This International Museums Day, I’m highlighting the skilled behind‑the‑scenes work that makes collection work and exhibition delivery possible, from handling artworks to building spaces that welcome and inspire visitors. Our highly skilled freelance technicians are central to this, and here we are working together to move a large and heavy sculpture into a more prominent position. It’s a brilliant reminder that a career in technical art handling offers a practical, creative pathway into shaping how people experience art and culture. #internationalmuseumsday #museumcareers #arthandlerlife
Preparing for #ArtForum mini exhibition @wolvesartandculture thinking about labels, artworks, display ideas and working together. #handlewithcare❤️ @ngprintmaker looking forward to seeing the results 🙌
Fantastic evening @wolvesartandculture huge thanks to @ngprintmaker and @dinosaurkilby and all the young people, friends, parents and carers that came to support the #listeningparty of the sound work #ArtForum @rosragarts has made with artist @fredhubble and Digital producer @dinosaurkilby it’s always great working with #ArtForum@and we have enjoyed exploring #Foley inspired by #wildlifephotographeroftheyear as well as thinking about how we look and experience artworks with @ngprintmaker 🙌
#RAGarts had a lovely evening with #ArtForum @wolvesartandculture we really enjoyed working with @ngprintmaker #HandleWithCare it was very relaxing exploring #reliefprinting #cyanotype
The sun was finally shining today on @nervoussquirreldotcom whilst he works his magic on the wolf in sheep’s clothing. Thanks Dave it’s a pleasure to work with you on this unique project! He’s brought it right up to date with a new programming system, all new electrics and even sound track, yes that is correct it now has its own music to perform to! What a momentous day to see it working and looking so good in this unusual weather! It’s a very much loved piece of public art and it certainly stops people in their tracks! It’ll be fully operational by the end March. It’s performance lasts for just a few mins and runs on the hour, every hour, between 11-4 so Next time you’re in the city, stop by and look up above the entrance on Lichfield street to see not a pig flying, but to see a wolf in sheep’s clothing! #wolfinsheepsclothing #andyplant #publicart #wolverhampton #behindthescenes
It’s been really unusual for me and my team to be working under the watchful eye of the gallery visitors. For the last few days we’ve taken over a gallery and set up a working studio. Working with the amazing Annabelle Monaghan; paintings conservator to clean and care for some works from the collection. Between us we’ve raised the awareness of behind the scenes work in museums and careers relating to museum collections, care and conservation. We’ve met some wonderful people and shared some great insights about the collection. It’s been fab to hear the comments and see people’s reactions, as most visitors had no clue about what we do and didn’t know much about the extensive collection the city has. We’ve even managed to get a few people interested in volunteering with us which is a massive bonus. Thank you to everyone that’s helped us over the last couple of days, special thanks to @clare_hanks_ and @punkrockslug for your hardwork and enthusiasm and to the visitor who sat and drew the conservator working!
#museumtechnician #museumconservation #collectionscare #behindthescenes #arthandler
A month on from installing Handle with Care and it’s been a busy month of installing other exhibitions. I’ve also been delivering the public programme that I’ve developed to complement the exhibitions narrative. This has included working with our youth Art group, ArtForum. We’ve finished the collection tours and had excellent feedback and now getting ready for the conservator to arrive on Tuesday to set up studio for the halt term activity this coming week. I’ve even been captured in front of the camera talking about the exhibition too. check the 🔗 in the bio! #handlewithcare #museumtechnician #behindthescenes #gallerytechnician #technicalcurator
Today we welcomed @bharti.parmar.studio Bharti’s Cyanotype prints are the centre piece to the Handle with Care exhibition and were recently acquired by @wolvesartandculture Thank you to everyone who came and supported the event. The talk focused on these works, the cyanotype process and the inspiration behind them. It was fascinating to learn more about the prints and seeing the sketch’s and notes from the artists own sketchbook really gives more context to the work, so thank you! #printmaking #handlewithcare #cyanotype #printmaker #museumcollections
I’m pleased to announce my exhibition, Handle with Care opens today and continues until 16 August. The last couple of weeks has gone very smoothly, we’ve deinstalled what has been a permanent collection display for many years and carried out preparations ahead of install. Thanks to @punkrockslug@clare_hanks_@suziosborn and last but by no means least @dinosaurkilby for your hard work, support and encouragement!
To complement the exhibition there are a range of activities that you can join.
- As part of this year’s LitFest join us for a talk by @bharti.parmar.studio on 5 Feb to hear about her artistic practise and the inspiration behind the newly acquired works. For more information and to book your free ticket by visit @wolvesartandculture
- What to delve deeper into the collection and have a taster of work behind the scenes? Visit our pop up conservation studio on 17 & 18 Feb to watch Annabelle Monaghan, paintings conservator whilst she works on paintings from the collection. Free drop in.
The collection tours have already sold out 😬, it’s hoped we can arrange more dates depending on capacity, so watch this space!
#behindthescenes #museums #whatsonwolves #handlewithcare #westmidlands #wolverhampton #museumtechnician #museumcollections #cyanotypes #exhibitioninstallation
Handle with Care is a new exhibition I’ve curated as part of my MA in Curation. It opens Saturday 17 January @wolvesartandculture
Set amongst the permanent collection, it refreshes the display and puts a spotlight onto the City’s amazing art collection. This exhibition shares some of the work that is carried out to manage, conserve, and care for the collection. Some display highlights include a focus on an early acquisition to the collection, alongside sharing insights into collections management, the loans programme and exhibition making. As a centre piece to the exhibition it will show for the first time recently acquired prints by West Midlands based artist @bharti.parmar.studio
To compliment the exhibition, there are a series of special activities and events that have been developed. Including an artist talk, behind the scenes tour of the collections and conservation in action. Check out their galleries website for more information
#handlewithcare #museumcollections #behindthescenesatthemuseum #arthandler #WolverhamptonArtGallery #whatsonwolves #instamuseum #unboxingcollections #museumconservation #museumtechnician
Thank you to @british_ceramics_biennial for an inspiring year of contemporary ceramics. Putting #stoke-on-trent on the map. Spode works was the perfect back drop, providing the perfect lighting and space, really allowing the work to speak for itself. Thanks to #johnnyvegasofficial and @rodgers_art.emma for their talk yesterday. It was a really honest conversation and reflection on their careers and the significant, positive impact Art has on people’s overall health and wellbeing.
#bcb2025 #stokeontrent #ceramics #britishceramicsbiennial
