Brent Museum and Archives are committed to producing a lively and varied programme of temporary exhibitions on an annual basis. The programme relates to the Council and service Strategies.
1. The purpose of running such a programme is to:
- attract new and existing audiences to engage with history, culture and heritage
- attract educational visits
- enhance the quality and variety of the visiting experience
- raise the profile of Brent Museum and Archives
- promote Lifelong Learning
- support the concept of cultural cohesion in Brent
- encourage individuals and groups who have a connection with Brent to deposit objects, stories and documents with Brent Museum and Archives
- allow residents of the borough to see and engage with new concepts and ideas.
- enable residents to learn about their culture and the cultures of their neighbours.
2. The exhibition programme is intended to cover a broad range of subjects and allows for a combination of internally curated and externally acquired or curated displays. It will include exhibitions which:
- focus on the heritage and rich cultural diversity of the London Borough of Brent
- use the collections held by Brent Museum and Archives
- which are led by the community
- explore social, economic or environmental issues and concerns present in the borough, and promote the idea of social responsibility among residents.
- focus on broader subjects of more general interest
- introduce new objects and artefacts to Brent residents
- react to and encourage thought about events on a local, national and international stage.
- celebrate similarities and differences between cultures and communities in the borough.
- travel around the borough, using alternative venues to widen the reach of the exhibition programme.
3. The programme is proactive and exhibitions may only be selected if they demonstrate how they fulfil one or more of the objectives laid out in the Museum and Archives Strategy:
- engaging the public in the history, heritage and culture of Brent via an exciting public programme of events, talks, activities, and learning opportunities
- building on and rediscovering collections held by Brent Museum and Archives and interpreting them in new and innovative ways for the public to enjoy
- increasing the numbers of people actively engaging with history, their heritage and that of other cultures.
- encouraging thought and debate on social issues, which effect a broad range of communities.
- building new and sustainable community projects and partnerships through development of exhibition projects.
- inspiring people to research their past and that of their borough by providing user-friendly, accessible services and facilities
- removing barriers to accessing the heritage of the borough
4. The programme will strive to operate a thematic rotation of exhibition subjects within a 2 year cycle, taking into consideration age, class, disability, gender, race (ethnicity), religion/ belief (or lack thereof) and sexual orientation. This being subject to the capacity and resources of the service.
5. In order to ensure exhibitions have sufficient time to gain momentum and are financially viable, the suggested minimum running time for exhibitions in each gallery is:
- Exhibition Space (second floor, The Library at Willesden Green): 4-6 months
- Civic Centre Exhibition Wall (Brent Civic Centre): 3-6 months
- Community Display Areas: Family Space at Willesden Green, Kilburn Library, Harlesden Library, Ealing Road Library: 3-4 months
- The maximum running time for an exhibition is 6 months.
6. Entry to all Brent Museum and Archives spaces is free of charge.