Read our latest news here. From project updates to new appointments, this is where we will keep you informed.
June 2024 - Preparing for our roof replacement
Please read our latest update on our roof replacement project which begins in July 2024. We do anticipate some gallery closures during the first phase of the project, to protect the dioramas and glass from damage, as well as the safety of visitors. This is temporary and we will be updating our visitors regularly as we learn more details.
Preparing for our roof replacementApril 2024 - The museum has been awarded £1.1m from the Department for Culture Media and Sport MEND fund
We are absolutely delighted to share that we have been successful in our funding bid to replace our museum building roof and tackle a maintenance backlog on the building. We will share updates on this page and our social media channels as the project progresses.
Museum Receives £1.1m from DCMS MEND fundMarch 2024 - Wingham Timber generously donates a wheelchair accessible picnic bench to the Sunshine project in Quex Gardens
We are so grateful to Wingham Timber for generously donating a brand new wheelchair accessible picnic bench for our volunteers and visitors to use in Quex Gardens.
Find out moreThursday 14th March 2024
We have been shortlisted at the Museums and Heritage Awards!
We are delighted to share that our nomination for ‘Team of the Year’ has been shortlisted at this year’s prestigious Museum and Heritage Awards.
This was our nomination:
Our team has faced the hardest of challenges in 2023. Our building has suffered ongoing water ingress causing leaks and pest
infestations. And with our huge collection being almost 90% organic, it has been very much affected by this. Collections stored
in cupboards across 5 galleries and two stores directly above dioramas have been affected. The upper library store had a severe water leak but luckily the books were rescued in the nick of time.
Without the funds required to replace the roof, our only other option was to move the collection. With our full support, our Conservator pulled together the budget, the resources and the team to tackle this monumental task. She researched the most suitable conservation techniques. risk-assessed the tasks, built the budget and trained our whole
team on the approach. With the effort of our colleagues across operations, collections and gardens, a new location was sourced and racked out, ready to receive objects.
Phase 1 has been to clean, pack, freeze, conserve and re-home 2000 animal skulls complete with horns. To manage this
volume of material in a short space of time, a container-sized freezer was hired. Around 200 objects per batch were frozen
for 1 week (including time for slowly cooling and bringing back to ambient temperature), then transported to their new home.
On arrival, documentation processes were undertaken.
A small display was created in the museum to help visitors understand the work being undertaken as it did result in two
galleries being closed for temporary skull storage.
Staff worked tirelessly for months to finish this first stage of the project. Sponsorship by Mr Kipling has been seriously
considered to keep spirits high, we have consumed A LOT of cake!
Now we have begun stage 2, the Primate collection. Our extremely valuable primate collection includes around 500 delicate
specimens which need to undergo a similar procedure.
We must not overlook the volume of administrative work that these projects carry, from rotas to risk assessments, COSHH
assessments, purchasing and reports. Other members of our team committed time to this.
Throughout this process, the whole team worked above and beyond any expectation and our Conservator considered all their needs, from training, equipment, safety, sensitivities (natural history conservation can be upsetting) and motivation/recognition. We anticipate this work to continue behind the scenes of the museum for several years.
Representatives from our team will be attending the awards ceremony in London on 15th May. Our whole team wants to congratulate all the shortlisted nominees and we look forward to celebrating with you.
February 2024 - Powell-Cotton Trust appoints new CEO
We are delighted to announce that Sarah Corn will be joining the Powell-Cotton Trust as CEO in April 2024
Read the releaseMarch 2023 - Museum wins Collections Trust Award!
We are delighted to announce that the Powell-Cotton Museum has won the 2022 ‘Collections Trust Award’ for our recent project ‘Museum Makers – People-Centred Cataloguing’. The award recognises the achievements of those who manage the collections at the heart of all museums.
Read the release
FREE ENTRY TODAY!
This Mother’s Day let`s celebrate all the incredible women who have shown us love and guidance, whether they are mothers, grandmothers, or motherly figures. Enjoy a day of culture and creativity at the museum today courtesy of @powthanet.
Bring the whole family along for a memorable experience that will create lasting memories.
#FreeEntry #MothersDay #ReimaginingtheMuseum
@visitkent @visitthanet @kentattractions
We continue to celebrate #WomensHistoryMonth with our Female of the Species tours every weekend throughout March. Embark on a journey of empowerment and discovery with our female-focused tour, where you`ll uncover the surprising pursuit of women as hunters and collectors as well as learning about the artisans that created our newest collection, Nambian Narratives. Tours are included with your standard admission ticket.
#WomensHistoryMonth #InternationalWomensDay #Learning #ReimaginingTheMuseum #MuseumMaker
@visitkent @visitthanet @kentattractions
As part of the Sunshine project members of the garden team recently took part in a clay workshop led by Jayne Wright @ThanetTilesOfJoy and our resident artist, Julia Ellen-Lancaster.
Starting with identical balls of clay each person created an individual tile inspired by things which brought them joy. The result is a set of tiles which are different from each other. Participants discovered ways to sculpt and mould their designs with inspiration from the garden as well as personal flights of fancy!
Discover these incredible works from our talented team at our open days from Saturday 2nd March to Sunday 1st April.
@visitkent @visitthanet @ketnattractions
#Learning #QuexGardens #ReimaginingTheMuseum
The #SunshineProject receives a grant from AIM Connected Communities. AIM Connected Communities is funded by the DCMS Know Your Neighbourhood Fund through Arts Council England. @Aimuseums, @dcmsgovuk and @aceagrams
#BehindTheScenes #MuseumMonday
We are now in the second phase of our thorough conservation work with our stored collections. This work is part of a large storage project which will move collections from storage conditions suffering water ingress and pest infestation to more suitable areas.
Part of the process is unpacking and repacking collections with fresh materials, in correctly sized boxes.
Currently we are working with our very precious primate collection which is regularly requested by researchers.
This particular specimen is a male Agile Monkey.
@visitkent @visitthanet @kentattractions
#Reimaginingthemuseum #conservation #museum #powellcottonmuseum
Today we`re sharing a selection of Monster Faces - sculptures created by a learning group with the #SunshineProject in our treasured #QuexGardens.
The Sunshine Project offers high-quality volunteering opportunities, community engagement, and social connectivity, with a specific focus on individuals with learning disabilities and mental health challenges.
We`re delighted to be working alongside @juliaellenlancaster_ceramics as the project`s Artist in Residence to lead these opportunities for creativity within the museum setting - Julia thoughtfully commented, "It’s a real opportunity to respond to the incredible inspiration that Museums can offer. Working with our hands, making and creating is such a natural and human thing to do, something that many of us can be detached from in an age of technology."
The sculptures are on display now and can be seen as part of our `Spring into the Museum` events. See if you can spot them along the Quex Tree Trail this weekend!
@visitkent @kentattractions @bestkentattractions
#Learning #ReimaginingtheMuseum #PowellCottonMuseum #VisitKent #VisitThanet #ThanetCommunity #Springintothemuseum #sunshineprojectsunday
The Sunshine Project is in receipt of a grant from AIM Connected Communities. AIM Connected Communities is funded by the DCMS Know Your Neighbourhood Fund through Arts Council England.
@Aimuseums, @dcmsgovuk and @aceagrams
https://aim-museums.co.uk/connected-communities-marketing-guidelines/
Don`t miss our beautiful new spring product range here at the museum. Spring into the gift shop to browse the collection that includes everything from budget friendly bugs to gorgeous china gifts.
We have to say, these Gem Bugs really are very cute! Which items do you most like the look of?
#ReimaginingtheMuseum #Learning #Kentgiftshop #Museumgiftshop #PowellCottonMuseum #QuexHouseandGardens
@visitkent @kentattractions @visitthanet
We cannot wait to reopen for visitors and with only 10 days to go, we thought we`d share a little of what you have to look forward to during Half Term...
Opening to visitors on Saturday 10th February (11-3), visitors can `Spring into the Museum` at the weekends with a range of delightful and seasonal family activities:
* A Precious Bug Hunt - Track down the mischievous gem bugs who have wandered off on their own exploration of the museum. Follow their trail, and navigate through the galleries and grounds to identify these tricky treasures!
* A Trail of Trees - Explore the winding paths of beautiful Quex Gardens with the help of our handy tree map. Perhaps it will also lead you to a discovery of curious faces sculpted amongst the trees!
* A Sensory Scavenger Wheel - Hunt out the spectrum of scents and colours of Spring at the museum using our popular Scavenger Wheel!
* Beautiful Bugs - Craft up a storm in the Learning Gallery with bug-themed colouring activities and games.
* A Special Storytelling Session - Join author Paul Deslandes for a captivating storytelling session on Saturday 10th February at 12pm. Your little ones will be immersed into Paul’s wonderful story ‘The Garden Monster’ which was inspired by his own children`s garden adventures.
Spring into the Museum
10 & 11 February, 11-3
17 & 18 February, 11-3
@visitkent @visitthanet @kentattractions
#Learning #ReimaginingtheMuseum #VisitThanet #VisitKent #HalfTermKent #PowellCottonMuseum
It`s #InternationalLEGODay and we`re excited to announce a special event here at the museum happening on Father`s Day weekend in June.
Come and visit us on either Saturday 15th or Sunday 16th June and in addition to exploring the museum and gardens, you can also take part in LEGO® workshops which involve creating LEGO® Dot mosaics and taking on fun LEGO® speed building challenges. There`ll also be a range of Bricktacular models on display!
This is the perfect family activity for a unique and special Father`s Day - head to the website to book your LEGO® experience today! Pre-booking essential.
https://powell-cottonmuseum.org/.../bricktacular-adventures/
@visitkent @visitthanet @kentattractions @TheBRICKPeopleLtd #ReimaginingtheMuseum #PowellCottonMuseum #KentMuseums
This week our artist in residence @juliaellenlancaster_ceramics, has been working with local groups as part of the exciting community outreach initiative - The Sunshine Project.
Here we can see Julia teaching the group how to make leaf imprints into the clay as they prepare sculptures for the Spring into the Museum Tree Trail. Look out for the faces in the trees as you discover the trees of #Quexgardens during our Spring into the Museum event next month!
#Behindthescenes #ReimaginingtheMuseum #QuexGardens #Sunshineproject #Learning #thanetcommunity
@visitkent @visitthanet @kentattractions
The Sunshine Project is in receipt of a grant from AIM Connected Communities. AIM Connected Communities is funded by the DCMS Know Your Neighbourhood Fund through Arts Council England.
@Aimuseums, @dcmsgovuk and @aceagrams
https://aim-museums.co.uk/connected-communities-marketing-guidelines/
Museum Close Up:
On his visit to China during his World trip, Percy took great interest in the manufacturing of silk. He brought home a quantity of silk fabric and some Chinese robes decorated with embroidery. (We believe that the embroideries in the Oriental Drawing Room came from these robes. We know they were originally sewn onto silk fabric, which deteriorated over the years and was replaced with the current material on display.)
The stunning images on the embroideries include typical Chinese subjects - dragons, waves, clouds, insects, birds and flowers in rich gold, green, blue and orange colours.
#kentmuseums #museumcloseup #reimaginingthemuseum #powellcottonmuseum #visitkent #visitthanet
From our Spring events all the way through to December`s wreath-making workshops, your support and engagement throughout 2023 has been wonderful and so gratefully received.
We have so much to share with you next year, we can`t wait to get started!
Thank you from all of the staff and volunteers and...
Happy New Year!
#powellcottonmuseum #museummaker #reimaginingthemuseum
A photograph from the archives...Percy Powell-Cotton enjoying the winter snow in Quex Gardens.
#museumskent #powellcottonmuseum #quexhouseandgardens #visitkent #reimaginingthemuseum #fromthearchives #behindthescenes
