Arts Council England National Portfolio Our 150th anniversary celebrations began in April 2018. holds a special place in the hearts of the people of the city. commercial activities, will become more and more important Organisation. It also benefits from the contribution of other Thousands of people shared a memorable and joyful day when in securing the future of RAMM. In September, as part of the museum’s 150th anniversary grant-giving bodies, sponsors, the support of its Friends, spectacular animal puppets and hundreds of masked children celebrations, RAMM was honoured by a visit from Her Royal Development Trust, individual donors and its army of filled the city centre for RAMM’s Carnival of the Animals. Over the year, the team has continued to work hard to open Highness, the Princess Royal. During the visit, staff, partners and volunteers. I would like to thank them all. The museum Throughout the year, we held celebratory concerts and up the museum to wider and more diverse audiences. volunteers highlighted some of the museum’s splendid work would not exist without them. exhibitions, commissioned Phizogs, a new artwork by award- We collaborated with a local community group to produce a such as the innovative Exeter: A Place in Time project, with the winning artist Bedwyr Williams, Alfie’s Night Out, a children’s temporary exhibition display exploring the First World War Councillor Rachel Sutton, Universities of Exeter and Reading, the newly refurbished Africa Camilla Hampshire, book about RAMM, and even produced a special 150th and its connections to people of Chinese, South Asian and Portfolio Holder displays in the World Cultures gallery and the involvement of Museums Manager and anniversary beer, Albert’s Ale. African heritage. We held a ‘takeover day’ for young people for Economy and Culture, Exeter’s Hindu community in the redisplay of the museum’s Cultural Lead with disabilities and hosted a festival of digital art created by One of the highlights of the year for me was the exhibition Exeter City Council statue of Ganesh. The visit made me feel immensely proud of young people. Our RAMMbingo project saw us working with Criminal Ornamentation: Yinka Shonibare MBE curates the Exeter’s museum, providing a snapshot of the wonderful work local disability organisations to produce a resource to help Arts Council Collection, bringing as it did over 100 high-quality it does. people explore the museum. From working with elderly people works by 50 artists to Exeter. This was part of our increased in sheltered housing to address issues of loneliness and social focus on bringing contemporary art to more traditional isolation to launching a supported internship programme museum visitors, and it attracted a younger audience too. including people with disabilities, autism and mental health We held our first RAMM Lates event in February, an after-hours issues, I am constantly moved by the difference RAMM can event combining arts, music and fun activities with food and make to people’s lives. drink in a stimulating museum environment. The event was Looking through this review, the hard work and dedication of very well received, with people commenting on how the RAMM’s amazing people shines out and I would like to thank Lates concept is a welcome addition to Exeter’s nightlife. them for everything they do to make the museum such a In September, we launched our free online membership wonderful place. scheme with the aim of building a community of people who support the museum and want a deeper engagement with

2  Annual Review 2018-19 RAMM  Home to a million thoughts RAMM  Home to a million thoughts 3  Annual Review 2018-19 Loaned out nearly TripAdvisor: RAMM’s website Facebook: RAMM welcomed 10p received and supported Our year in numbers 500 Average donation 4.5/5 4,766 objects to per visitor Rated #1 out of 353,462 followers 21 institutions around 94 things to do in views interns and student the world Exeter work placements

Welcomed Welcomed Commercial 251,983 5,730 income generated from venue hire, up RAMM is 227 volunteers Instagram: visits guests at ticketed 13% of visitors operated by contributed events 49% spent in the shop 3,096 (up 7%) 32 full time and 14,492 hours followers 21 part-time staff

Over 20,000 school children and students took part in learning activities and tours

4  Annual Review 2018-19 RAMM  Home to a million thoughts RAMM  Home to a million thoughts 5  Annual Review 2018-19 Celebration time!

2018 Marked RAMM’s 150th Anniversary Other 150th events included a wonderful After the death of Prince Albert in 1861, classical concert held at Exeter Cathedral, one of his Great Exhibition secretaries, performed by the Exeter Music Group Sir Stafford Northcote launched a campaign Symphony Orchestra conducted by Leo Geyer to raise public funds so that a fitting memorial and this time featuring Saint-Saëns’ Carnival of could be constructed to the Prince Consort the Animals. and the benefits of education and culture We held two special 150th exhibitions: Behind could be brought to the people of Exeter the Scenes at the Museum, was revealed and beyond. through the documentary photography of On 21st April 1868 RAMM first opened its Jim Wileman, and Alfie’s Night Out which doors to the public and celebrated with a illustrated the makings of the children’s book programme that included a parade through of the same title, following Alfie the sparrow’s the city of gentlemen who had supported exploration of the museum and its collections. the project; music and entertainment. We commissioned contemporary artist Bedwyr To celebrate this milestone anniversary RAMM Williams to produce a new temporary work curated a programme of celebratory events celebrating RAMM’s collections. Phizogs, which throughout 2018 which referenced the original made a dramatic statement in the Queen opening. The height of the celebrations Street hall, flipping the usual visitors’ view, occurred on 21st April 2018, when we held into one of being viewed. a different sort of parade, a Carnival of the On 24th September, RAMM was honoured Animals which led people through the city by a private visit from The Princess Royal. and into a sunny Rougemont Gardens to be The commemorative plaque marking her delighted by music, museum object handling visit and RAMM’s 150th Anniversary will be and circus style performers; then back to installed at the Garden entrance in 2019. RAMM for more music, Albert’s Ale for the The support we received throughout the adults and birthday cake for all. The event year showed that peoples sense of pride and was funded by Arts Council England, affection for RAMM is as strong today as it Exeter BID, the Friends and the RAMM was back at its origins. Development Trust.

6  Annual Review 2018-19 RAMM  Home to a million thoughts RAMM  Home to a million thoughts 7  Annual Review 2018-19 Highlights 2018-2019

RAMM  Home to a million thoughts 9  Annual Review 2018-19 A YEAR OF HIGHLIGHTS RAMM

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Annual Review 2018-19 Review Annual A YEAR OF EXHIBITIONS RAMM 37,276 visitors in theShopatRAMM. exhibition isavailable tobuy published toaccompany the The bookthatRAMM wereread young. whenthey parents andgrandparents explored thebookstheir another corner, children in ourpuppettheatre. In featuring Victoria’s characters created theirown stories sketchbooks. Young visitors the bookaswell asVictoria’s original illustrations from The exhibition included Alfie goes exploring. the museumcomes alive and something magicalhappens: When allthevisitorshave left, the birdsingallery. Alfie theSparrow sitsamongst RAMM’s 150thanniversary. created anewwork for Illustrator VictoriaByron Alfie’s NightOut

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painters ofthe18thcentury. one ofthemostfamous Innocence by Joshua Reynolds, exhibition was Age of A key paintinginthe Fire Greenaway works TheStick illustrated intheKate innocence andromanticism, Victorian notionsofchildhood adults. Thisgave way to art appeared asminiature the 18thcentury, childrenin Before theEnlightenment in the 17thto20thcentury. and childiconography from changing face ofchildhood This exhibition explored the Childhood Exeter’s FineArtCollection: andTheGarden Bench. 3,234 visitors . Victoria andAlbertMuseum, Exhibition organisedby the critiqued theAmericandream. which bothmirrored and creating art of printmaking, innovative andprolific culture movement generated an popular culture,thepopart by commercial graphics and to theearly 2000s.Inspired in thisstylefrom the1960s exciting viewofartistsworking offered acomprehensive and art graphics, thisexhibition outstanding collection ofpop Drawing from theV&A’s Pop ArtinPrint 17,174 visitors backdrop ofnational turmoil. on andchangedagainsta told ofDevon asitcarried voices tolife. Theirown words family records tobringpast museum collections and researched localarchives, day Devon residentswho uncovered by modern- thestorieshadbeen Project, Devon Remembers Heritage between RAMM andthe A partnershipproject this extraordinary period. reveal Devon lives through photographs andobjectsto exhibition used letters,diaries, First World War armistice, this Marking thecentenary ofthe 1914-1918 Devon Voices

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Annual Review 2018-19 Review Annual Canadians in Devon Exeter’s Fine Art Collection: Criminal Ornamentation: 1914-1918 Women Artists Yinka Shonibare Curates In 1918 the museum hosted RAMM shone a spotlight on the Arts Council Collection a pioneering exhibition of women artists in our fine art Winter blues were blown away Canadian war photography. collection in this exhibition in a riot of colour and pattern. A hundred years later its that featured works from the This intriguing exhibition partial re-creation at RAMM 1770s until 2011. included eye-popping art allowed visitors to step back Pieces by the suffragette artist ranging from film to fashion in time. Olive Wharry and Victorian and ceramics to sculpture. As part of our First World War children’s book author Kate Celebrated British-Nigerian Armistice commemorations Greenaway featured, alongside artist Yinka Shonibare MBE we explored why these modern works by Barbara chose works that surprised powerful photographs came Hepworth, Gillian Ayres, and dazzled. From a sequined to Exeter, as well as Devon’s Mary Martin, Dame Laura dress by Alexander McQueen links with Canada and Knight, Primrose Pitman, to nineteenth-century Canadian soldiers. and Judith Ackland. wallpaper by William Morris, We were delighted to have his selection told a story of worked with the National objects that refuse to be Gallery Canada, Libraries confined. and Archives Canada and the Imperial War Museum 21,340 visitors to bring this exhibition to RAMM. 17,174 visitors A YEAR OF EXHIBITIONS

RAMM  Home to a million thoughts 15  Annual Review 2018-19 Left to right, top to bottom: Christmas crafts Consone quartet Intense in the Courtyard, performed at the concentration at December 2018 museum in July our ‘Superhero 2018 Lego’ activity, August 2018

David Olusoga Philip Reeve gave Chartwell Dutiro visits RAMM as a talk as part of Mbira orchestra part of the World the Exetreme perform at the Cultures reopening, Imagination World Cultures June 2018 Festival, October reopening, 2018 May 2018 A visitor enjoys the Conservation inaugural RAMM in Action, Lates, February October 2018 2019 A YEAR OF EVENTS

RAMM  Home to a million thoughts 17  Annual Review 2018-19 Acquisitions Research and development Among new accessions into RAMM’s In November, RAMM’s Collections Officer was collections in 2018/19 were medieval posy in Kolkata with colleagues from the University rings made of silver, a death’s head hawk- of Exeter to develop a joint funding bid with moth collected in Queen Street in 1932, a silk the Victoria Memorial Hall. If successful, wedding dress fashioned from a parachute Nature’s Empire will bring together collections and worn in Exeter in 1948, 20th-century from RAMM and VMH, with research by performance masks from India, a cedar bark the university, to tell the compelling story of vest and ceremonial rattle from the Northwest Indian artists commissioned by the East India Coast of America and an iron cauldron used by Company in the 18th century to produce Elizabeth Webb, the so-called ‘White Witch of studies of local plants and animals. RAMM Dartmoor’ who died in 1913. also continued its involvement with the Exeter: A Place in Time project, led by the University Redisplay of Exeter, which is shedding new light on In spring 2018 RAMM re-opened its World the city’s history through the re-analysis of Cultures gallery following a major redisplay archaeological finds. project. Supported by the Designation Development Fund, The Wolfson Foundation Loans and RAMM Development Trust, the museum During 2018/19, Turner’s watercolour of team improved access to the Africa and Asia Buckfast Abbey was on display in Tokyo and collections, and reinterpreted them with the Koriyama; RAMM’s famous portrait believed help of new research by leading experts in the to be Ignatius Sancho, the first black person field. An African mask and headdress have to vote in a British election, was loaned for been loaned from the for the display in Sao Paulo; paintings by Francis new displays. Danby and Stanhope Forbes were exhibited in Lausanne; and a work by Frank Holl was at “ In a busy year, our collections have Britain for its show Van Gogh in Britain. been more in demand than ever. In the autumn, RAMM’s Tahitian mourner’s costume was loaned for the Royal Academy’s RAMM paintings have travelled to blockbuster exhibition Oceania. Japan, Brazil and Switzerland for internationally important exhibitions.” Julien Parsons, Senior Collections Manager A YEAR OF COLLECTIONS

RAMM  Home to a million thoughts 19  Annual Review 2018-19 With an uplift in Arts Council England’s National Portfolio funding from April 2018, RAMM continues its ambitious programme of contemporary

art. Last year we provided Criminal Ornamentation: Yinka Shonibare MBE curates the Arts more opportunities for artists Council Collection ran from 19 January to 17 March 2019 to be inspired by RAMM’s rich RAMM was one of only four venues to exhibit this extraordinary display of work by collections and strengthened major artists in a diverse range of styles and media. The themes and ideas in Criminal partnerships with other galleries, Ornamentation made interesting links to displays in RAMM’s permanent galleries, whilst accompanying artist talks and events organisations, and institutions. including a live tattoo session proved popular. Exeter College and the University of Exeter A new full time Contemporary tutors independently brought many students to the exhibition. Art Curator & Programmer was Keen to reach out to new, younger audiences, Phizogs by Bedwyr Williams Bringing his unique, surreal sense of humour our specially tailored social media campaign 150th commission to bear, Bedwyr populated the Queen appointed in October 2018 to proved to be effective in reaching a from July 2018 to June 2019 Street foyer with an array of human faces demographic not historically engaged with found on artefacts in RAMM’s collections. This was a major contemporary artwork the museum. After decades of being examined in glass by an internationally-acclaimed artist, manage, curate and commission showcases, the objects had a chance to get This year RAMM curators have also shared who represented Wales at the 55th Venice their own back by studying the visitors. contemporary art at RAMM. their knowledge and inspired the development Biennale and was shortlisted for the of new work by artists based in Exeter, across prestigious Artes Mundi prize in 2016. the region and nationally that will be created and shown at RAMM over the next three years. A YEAR OF CONTEMPORARY ART A YEAR OF CONTEMPORARY

RAMM  Home to a million thoughts 21  Annual Review 2018-19 We are committed to making our collections as accessible as possible. Digital work undertaken this year has played a crucial role in helping us achieve this. Our digital work has also enabled us to reach and involve audiences who might not otherwise have engaged with their museum.

Digital work has built on previous work The 150th anniversary saw a takeover of Arts achieving sector recognition with our Digital Council England’s Instagram account in the Media Officer delivering a talk at the 2018 anniversary week and on the anniversary day Museums Association Conference in . itself. The Carnival of the Animals was live This described how to create video game broadcast on Facebook throughout the day inspired interactives and was co-delivered via a group of filmmakers coordinated by with our University of Exeter collaborative PhD RAMM staff. student, Sofia Romualdo whose research on RAMM has also contributed to the successful the gameful museum was based at RAMM. GIFT-ARM European Union digital project, Our collections aggregator, South West which will provide museums with a website Collections Explorer, saw the first collections with best practice advice for engaging visitors from the Devon Museums Group go live in the digitally. main site and their sub-site. Our Digital Media September saw RAMM launch a digital Officer also contributed a blog post to the membership scheme building on earlier Collections Trust on the benefits of aggregating website personalisation work. collections data and images. A YEAR OF DIGITAL

RAMM  Home to a million thoughts 23  Annual Review 2018-19 RAMM’s galleries and exhibitions are collections rich. We are one of the few regional museums that still maintains an in-house conservation and technical team who are able to support every collections-based Discovering Worlds: Asia Exhibitions activity that RAMM undertakes. The highlight of the year for the conservation Conservation work for special exhibitions and technical team has been the completion included the treatment and mounting of the Discovering Worlds project, redisplaying of objects for the First World War RAMM’s World Cultures Gallery. Asia was commemorative exhibition Devon Voices, the focus of this last stage. Work included including many items of paper ephemera, de-installing objects from three large cases costume, medals and equipment taken and two open display areas and stripping out from German soldiers after successful allied and relining the cases and plinths with stable, campaigns, including helmets, gas masks, Behind the Scenes Student Placements conservation grade materials. Many of the 125 trenching equipment and ammunition kit. objects in the new display were conserved This year we’ve been and Volunteers 35 oil paintings and watercolours from and remounted before being returned to the working on improvements We continue to host RAMM’s own collections were conserved for newly-refurbished gallery. to the stored Natural History conservation students from our Childhood and Women Artists themed Fine collections. Around 4,000 across the world. This year A new case grant-aided by the DCMS Wolfson Art exhibitions. This included the treatment spirit preserved specimens six students have worked fund has made it possible for us to include a of one of RAMM’s largest paintings, In Sight! have been condition with us from as far afield as magnificent gold & silver embroidered Indian Lord Dundonald’s Dash on Ladysmith by checked. The vessels were Mexico and Canada, as well Choga in the displays. Dating to the middle of Lucy Kemp-Welch. After many years on loan cleaned and have been as Italy and the UK. the nineteenth century, the green silk Choga as the painting returned to RAMM in 2016 in treated to remove mould not been shown at RAMM since its acquisition need of significant conservation treatment. which had built up in the in 1925. A successful fundraising campaign allowed the past as a result of unsuitable painting and its gilded frame to be conserved storage conditions. in the public galleries so visitors and donors were able to talk to the conservator about the conservation process as it took place. A YEAR OF CONSERVATION

RAMM  Home to a million thoughts 25  Annual Review 2018-19 World Cultures re-opening Engaging with young audiences Hikmat Remembers RAMM worked with Exeter’s Cultural RAMM continued its work engaging younger A collaboration with BME community group Champions, a collaboration to provide audiences. We held a festival of digital art Hikmat culminated in a co-curated exhibition ethnically diverse storytellers, at 16 family created by young people, Museums Machina, about African and Asian contributions to the storytelling events. We invited various BME and hosted a popular Saturday Arts Award First World War. One person who attended the groups – Hikmat, Hindu Temple, Omani pilot exploring different arts skills. exhibition expressed his pride about this: Society, Refugee Support Group, Devon In partnership with the University of Exeter “Now I feel like I really live here.” Development Education, Ubuntu Multicultural and Northcott Theatre we also helped to RAMMbingo Counselling Services, Cultural Champions, deliver the Exetreme Imagination festival Exeter Respect, and Devon United Women’s of writing and stories for children and RAMM worked with local disability Group – to attend the curator-hosted World young people. organisations, Magic Carpet, CEDA and Cultures opening celebration, including a Pelican Project. Over a series of six sessions, Summer Explorers club local resident of South African- Asian heritage groups including disabled people and whose words feature in the gallery. RAMM launched its Summer Explorers enablers created a series of bingo cards to Club. The aim was to encourage repeat visits make museum visits fun and welcoming, Dementia-friendly programme throughout the summer holidays. The scheme and to spark exploration and conversation. Our dementia-friendly programme continued. operated on a tiered basis with children Sessions included a museum visit and activities Activities included object handling on a spring winning badges and ultimately a medal after to generate feedback, using specially-designed, theme, a tour of the World Cultures Galleries they had completed four visits. Feedback from accessible materials. and a photography workshop. staff and visitors regarding the scheme has been overwhelmingly positive, with some great Art Week Exeter stories of families getting involved. RAMM showed a display of ceramics inspired by the museum’s collections, and 360-degree Wonderful Worlds digital views of the museum, both produced Working in partnership with Carousel, RAMM by disabled artists from CEDA (Community delivered an artist led outreach project, Equality Disability Action). working with 5 local preschools located in city wards with high levels of deprivation. Ganesh redisplay Carousel artists arranged an activity at each RAMM expanded its relationship with preschool followed by a visit to the museum. Exeter’s Hindu Cultural Centre, gaining their Activities were designed to be immersive and advice in the redisplay of a statue of Ganesh participatory without expecting unrealistic in the World Cultures Gallery. We held a attention or ‘sitting still’. The aim was to show special celebration of Ganesh Chaturthi in children, staff and families how to have a good the museum following a beautiful ceremony time in the museum without needing a great in the gallery. deal of resources. Parents were invited on the museum trip too. A YEAR OF OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT

RAMM  Home to a million thoughts 27  Annual Review 2018-19 Industry placements Placements Work experience RAMM is committed to creating This year RAMM provided two students with RAMM also currently works with several RAMM offered a nine secondary school ‘industry placements’ (a new government Universities to offer a range of placement age students an intensive week long work relevant and meaningful initiative being piloted by Exeter College) and opportunities to undergraduate/postgraduate experience opportunity which offered students part of a bigger program called T-Levels which students including one 50 hour independent the chance to get involved in various aspects opportunities for young people is set to launch nationwide in 2020. The aim of work-based learning module placement as part of the museums day-to-day operations and the placements (one day a week over a thirty of the MA International Heritage Management provided an overview of the different roles and to gain experience of working in week period) is to provide 16-19 year olds (Exeter University), one 30 hour work based opportunities available in a museum. taking a technical course, with real-life work learning placement as part of a BA (Hons) Fine experience to develop their knowledge and Art (Plymouth University) and two 4 week a dynamic cultural environment. skills within their chosen industry. This year’s internships BA (Hons) History / BA (Hons) pilot is with 1st Year Level 3 IT Systems and Anthropology (Exeter University), one of which RAMM recognises the valuable Networks students. was fully funded by Exeter University’s access to internships widening participation fund. contribution that young people Internships RAMM currently has three paid 12 month interns, as part of the Graduate Business make and in 2018/19 continued Partnership scheme in collaboration with to work with a broad range Exeter University. Supported internships: of education providers to RAMM has been working with Exeter College and Exeter Royal Academy for Deaf Education to offer two young people with learning offer a diverse programme of difficulties and/or disabilities the opportunity to gain some meaningful work experience in the work experience, internships, cultural sector. RAMM offered two ‘supported internships’ this year which the students vocational training and skills undertook as part of their ‘NCFE Certificate In Employability Skills Level 1’ course. development opportunities for as diverse a group of young people as possible. In 2018/19 this included: A YEAR OF SKILLS DEVELOPMENT

RAMM  Home to a million thoughts 29  Annual Review 2018-19 Winner of the Museums and Heritage best shop with a turnover of less than £500K, 2018. Awarded in recognition of the shop’s success in reflecting the museum’s collections and exhibitions.

Reflecting RAMM’s collections Keeping it local This year the shop marked RAMM’s 150th The Shop at RAMM is proud to offer a wide birthday with a souvenir range featuring a range of locally produced goods including delightful illustration by local artist Aylwyn cards from local painters, books by local Bowen. Aylwyn’s winning design was a authors and homewares from local designers. celebration of RAMM’s diverse collections. A particular feature is the Artist-Maker’s The gifts in our shop are from Exeter, Devon cabinet which showcases an eclectic range of and the wider world, reflecting the diversity work by top local makers as well as bringing “ I just wanted to say how good of the museum itself. To mark the re-opening in some of the best craft from around the of RAMM’s Africa collection, the shop sourced country. This year included fascinating antique and well-thought out your Fairtrade, sustainable goods including sculptural pieces by Claire Reed of Little beadwork and baskets imported from Uganda Burrow Designs, to reflect the Devon Voices shop is. Always a delight to by Exeter-based charity Devon Development exhibition, beautiful coin jewellery by Rachel Education. Eardley and fun pop art cushions by knitwear be in.” designer Penny Burdett. Inspired by RAMM’s exhibitions Visitor comment, 3/3/19 Alfie the Sparrow, Pop Art, the First World War and Criminal Ornamentation, these are some of the themes to have inspired the shop this year: from the sale of hundreds of sparrow finger puppets to Timorous Beasties tea-towels, from Warhol soup-can earrings to poppy remembrance scarves. A YEAR OF SHOPPING

RAMM  Home to a million thoughts 31  Annual Review 2018-19 “ Just wanted to send a quick email to say “ We had a fab event last week, thanks again for letting me propose at the location is excellent and the staff the museum. It was perfect!” were super helpful when we had a Adam minor upset with the event company running late.” Crowdcube

Sometimes we receive an out of the blue Looking back over the last year, the number request that’s really special. Of course, all of of guests that we have welcomed to RAMM our venue hires are unique (we like to make has increased significantly, as have the number them that way) but when someone wants to of events that we’ve hosted, with a high propose to their partner in the museum – proportion of repeat bookings and new clients and she arrives having no idea what is about coming in generally from the south-east and to happen (cctv tracking the couple wandering the Midlands often choosing Exeter as a good round the galleries, photographer hiding central meeting point for their south-west in the shadows, ring glistening in a display client base. case waiting to be spotted) it is one of those Unusual bookings have included a fine dining moments to savour. murder mystery event, the welcoming of Lucy said yes to Adam and they were happy centenary commemoration guests following a for us to take some photos to promote our First World War trench installation in Exeter’s new weddings package with the Guildhall Northernhay Gardens, and hosting the “The planning of the event – always a nail biting which was launched earlier this year – culmination of a joint climate change project. process – was made much easier with your expertise so everyone was happy. and help. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend RAMM as a venue to friends and colleagues.” LHC Design A YEAR OF VENUE HIRE

RAMM  Home to a million thoughts 33  Annual Review 2018-19 Friends of RAMM and individual donors As well as funding from Exeter City generously donated £1,780 to conserve Devon artist Lucy Kemp-Welch’s monumental Council and Arts Council England, painting In Sight! Lord Dundonald’s Dash on Ladysmith (pictured). RAMM has also received financial The National Lottery Heritage Fund supported our Devon Voices exhibition which explored support from a number of other the county’s First World War home front stories, researched and brought to life by organisations. modern-day Devon residents The International Council of Museums and the British Council funded RAMM’s Collections Officer Holly Morgenroth’s research trip to Kolkata. This visit marked the beginning of a partnership between RAMM, the University of Exeter and the Victoria Memorial Hall in Kolkata to study the late 18th and early 19th century natural history paintings held by both museums. Hawksmoor Investment Management once again generously sponsored our Classical Concert Series, which ran from May to July. Hawksmoor’s support not only promotes great music in the city, but it also means that all the income raised from the concerts can go back into supporting RAMM’s future work.

Support has also been received from: XXThe Arts Society Exeter to support RAMM Saturday Arts Award Club XXExeter City Council Housing Department to support community art projects XXEuropean Union GIFT-ARM provided tools for engaging visitors digitally A YEAR OF FUNDING

RAMM  Home to a million thoughts 35  Annual Review 2018-19 For generations RAMM has made a vital Thank you to all our 2018-19 funders, contribution to the life of Exeter and the region, sponsors and partners: all our supporters play a crucial role in what XXArts Council Collection XXHawksmoor Investment Management RAMM does. XXArts Council England XXArt Fund Devon XXHeritage Lottery Fund We would like to thank the Friends and the RAMM XXArts Society Exeter XXImperial War Museum XXArt Week Exeter XXInexeter.com Development Trust for their continued support. XXArts & Humanities XXLibrary and Archives Both charities raise funds to support RAMM. Research Council Canada XXBBC Civilisations XXNorthcott Theatre We would like to thank our volunteers who have XXDaisi XXPreston Street Union contributed an astonishing 14,492 hours over XXDesignation Development XXPrincesshay Shopping Fund Centre the last financial year, from helping with object XXDevonLive XXRAMM Development Trust handling sessions, to behind the scenes tours, XXDevon Remembers XXSouth West Academy Heritage Trust XXSouth West Heritage Trust your contribution is invaluable. XXEMG Symphony Orchestra XXSt David’s C of E Primary We would also like to thank our Patrons for their XXExeter BID School XXExeter College XXThe Met Office support, and to all of those who have made a vital XXExeter Culture XXThe Wolfson Foundation donation over the past financial year. XXExeter Phoenix XXUniversity of Exeter XXExeter Pride XXVictoria and Albert Museum XXExeter Respect XXVisit Exeter XXExetreme Imagination Festival XXWOW Women of the World Festival XXFriends of RAMM Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Queen Street XXGuildhall Shopping Centre Exeter EX4 3RX

T 01392 265858 E [email protected] exeter.gov.uk/ramm