Annual Report 2015-2016
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Annual Report 2015/16 1 August 2015 – 31 July 2016 Being Modern, Fitzwiliam Museum, April 2016 1 Kettle’s Yard Mission Statement To be a unique place for art, music, learning and research of the highest quality. Kettle’s Yard supports the University of Cambridge’s mission to contribute to society through the pursuit of education, learning and research at the highest international levels of excellence. Purpose - Conserving the house, collections and archive for present and future generations and as a resource for research - Presenting pioneering exhibitions of modern and contemporary art and concerts of classical and contemporary music - Welcoming and engaging diverse audiences through innovative learning programmes and public engagement - Ensuring financial sustainability through strong governance and management, core funding, partnerships, earned income and the support of donors, trusts and foundations 2 Table of Contents Georgie Grace / Kettle’s Yard collection, University of Cambridge Library, 5 February – 10 June 2016 Director’s Introduction 4-5 Equality and Diversity 6 Programme 7-19 Exhibitions 7 Exhibitions Off-Site 7-11 Research 11-12 Major Research Applications 12 Publications 12 Collaboration with History of Art Department 12-13 Archive 13 Music 14 Digital Collections Research and Resources 14 Learning and Community 14-19 Collections 20-23 Loans 20-23 Acquisitions 23 Conservation 23 Capital Development 24 Development & Funding 25-26 Governance & Staffing 27 Financial Summary 28-29 Communications 30-31 Attendance Figures 32 3 Director’s Introduction Construction for Kettle’s Yard: Looking Ahead, our major building project, began in earnest in the autumn of 2015. The collection and furniture were moved to secure storage and the staff team relocated to temporary offices. Yet this year under review, the first in our history when we have been entirely offsite, has been as active and as engaged as ever. From collection research to imaginative programmes with artists, this report highlights the range of activities we have undertaken in 2015/16, reflecting Kettle’s Yard’s important role in the University and the community. While closed, we have collaborated with numerous partners in Cambridge and across the UK to display works from the collection. Among the most significant partnerships have been with the Jerwood Gallery, Hastings and The Hepworth Wakefield (continuing). within the University, we have collaborated on two exhibitions with the Fitzwilliam Museum, and a third is planned. We also worked with the Maxwell Centre in West Cambridge, curating a special exhibition, dance event and open days to celebrate the inauguration of this new centre for experimental physics. As in previous years, we participated in the University of Cambridge Museums joint programmes throughout the year. An estimated 80,000 visitors have encountered collection displays or exhibitions with contemporary artists. Our thanks to the many partners involved and to St. John’s College for their support in enabling our programme of chamber music concerts to thrive at the Old Divinity School. Throughout 2016 we have been celebrating fifty years as part of the University of Cambridge. In November 1966, Kettle’s Yard and its collection were gifted to the University by Jim Ede. The focus of the celebrations, a series of exhibitions across Cambridge and a special lecture, will be the subject of next year’s review. However, all our activities in 2016 have been an opportunity to mark fifty years of excellence, ambition and innovation. Housed at Wolfson College, our Archive has continued to stimulate new and wide ranging research. At the same time planning for future exhibitions and projects is well underway, with the curatorial team developing a programme which will reflect the diversity of current artistic practice. Members of staff have contributed to the work of the History of Art Department and engaged in productive discussions about the potential of stronger joint working. Being offsite has also been an opportunity to further engage with local schools and communities in North Cambridge, building strong relationships with the aim of increasing and diversifying the audience for Kettle’s Yard when we re-open. Among many inventive projects and programmes, our Circuit young people’s group has gone from strength to strength, while our artist residency and studio at North Cambridge Academy has engaged the whole school community with art activities. All our work with artists, with the collection, in departments and in the community happens through the generous support of Arts Council England, the Heritage Lottery 4 Fund and many trusts, foundations and individuals. Thank you to all. Support of our programme is vital so that Kettle’s Yard can continue to engage and inspire new and current audiences. Finally, my thanks to the Kettle’s Yard Committee, our Development Group, and the staff team for another year of significant achievement. 5 Equality and Diversity During the year the staff team reviewed the Equality Action Plan (2015-18) with the aim of ensuring that equality and diversity continue to be fundamental to Kettle’s Yard’s future strategic approach to programme and operations. Kettle’s Yard will seek to create the richest artistic programme through ensuring its diversity. At the same time, the continuing ambitious partnerships and activities developed in North Cambridge are building new and diverse audiences for Kettle’s Yard. Isabella Martin, You Are Here, Arbury Community Centre 6 Programme Exhibitions The curatorial team and Director are currently researching artists and exhibitions for the future programme. Exhibitions Off-Site Kettle’s Yard has been working off-site over the last year to deliver an exciting programme of exhibitions and events that have been brought together under the title ‘Reframed’. Beauty and Balance: Kettle’s Yard at the Fitzwilliam Museum 14 August 2015 – 3 April 2016 This collaboration between the two museums was the first of three displays that will be installed in the Fitzwilliam’s Glashier Gallery during the closure period. Familiar groupings of works and other objects from the House were re-displayed in the museum to reflect Jim Ede’s belief in the importance of creating balance in spaces to enhance the beauty of the works of art and objects which they contain. Paintings and sculptures by Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, Ben Nicholson, Alfred Wallis, Joan Miró and Christopher Wood were exhibited. Beauty and Balance was accompanied by a programme of lunch-time talks and sessions for children and families. 7 Horizons: Kettle’s Yard at Jerwood Gallery, Hastings 12 September 2015 – 3 January 2016 Over 40 works from the Kettle’s Yard collection were brought together with a small number of pieces from the Jerwood Collection across five of the gallery spaces in Hastings. The exhibition was very well received locally with BBC South East interviewing the Senior Curator during the launch. Kettle’s Yard and Jerwood Gallery co-commissioned a short film to promote Horizons, which was attended by nearly 11,000 people. On Your Doorstep 37 Lawrence Way, King’s Hedges 27 September 2015 The Artisa Foundation funded a curatorial traineeship this year that culminated in an exhibition at 37 Lawrence Way in North Cambridge. Usually a community centre providing support to residents in one of the most deprived areas of the country, the domestic spaces of 37 Lawrence Way were re-painted and transformed into a gallery by Hannah Kershaw (Curatorial Fellow) and the Kettle’s Yard team. One room included works from the collection by artists such as Italo Valenti and found objects such as the pebble spiral. In the adjacent room local artists’ paintings and sculptures were displayed alongside creative outcomes from four workshops, with a range of community groups, delivered in the lead up to the exhibition. This free event also offered two day-long workshops. Over 120 residents visited the exhibition and 76 people took participated in creative activities. Ricardo Arbelaez (King’s Hedges Neighborhood Partnership Committee Member) said: ‘The exhibition at No 37 was not only a success but was also a revolutionary idea full of inspiration … To bring the ‘Art gallery’ to the heart of the community was an ingenious and commendable idea.’ Variations on a Weekend Theme Maskell’s Bakery, Akeman Street 27 – 29 November 2015 8 Our first Open House artist’s project outcome Variations on a Weekend Theme, was installed in the disused Maskell’s Bakery in Akeman Street. In partnership with the community, contemporary artist Emma Smith took over the empty shop space in North Cambridge for four days and transformed it into an apothecary inspired by the Kettle’s Yard collection and her close engagement with 17th century Casebooks Project – a research project in the Department of History of Science. Creative activities were offered in the adjacent community centre and over three days. The project attracted over 300 people, many of whom had not visited Kettle’s Yard before. Being Modern: Kettle’s Yard at the Fitzwilliam Museum Fitzwilliam Museum 8 April 2016 – 26 March 2017 The second part of our collaboration with the Fitzwilliam Museum. This brought together works by artists who are represented in both museums’ collections and demonstrated the strength of modern art holdings across the two institutions. Works by artists who sought to make art in response to the modern world included Ben Nicholson, Barbara Hepworth, Roger Hilton, Henri Gaudier-Brzeska, Lucie Rie and William Scott were displayed. The display was accompanied by a free public programme of talks and events. The Horizon is The Point of No Return: Works by Georgie Grace and from the Kettle’s Yard Collection University Library 11 February – 10 June 2016 Our programme to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the gift of Kettle’s Yard to the University of Cambridge in November 1966 (focused largely in autumn 2016), commenced with a display in the University Library entrance hall.