UKRG event: Wellcome to the Jungle (3/3)

Landseer in a Lorry.
Janice Slater, Head of Collections Management, National Galleries of Scotland

Janice gave us the history of the major acquisition of Sir Edwin Landseer’s The Monarch of the Glen which was strongly supported by the public and funding bodies before being acquired in May 2017. She then told us how she was inspired by a comedy sketch on the telly (Chewin’ the Fat – Community Art) to take Monarch of the Glen to school pupils who may not visit art galleries in the major cities – in the back of the gallery’s art truck.

Janice and her colleagues in conservation, art handling and security worked together to find the necessary solutions to concerns regarding environmental conditions, security and access to meet the necessary GIS standards and offer a unique up close and personal experience with this work.

The painting was glazed and fitted into a custom-made t-frame with Perspex and a data-tag inside to monitor the environment. The truck heating was on and the side door open to regulate the temperature. Portable stairs were used for access (modified) and a maximum of 10 visitors were on board, monitored and supervised at all times.

We watched a short video of the comedy clip followed by the NGS reality, showing the pupils reactions when they heard the painting was outside their school. They had been studying the painting in the classroom, and when their teacher surprised them by telling them the painting was outside, their reaction was heart-warming.
Art for all!

Alyson Rolington, European Registrars Conference Chair - update

The latest news on the 2018 London European Registrars Conference was provided by Alyson.
A conference organiser has been appointed and the dates were announced as 17-19 November.
The website should be launched by the end of February and a call for papers by 1 March. There will be three main themes:

EVOLVE (future, new ideas...)
REFRESH (day to day stuff, customs, procedures and so on)
COLLABORATE (how we work with each other, EU partners, worldwide)




Sustainability
Nadine Loach, Chair of the Sustainable Exhibitions for Museums Network


A brief overview of the group’s new survey, ten years after the 'Greening Exhibitions' survey.

The survey address will be circulated soon; the findings can hopefully be presented in November at the conference.
Close

Aisha Burtenshaw (UKRG Chair) closed the event by thanking all the speakers and the Wellcome Collection for hosting, and went on to proclaim - We're amazing! 

Which nobody can deny…!

Thanks to UKRG for the travel bursary – and to the committee and speakers for putting together such a fun and informative event.

Sally-Ann Coxon

Collections Registrar (Loans & Acquisitions)
National Galleries of Scotland