Museum Network
The Wallace Collection is delighted to announce a major step forward in its work with regional museums, with the establishment of a new Museum Network,
Comprising the Wallace Collection and four leading regional institutions: the Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle; Compton Verney; the Holburne Museum, Bath; and Waddesdon Manor (The Rothschild Collection, The National Trust).
Wallace Collection Director Rosalind Savill said: "The Wallace Collection has in recent years actively sought opportunities to work constructively with other institutions both in this country and internationally. Because of the restrictions of Lady Wallace's bequest, we have sought more creative ways to make our wonderful collections more widely available and to share expertise and knowledge with others. The Museum Network brings together a fascinating group of institutions, the collections of which (notably the Bowes Museum and Waddesdon Manor) parallel in varying ways those of the Wallace Collection.
The most important common thread is, however, that the spirit and individual character of each institution still resides in its founding collection, whether put together by one individual such as Sir William Holburne, several generations of the same family as here at the Wallace Collection or, indeed, actively growing as at Sir Peter Moores' wonderful new creation at Compton Verney. I see the establishment of the Museum Network as a tremendously exciting opportunity for this group of museums to work together in all sorts of new ways over the coming years."
The Museum Network will operate flexibly, with annual meetings at Director level accompanied by regular meetings of other working groups comprising all or some of the partner institutions and covering activities such as exhibitions, education and conservation. Projects already underway or under discussion include: Joint loan exhibitions to tour participating venues Development of a pilot e-learning programme on Portraiture by the Bowes Museum, Holburne Museum and Wallace Collection, with funding from the DCMS/DfES Strategic Commissioning Fund Participation in the Wallace Collection's major plans to revolutionise the presentation of information on its collections and associated learning opportunities.
