MLA chair Sir Andrew Motion and chief executive Roy Clare open museumaker at the Royal Pavilion's installation of 3000 black ceramic butterflies.
A Dark Day In Paradise, by Clare Twomey, in Brighton is one of 16 exhibitions opening this summer across the country. Each unlocks the creative potential of museum collections with collaborations between the heritage and the contemporary craft sector.
'museumaker' is a national project involving sixteen museums across four participating regions. It is supported by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and its programme Renaissance and Arts Council England offering new experiences for museum visitors and demonstrates ways of developing new audiences; especially children, families and young people.
Each participating Renaissance funded museum has commissioned one or more outstanding craft makers and contemporary artists to create intriguing new work in response to the museum venue and its collections.
Clare Twomey's installation responds to the extraordinary palace in Brighton created by George IV in the early 19th Century. Each ceramic butterfly represents a commentary on the flamboyance of the setting and enables visitors to reflect on the period, which included international conflict and an economic recession.
Opened last week in Richmond, the installation in Orleans House by Eleanor Pritchard presents a dinner party laid for 24 guests, each of whom was a resident of the locality over the past 400 years. Place settings are exquisitely designed and crafted; the seating plan places leading figures side by side with local people.
Speaking at the national launch of museumaker Sir Andrew Motion reminded guests of the significance of creativity in museums especially in present times of economic and social pressure: "As our country comes to terms with the economic deficit we all have an opportunity to celebrate the liberating effects of culture; museums have the capacity to lift spirits and release creative energy. Clare Twomey and the other makers in the Museumaker programme have helped us to see our collections through fresh eyes."
Speaking last week in Orleans House and yesterday in Brighton, Roy Clare said: "In tough times especially, local government needs public support to maintain its investment in culture and the arts; museumaker has succeeded in throwing a spotlight on the achievements of museums that reach out to artists and makers and think creatively about their collections to engage new audiences."
The first seven projects take place over the summer of 2010 in East Midlands, London, South East and North East. museumaker is also organising a number of public lectures and workshops and a national conference.
For further information on museumaker and the exhibitions visit http://www.museumaker.com
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Notes to editor:
Currently, the museumaker partner museums are:
East Midlands Region: Alford Manor, Lincolnshire; Harley Museum and Gallery, Welbeck; Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire; the University of Nottingham Museum
London Region: The Geffrye Museum, Hackney; Orleans House Gallery, Richmond; Valentine's Mansion, Redbridge; The Women's Library, London Metropolitan University, Tower Hamlets
South East Region: The Guildhall Museum, Rochester; The Royal Pavilion, Brighton; The Beaney Art Museum and Library, Canterbury; The Lightbox, Woking
North East Region: The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle; Killhope Lead Mining Museum, County Durham; Middlesbrough Museums & Galleries Service (Captain Cook Birthplace Museum, the Dorman Museum, mima); Woodhorn, Northumberland Museum and Archives