SLAVERY MUSEUM S MILLIONTH VISITOR ANNUAL REVIEW DONE ON THE CHEAP!

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1 NATIONAL MUSEUMS LIVERPOOL REVIEW ANNUAL REVIEW 2010 Activity Rooms open Lady Lever special: P5 SLAVERY MUSEUM S MILLIONTH VISITOR Page 7 JOHN MOORES PRIZE SENT TO COVENTRY FULL STORY: P2 T-REX ROARS INTO MUSEUM FULL STORY: P4 BOOMING VISITOR FIGURES FULL STORY: P3 EXCLUSIVE: ANNUAL REVIEW DONE ON THE CHEAP! National Museums Liverpool has shocked the nation by producing a bargain basement Annual Review. Museum chiefs said the Annual Review had been in danger of being scrapped after recent budget cuts, but as it was important to let people know what the publicly-funded museums had been doing over the past 12 months, they agreed to produce this cut-price communication. A MOMENT IN HISTORY The Museum of Liverpool, the latest addition to the city s skyline, passed an important milestone in February as the building reached completion and the internal fit out began. Due to open on 19 July 2011, the 72 million project will provide 8000 square metres of public space across three floors, and visitors will have access to more than 6000 objects that are currently in store, many of which have never before been on public display. Exploring Liverpool s unique contribution to the world and showcasing popular culture, while tackling social, historical and contemporary issues, the museum is expected to attract more than 750,000 visitors in its first year.

2 2 Inside today... BEETLE MANIA Full story: p4 HAPPY BIRTHDAY Full story: p7 CYCLING LEGEND WHEELS IN Full story: Back Page Contact us... National Museums Liverpool 127 Dale Street, Liverpool, L2 2JH Telephone: International Slavery Museum Lady Lever Art Gallery Merseyside Maritime Museum Museum of Liverpool Sudley House UK Border Agency National Museum (Seized!) Walker Art Gallery World Museum Shop online from the comfort of your home with National Museums Liverpool COMMENT JESUS WINS PAINTING PRIZE David Fleming I need to be brief, because space costs money, and we have a lot less of that than we used to. This year has been dominated by two things: firstly, the need to complete the Museum of Liverpool, and secondly, the threat, then the reality, of budget cuts. Both of these have occupied a great deal of our time. The only good thing I can say about the cost cuts is that we weren t taken by surprise we expected pain, and we got plenty of Phil Redmond These are difficult times. More so than we probably imagined twelve months ago when preparing last year s report. As David makes clear, it has been a time of pain and cuts, but I am pleased to say that under his leadership National Museums Liverpool s staff have responded extremely well in mapping out how we will face a very challenging future. We should be clear that what we are experiencing is probably no longer a it. We have lost jobs, we have lost opportunities, we have cut back on our offer to the public. All this hurts, because we have only one function, which is to serve the public, and there can be no doubt that, try as we might, what we are able to do for the public is diminished. Do not listen to those people who claim that publicly-funded organisations such as ours are full of wasteful practices, and that if only we cut out the waste everything would be alright, and the service we provide would not suffer. This isn t true. Any waste in National Museums Liverpool was ended years ago. Budget cuts now mean cuts into muscle, not fat. They mean fewer staff, less activity, and a poorer public service. So, we closed the National Conservation Centre to the public, 14 years after it opened, and 12 years after it was named the European Museum of the Year. Why did we close it? Because we had to close somewhere in order to temporary dip in funding hidden behind a plethora of euphemisms like efficiency savings, but a fundamental reorganisation, perhaps even a restructuring, of public service provision. Only time will tell how wide and far spread that will become, but beneath it all is the irony that National Museums Liverpool, as National Museums and Galleries on Merseyside, only came into being as a consequence of the economic and political turmoil of the 1980s. Then, the necessity was to protect the national and international collections from the ravages of local government funding shortages. Now, the necessity is of a different nature: how to redefine what we understand as public service provision. In facing the issues around where and which services could be reduced, it became clear that many of National Museums Liverpool s venues were regarded as safe havens for reduce running costs: you cannot lose staff and still be able to run the same number of museums as before. While we regret being forced into this action, we had no choice. This is the reality of cuts to public sector spending. Nonetheless, not all is doom and gloom. Our staff continue to work brilliantly, breaking all sorts of visitor records and achieving many other great things, right across the board. The Museum of Liverpool has been complex, and at times very frustrating, but the project has been managed superlatively, and it will be a triumph for NML and for Liverpool the world s first national museum devoted to the history of a regional city. I want to thank our staff and our Trustees for keeping their nerve at a time when not everyone has done so; and for keeping faith at a time when many have lost theirs. We are determined to move onward and upward. David Fleming, Director vulnerable groups, by providing informal facilities for health and social service provision alongside the more obvious traditional activities. Our museums and galleries are no longer merely repositories of historic treasures carrying the lessons of history and time. They also provide the bedrock of future social cohesion. This in turn helps keep our ambition and enthusiasm undimmed, as will be demonstrated with the opening of the new Museum of Liverpool later in the year. Liverpool itself is known the world over, as is its World Heritage waterfront. It is known for its ability to face difficult times, face down adversity and confront austerity. The new museum will draw on that spirit, add to the waterfront s heritage and provide a source of inspiration for everything we do. We hope others will be equally inspired. Phil Redmond, Chairman Spectrum Jesus by Keith Coventry scooped the UK s biggest painting prize in September. The painting, inspired by the work of one of the most ingenious art forgers of the 20th century, won first place and 25,000 in the 26th John Moores Painting Prize. In a competition which attracted almost 3000 entrants, the Burnley-born artist secured victory with a painting which judge, Sir Norman Rosenthal, described as, full of ambiguity and contradictions. Depicting the face of Jesus Christ, Spectrum Jesus is based on Han van Meegeren's notorious forgeries of the 17th century Dutch master, Johannes Vermeer. With help from the Art Fund and the John Moores Liverpool Exhibition Trust, Spectrum Jesus has been acquired for the Walker Art Gallery s permanent collections. OLD MASTERS At the Lady Lever Old Master Drawings: Guercino, Rubens, Tintoretto explored why artists over the centuries have drawn, from copying other works to making life studies, and the role of sketching in the creation of artworks. Works by some of the great Italian Renaissance and Northern European artists between 1500 and 1800 were used to examine the reasons for producing drawings. From preparatory drawings and humorous sketches to highly finished altar designs, the 31 works in the exhibition highlighted the different reasons why artists like Rubens and Tintoretto have made use of drawing. An extensive education programme of talks and workshops gave visitors the chance to learn more about the Old Masters, and to have a go at putting the different techniques into practice.

3 Visitors flock to museums 3 National Museums Liverpool welcomed more than 2.5 million visitors through its doors in It was the second busiest year on record, bettered only by 2008, Liverpool s year as European Capital of Culture. Targets were exceeded by 9%. World Museum saw a notable increase of 23% on 2009, and the numbers visiting the International Slavery Museum increased by a whopping 28%. New and diverse audiences were attracted to innovative education programmes, fantastic exhibitions, improved collections and new capital projects. Hand of God A 350-year-old painting of the baby Jesus was at the centre of a bizarre optical illusion at the Walker Art Gallery. Surprised visitors witnessed the reflection of a hand pointing directly at the Messiah in Mattia Preti s 1660 work, The Adoration of the Shepherds. The strange phenomenon occurred when the John Moores Painting Prize exhibition opened. One of the works, THERE YOU ARE! by Cornelia Baltes, featured a large hand painted onto the walls of the Walker. By complete fluke this painted hand reflected through glass doors and onto The Adoration of the Shepherds even though it was in a completely different gallery. Reyahn King, Director of Art Galleries, said, It s completely accidental and a bizarre coincidence that the hand seems to point at the baby Jesus. We ve had lots of visitors to the John Moores show who have commented on this. Everyone is quite mystified. GOLD RUSH The innovative Rush programme, run by the education team at the Seized! The Border and Customs Uncovered gallery, was recognised with a prestigious award at the Kids Count Inspiration Awards Rush won the UK s Best Contribution by a Community Group Award. Museum staff were presented with the award at a House of Commons ceremony attended by leading politicians and sporting celebrities, including Olympic Gold medalist Linford Christie. The awards kept on coming with Mark Harris, Assistant Visitor Services Manager at Sudley, winning the Liverpool Ambassador Award for Outstanding Customer Service and the Lady Lever taking home two awards at the Wirral Tourism Awards; Best Visitor Attraction and Visitor Host Cliff Bowden, securing the Outstanding Customer Care gong. The Engaging Refugees and Asylum Seekers project was highly commended in the Yorkshire Bank 150th Community Awards, and the communications team won Best In-House Communications Team at the How Do awards. Wanted donations NO AMOUNT TOO SMALL! Call and turn your cash into a brighter future for National Museums Liverpool. liverpoolmuseums.org.uk/development

4 4 DINOSAUR ESCAPES! A 14ft long Tyrannosaurus Rex was seen roaming around World Museum in December. Onlookers were shocked and delighted in equal measure as the huge T-Rex took up temporary residence in the Museum. The animated dinosaur, a sensation in the United States and Australia, was making his first appearance in Europe. The arrival of Rex heralded the start of Dinomania!, a fourday dinosaur spectacular at the Museum which included the display of one of our hidden treasures - an 80 million year-old dinosaur egg not seen by the public for decades. The gift shops at World Museum did a roaring trade as young and old alike clambered to take home their own piece of Dinomania. These dino-mite sales capped off another excellent year for National Museums Liverpool s trading arm. Conservation Centre shuts its doors for the last time The National Conservation Centre closed to visitors as a result of government cuts in December. A 15% budget cut from central government, on top of a 3.5% cut earlier in the year, led to a review of the costs of managing all National Museums Liverpool buildings, the conclusion of this review being that it was no longer affordable to keep the National Conservation Centre open as a visitor attraction. Since opening in 1996, the Whitechapel building has served as a visitor venue and a place for museum staff to conserve and restore objects. Behindthe-scenes conservation will not be affected by the closure of the visitor part of the building. Professor Phil Redmond, Chairman National Museums Liverpool, said, While this action is regrettable, the Board of Trustees endorsed what is a pragmatic solution to a very difficult problem: how do we maintain the best offer we possibly can with reduced resources? In better news, Sudley House and Piermaster s House at the Albert Dock, which were both threatened with closure, remain open. With the threat of Government cuts looming, BEETLE MANIA ARTICLE by Seymour Nsektz Beetle mania is officially back, with World Museum becoming the first place to breed an Indian ground beetle in captivity. In 1968 the Beatles went to India. In 2009 India sent Liverpool some beetles. In February last year the World Museum Bug House acquired eight Indian ground beetles with the intention of breeding them, something never achieved before in captivity. Sadly, seven of the beetles died, leaving only one female, which staff believed wouldn t survive. However, in August, staff were amazed to see a young adult male in the tank with the female. The female beetle had produced eggs, which had been burrowed away. Paul Finnegan, education team leader, said, I m so proud to be part of the team that has successfully bred this the strength of public support was strong. More than 18,000 people signed a petition urging the Government to do all in its power to maintain adequate funding for National Museums Liverpool. Stars from the city such as Russ Pritchard from The Zutons, TV s Neil Buchanan and Andy McCluskey from Liverpool band Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark, backed the campaign. species of beetle in captivity. This is really important because we can publish our daily records now, meaning that other breeders have the information to help breed this particular species. LAST PEACE OF THE PUZZLE The origin of one of the world s most iconic bedspreads has, for the past 40 years, been attributed to the wrong person. The handcrafted All You Need Is Love bedspread, presented to John Lennon and Yoko Ono in May 1969 during their Bed-In at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, is now in National Museums Liverpool s collections. Paul Gallagher, Curator of Contemporary Collecting said, We acquired the bedspread in 2005 to add to our collection for the new Museum of Liverpool. We bought the bedspread at auction, with the belief that it had been made by a Hare Krishna group. That was until I was contacted by a lady in Toronto, claiming she had in fact made it over 40 years ago, and presented the piece to John and Yoko personally, in a spontaneous expression of friendship and solidarity on the first day of the Bed-In.

5 5 The art of the action Exciting new hands-on attraction now open at Lady Lever ARTICLE by Ivan Tugo A suite of four rooms provides much-needed activity space for Lady Lever visitors of all ages, particularly children and families. The Activity Rooms focus on the remarkable collections of soap tycoon William Hesketh Lever, 1st Viscount Leverhulme, housed in the renowned Gallery since The space has four themes Sustain, Explore, Imagine and Create and encourages visitors to try new skills and activities, and to develop their talents. Sandra Penketh, Head of the Lady Lever Art Gallery, says, These rooms provide an excellent resource, including lunchroom and workshop areas, enhancing the visitor experience. They bring a new dimension to our wonderful collections through many enjoyable activities. BREAKING NEWS! Objects from National Museums Liverpool s collections dramatically broke through the walls of the ACC convention centre, in the form of huge five metre tall vinyl reconstructions, to showcase the city s cultural attractions to unsuspecting visitors. The So Close campaign sees National Museums Liverpool teaming up with other cultural organisations and commercial partners ACC Liverpool, Liverpool One and Merseytravel. Funded by the Northwest Regional Development Agency, the scheme signposts how easy museums, galleries and other attractions are to reach on foot and public transport. More giant artworks will be taking over Lime Street station, shop windows, bus stops and Liverpool One as the initiative progresses throughout Look out for a giant Henry VIII, runaway trains and monster ships. TRAINSPOTTING The Museum of Liverpool welcomed the first of 6000 objects through its doors as the only surviving motor coach of the historic Liverpool Overhead Railway returned home to the city s waterfront. Surprised onlookers witnessed the coach retrace part of the same route it took when it travelled along the length of Liverpool docks in 1893 only this time on the back of a lorry. Sharon Granville, Executive Director for the Museum of Liverpool said, This is a momentous occasion for the project, as the carriage - one of Liverpool s icons - is installed in the new Museum. A lot of planning has gone into the display of the motor coach due to its sheer size, weight and rarity. The building has been designed to house this object, and we have purposely left a large gap in the gallery wall in order to move the carriage in. The carriage will be displayed from November 2011, as part of a reconstruction of Pier Head station, accompanied by the Lumière Brothers archive footage, filmed from the Overhead Railway in Visitors will get a real taste of what it was like to travel on the railway.

6 6 Museums fight injustice CLIMATE HAILS NE Campaigners from around the world converged on Liverpool for the first ever conference for museums that fight injustice. The inaugural meeting of the Federation of International Human Rights Museums (FIHRM) was held at the International Slavery Museum in September, and coincided with the opening of a brand new Campaign Zone at the Museum. Attended by 80 human rights activists from more than 20 countries, the event forged relationships between organisations, and examined ways institutions can work together to challenge racism, discrimination and other human rights abuses. FIHRM is a new initiative, bringing together some of the world s leading museums and organisations that deal with sensitive issues, such as transatlantic slavery and the Holocaust. It is coordinated by National Museums Liverpool and is supported by Liverpool Hope University s Desmond Tutu Centre for War and Peace Studies. The International Slavery Museum s Campaign Zone is a new exhibition and community space that aims to shed light on the legacies of transatlantic slavery, and to raise awareness of modern forms of slavery. DOCK-TOUR IN THE HOUSE A new visitor attraction gives a revealing glimpse into Liverpool s past. Part of the city s revolutionary Old Dock - the world s first commercial enclosed wet dock - is now open to the public at The Old Dock Experience. The internationallyimportant dock has been carefully preserved beneath the Liverpool ONE shopping centre, and the bed of the Pool, the creek that gave Liverpool its name, is now visible for the first time in centuries. The Old Dock was revealed during excavations in 2001 after being buried since Developers, Grosvenor, preserved the dock and have made it publicly accessible as an important reminder of Liverpool s maritime history. The visitor facility, funded by Grosvenor, Liverpool Vision and the North West Development Agency, is run by National Museums Liverpool, with tours starting at the Merseyside Maritime Museum. A store of photography ARTICLE by Albert Ulovdit The secrets of one of the UK s oldest and most iconic department stores were revealed in a captivating series of photographs at the National Conservation Centre. Lewis s Fifth Floor: A Department Story showed a world of 1950s design and functionality that has remained hidden since the floor was closed to the public in the early 1980s. Used as a storage floor since then, it has been captured in the work of local photographer, Stephen King. The images provide a rare glimpse of the fifth floor, originally comprising a self-service cafeteria, a restaurant with waitress service, and a silver service restaurant, depicting 1950s style at its very best. Stephen King said, I tried to create a series of images that correctly translated both the glamorous and eerie atmospheres that make the fifth floor the strange place it is.

7 MINISTER W MUSEUM A MOMENT IN HISTORY The International Slavery Museum at the Albert Dock welcomed its millionth visitor in March. Since opening in 2007 the pioneering museum, which looks at aspects of historical and contemporary slavery, has received more than 350,000 visits each year. Richard Benjamin, Head of the International Slavery Museum, said, "We re delighted to have welcomed so many visitors over a relatively short period of time. Liverpool s role in the transatlantic slave trade has often been taboo. But clearly people want to learn about this subject and the impact of slavery worldwide. We are unique in that no other museum in the world offers slaveryrelated collections as well as exhibitions focusing on contemporary forms of slavery. 7 A sustainable energy centre at the new Museum of Liverpool was praised by Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, Chris Huhne. The flagship development will be powered using state of the art renewable and energy-efficient technologies. Inside DNA A unique exhibition at World Museum offered visitors a chance to get to grips with the latest developments in genetics and genomic research. Looking at subjects such as identity, health and evolution, Inside DNA featured interactive exhibits that gave a fascinating insight into cutting-edge science. Visitors voiced their views on subjects that affect us all in a Dialogue Zone, and News and Views pods gave access to the latest news on genomic research. EXOTIC VISITORS AT MUSEUM World Museum welcomed some unusual visitors in March. A group of meerkats made a series of guest appearances at the venue as part of National Science Week. The cute clan, whose natural habitat is the deserts of Africa, joined other live creatures such as snakes, to give visitors a glimpse of the exotic. During his visit to the site, Mr Huhne emphasised the crucial role of sustainable energy in delivering cost and carbon savings across the public sector as a whole. The combined heat and power system will save money and reduce carbon emissions by 884 tonnes each year equivalent to the environmental benefit of 88,400 trees. Mr Huhne said, The Museum of Liverpool has shown what is possible schemes like this one will be at the forefront of efforts to deliver on our low-carbon goals. HAPPY BIRTHDAY! World Museum celebrated its 150th anniversary with a weekend of events reflecting the international status of our collections from all over the world. Liverpool merchant, Sir William Brown, opened Liverpool Museum (as it was then called) on 18 October 1860, before a vast crowd. Generations have since flocked to the Museum to marvel at our stunning collections, most of which survived the May Blitz in Exhibits include everything from tiny beetles and ancient ornaments to huge statues and a towering totem pole. Visitors joined in the birthday celebrations by meeting William Brown in a special role play, touring the Museum, posting thoughts on a memory wall and making birthday hats and badges. BACKED FOR THE FUTURE The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) awarded 350,000 to National Museums Liverpool and the North West Federation of Museums to develop 12 Positive Action traineeships in museums and galleries in the North West. This is in recognition of the shortage of people with a disability and diverse cultural heritage working in museums and the heritage sector in the North West of England. Six people will be trained by National Museums Liverpool, with the other six at Manchester Museum, Salford Museum & Art Gallery and Towneley Hall, Burnley. The money, awarded under HLF s Skills for the Future programme, will train the new recruits over a four-year period, as well as training existing staff at three heritagebased organisations to become NVQ and Conservation Technician Qualification assessors.

8 8 Property *New instruction* Museum of Liverpool This extraordinary new build occupies an enviable position on Liverpool s beautiful dock side. Open for viewings in July 2011, the Museum of Liverpool offers outstanding dual aspect views over the River Mersey and beyond, and tells the story of Liverpool from the Ice Age to the present day. Spacious galleries reflect the city s global significance through its unique geography, history and culture. Sudley House Sudley House is a sandstone mansion located in the leafy suburbs of South Liverpool. Positioned on a generous plot with gardens to the side and rear, the house contains the only art collection of a Victorian merchant still in its original setting. Works by Gainsborough, Turner and Reynolds are displayed in the spacious family accommodation and beautiful interiors once inhabited by the shipping magnate George Holt and his family. Walker Art Gallery (bottom left) This character property with imposing front elevation and grand entrance, is home to one of the best collections of fine and decorative art in Europe. Masterpieces by Rembrandt and Monet rub shoulders with paintings by contemporary artists such as Hockney and Doig. The exceptionally maintained ground floor comprises a spectacular sculpture gallery, dedicated children s gallery - Big Art for Little Artists, and a stylish Craft and Design gallery. World Museum This architect-designed property offers a striking entrance which leads into a bright and spacious atrium. Covering five generous floors, World Museum combines treasures from across the globe with the latest technology and live exhibits. Well appointed interactive hands-on centres help visitors get up close to everything from tropical fish to ancient fossils. The Treasure House Theatre hosts live performances, and the country s only free Planetarium is located on the fifth floor. Lady Lever Art Gallery An attractive and well proportioned gem nestled in delightful Port Sunlight village. The Lady Lever Art Gallery holds a magnificent collection of Victorian and Pre-Raphaelite paintings, beautiful furniture and the best set of Wedgwood Jasperware in the world. The grand hall and stunning rotundas display many of the period features William Hesketh Lever introduced when he founded the Gallery in Merseyside Maritime Museum This former warehouse benefits from an enviable riverside position. Converted in 1986, it still retains many original features such as exposed brick, original cast iron supporting columns, full length windows and attractive vaulted, barrelled ceilings. The Museum tells the story of Liverpool s illustrious maritime history and the city s role as a gateway to the New World. From the tragic tales of Titanic and Lusitania to the story of emigration, the Museum documents centuries at sea. International Slavery Museum This unique property occupies the third floor of the Merseyside Maritime Museum. Ideally suited for those wishing to learn about the historical and contemporary aspects of slavery, it addresses the many legacies of the transatlantic slave trade. The Museum tells stories of bravery and rebellion amongst enslaved people, and explores freedom, identity, human rights and Black achievement. Seized! The Border and Customs Uncovered Located in the heart of the Albert Dock, this newly renovated property is a stylish addition to the Merseyside Maritime Museum. The national museum of the UK Border Agency, it examines the intriguing and controversial story of Britain s taxes and duties. Internal viewing recommended. Thanks v-much to all our volunteers! Thanksv-muchtoallourvolunteers! Thanks v-much to all our volunteers! Thanksv-muchto

9 Fashion Hitched Veils, trains, satin and brocade were the order of the day in the Sudley House summer collection. During the height of the UK wedding season, Hitched: Wedding Clothes and Customs opened to reveal the changing face of marriage over the last 150 years. From an elegant 19th century white silk taffeta wedding dress to the sharp suits of a 21st century civil partnership, the exhibition explored how, despite significant changes in society, marriage continues to play an important role in many people's lives. Dare to wear? Beautiful but deadly was on trend at the Walker Art Gallery. Dare to Wear: Glass Dresses by Diana Dias-Leão was a stunning display of 14 glass dresses and two barbed wire corsets. The display demonstrated Diana Dias-Leão s glass making skills and her experience of working in the fashion industry. Not made for practical wear, this collection of couture sculpture was designed to create discussion and debate about issues around beauty and body image. The artist believes that anorexia, bulimia, self harm and body dysmorphic disorder are connected with issues relating to image and lack of confidence. MARI-TIME OBJECTS A beautiful gold pocket watch belonging to the captain of the Lusitania, who survived the sinking of the luxury liner, was donated to the Maritime Museum. The timepiece went on display in the Titanic, Lusitania and the Forgotten Empress gallery to mark the 95th anniversary of the sinking, and was donated by descendents of Captain William Turner, who was born in Liverpool was a year of important acquisitions for the Museum, another highlight being a letter retrieved from the wreck of the Empress of Ireland. The fascinating letter was written by George Hayhurst, who was in Canada looking for work, to his wife, Ellen, in Britain. It was donated to the Museum by the couple s granddaughter. ICY TALE The epic story of Sir Ernest Shackleton s 1914 Endurance expedition was chronicled in a landmark exhibition at Merseyside Maritime Museum. Endurance: Shackleton s Antarctic Adventure told the amazing story of the Antarctic explorer s expedition and the journey to safety after his ship, Endurance, was crushed in the ice. The exhibition of photographs taken by ship s photographer, Frank Hurley, who dived into frigid waters to retrieve his glass plate negatives from the sinking Endurance, was accompanied by moving memoirs from the voyage, that captivated more than 200,000 visitors. A TOMB WITH A VIEW Children from more than 60 schools took part in Ancient Egyptian Adventure, an innovative outreach project developed by National Museums Liverpool and Hope Street Limited. Pupils were put at the heart of the action as they followed intrepid explorers on a journey around a specially created pyramid tomb set to discover more about Ancient Egypt. The scheme was part of Find Your Talent, a pilot arts education programme. In Liverpool it was led by National Museums Liverpool on behalf of Liverpool Arts and Regeneration Consortium, in partnership with Knowsley MBC, Liverpool City Council, St Helens Council and Curious Minds. allourvolunteers!thanks v-much to all our volunteers! Thanksv-muchtoallourvolunteers!Thanks v-much to all our volunteers! 9

10 10 BLOOMIN ECK! TOULOUSE YOURSELF Giant flowers bloomed mysteriously outside the World Museum in February. The huge plants heralded the arrival of Plantastic!, a science exhibition that revealed the wonderful world of plants; from trees and shrubs to fruit and vegetables, flowers and herbs. Interactive and multi-media exhibits and games uncovered the secrets of this amazing world, and visitors entered a magical realm with giant leafy canopies, massive seed pods, huge root systems and strange man-made trees. Plantastic! is now touring museums around Europe. Drawn from wide ranging collections and developed in collaboration with international partners, National Museums Liverpool s successful touring exhibitions bring art, history and science to life. Colly Flower in the Plantastic! garden. IN ART The colourful and theatrical world of 19th century Paris took over the Walker Art Gallery. High Kicks and Low Life: Toulouse-Lautrec Prints featured around 50 works by the classic chronicler of 19th century Paris. Documenting the glamorous and the decadent, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec effortlessly combined the excitement of the cabaret with the poignant, shadowy private lives of prostitutes and their clients. Visitors to the Walker on Light Night in May were among the first to see the new exhibition as the Gallery became a tour de force of all things French, from poetry readings and music, to themed cuisine in the café. Partnership promises culture crossover National Museums Liverpool and Liverpool Hope University have joined forces to share expertise and develop links. A formal partnership has been signed which will see both organisations working together more closely on cultural programmes. Hope has two postgraduate courses directly linked to the cultural sector: Art History & Curating and Museum & Heritage Studies. Museum curators and staff will work with lecturers to shape both courses. Professor Gerald Pillay, Liverpool Hope University s Vice-Chancellor and Rector, said, At a time of enormous challenges in both the university and public sectors, strong partners draw strength from each other and will help protect the cultural legacy of the city and wider region. HOME ALONE Invisible to society and lacking legal protection, domestic workers are among the most exploited and abused workers in the world. Home Alone: End Domestic Slavery, an exhibition at the International Slavery Museum, explored some of the issues faced by domestic workers around the globe, and the continuing fight to promote workers rights. The exhibition was developed in partnership with Anti-Slavery International, which has joined forces with domestic worker organisations around the world to call for the International Labour Organization to adopt a new convention on domestic work, to provide protection for domestic workers.

11 MUSEUMS MEAN BUSINESS Members of museums and cultural organisations from across Europe visited Liverpool to recognise the importance of entrepreneurs and small businesses in Europe, including Liverpool s own Smithdown Road. The Entrepreneurial Cultures in European Cities Conference (ECiEC) was held at Merseyside Maritime Museum in July, following the successful Secret Life of Smithdown Road project, launched in The project explored how local shopkeepers have helped shape the South Liverpool neighbourhood. It will culminate in an exhibition within the new Museum of Liverpool. GUITARS AND STARS To mark 40 years of World Museum s planetarium, musicians played live music to star-gazing visitors. The musical intervention, the first of its kind at the Museum, was the brainchild of music producer Ross Dalziel. He has been working with National Museums Liverpool as part of PRS for Music Foundation s New Music Plus project, which sees up-and-coming talent partnering with cultural venues across the region. Taste ICE-ING ON THE CAKE Chefs at the Maritime Dining Rooms crafted a cake of Antarctic proportions. To celebrate the display of photographs from Ernest Shackleton s trans-antarctic expedition, chefs recreated the explorer s ship in cake. Neil Faux, a pastry chef at the Maritime Dining Rooms said, I ve baked lots of cakes for parties and events but nothing like this. We were inspired by the Shackleton exhibition in the Museum and think our version is fairly accurate even down to the snow covered decks! The cake also marked the first birthday of the Maritime Dining Rooms, situated on the fourth floor of the Maritime Museum. Bread and Butter Pudding with Marmalade Ice Cream from Ben Sheeran, Head Chef at the Maritime Dining Rooms. Bread and Butter Pudding Ingredients 1 brioche loaf 85g butter 50g currants 125g sugar 4 eggs 1 pint cream 1 vanilla pod 50g marmalade Method Cut the brioche into 2 even sized slices, butter one side and place 1 slice into a deep baking dish. In a mixing bowl place the eggs, sugar and vanilla. Whisk thoroughly. In a small pan heat up the cream on a low heat. Once heated, add to mixing bowl and stir. Pour half of the mix over brioche that is in the baking dish and allow mixture to soak in. Place the other slice of brioche on top and pour rest of mixture over top. Allow to soak for 2 hours. After 2 hours place in a pre-heated oven at 170 C and bake for 50 mins. Whilst baking, gently heat the marmalade in a pan. Once pudding is baked, glaze pudding with heated marmalade and place in oven for 10 mins. Across 1. All you need is Beatles song features on Museum of Liverpool bedspread (4) 5. Family compound reconstruction found at the International Slavery Museum (4) 7. Neo-classical sculpture by John Gibson found at the Walker Art Gallery (3,6,5) 8. The Lady Lever Art Gallery has an unrivalled display of this English potter s Jasperware (8) 10. Emigrant ship sunk in October 1859 (5,7) Down 1. Type of ants found in the Bug House at World Museum (10) 2. Gloves belonging to this Liverpool World Champion boxer will be on display in the new Museum of Liverpool (4,6) 3. Shipping magnate and former resident of Sudley House (6,4) 4. Britpop front man and one time judge of John Moores Contemporary Painting Prize (6,6) 6. Cheeky chap getting out of Nick s pool in the Walker s David Hockney painting. (5) 9. Famous railway locomotive being prepared for display in the Museum of Liverpool (4) SPOTTED! Liverpool born actress Alison Steadman (below) looking at her favourite paintings at the Walker. Man Booker Prize winning author Howard Jacobson filming for Channel 4 at the Lady Lever. Andrew Stunell, MP for Race Equality taking in the exhibits at the International Slavery Museum. DJ, television presenter and journalist Stuart Maconie filming for Inside Out at the Walker. Zimbabwean Cricketer Henry Olonga at the International Slavery Museum. BBC Breakfast sports hound Chris Hollins filming at the Walker. Ghanaian reggae star Rocky Dawuni at Slavery Remembrance Day. Choirmaster and broadcaster Gareth Malone at Merseyside Maritime Museum. Antiques expert and star of TV s Bargain Hunt Tim Wonnacott at the Lady Lever. Turner Prize winner Wolfgang Tillmans at the Walker. Johnny Vegas at the Maritime Museum. CROSSWORD Ice Cream Ingredients 300ml cream 200ml whole milk 80g sugar 80g marmalade zest of 2 oranges 8 egg yolks Method Heat cream and milk in a pan on a low heat. Add orange zest. Stir, then add in egg yolks and sugar. Once mixed add marmalade. Stir until thoroughly mixed. Place in container and freeze for 4 hours, checking and stirring every 30 mins Visit for all the latest news 11

12 REVIEW Sport CYCLING LEGEND WHEELS IN Local cycling legend, Chris Boardman, loaned his famous self-modified Lotus Sport super bike, his first Tour de France yellow jersey, and a piece of the track on which he smashed the World Hour record for the second time in The objects will feature in a gallery celebrating Liverpool s creativity and sporting achievements, including many priceless objects from sporting history. Chris said, It s great to be part of this fantastic project. The building already looks very striking, and I can t wait to see inside when it opens. The achievements of Liverpool and its people have been a massive inspiration to many, including myself, and our sporting success is just one part of the city s heritage. Olympic Gold medalist, Chris Boardman MBE, presented some prized items to the new Museum of Liverpool. AUDIENCE BOWLED OVER Henry Olonga, the first Black cricketer to represent Zimbabwe at international level, who protested publicly against Robert Mugabe s government, launched the Slavery Remembrance Day Festival with a free memorial lecture. He shared the story of his life and growing up in Zimbabwe with a captivated audience at Merseyside Maritime Museum. Slavery Remembrance Day is an annual international event that commemorates the lives of millions of enslaved Africans and their descendants, and celebrates the spirit of resistance that ended slavery. WINNING COLOURS The jockey s colours of Aintree legend Red Rum were displayed at World Museum in the run up to the Grand National. Red Rum s trainer, Ginger McCain, handed over the famous maroon woollen jumper that was worn for all three of the horse s Grand National victories. Ginger and his wife Beryl have kindly loaned the jockey s colours and they will eventually be on display in the new Museum of Liverpool. Buried at the finishing post on Aintree Racecourse, Red Rum was trained on the sands of Southport. Museum Madness GGGrrrhhhh! I like interactive but this is too much... You can't eat me I'm the director! burrrp! help!! I've got a new museum to open you know?!? Dinomania gets a bit out of hand... To be continued...