A joint Subject Specialist Networks event, 22 October 2024.

Deadline for submissions: Monday 3 June 2024.

We are delighted to announce a forthcoming collaborative event hosted by two Subject Specialist Networks: European Paintings pre-1900 and Understanding British Portraits. Museum professionals from across the UK are warmly invited to share experiences and projects relating to the theme of Reinvention and Redisplay.

We welcome prospective speakers to respond to this concept in any way that relates to their organisation and working practices: papers may present case studies on collection redisplays, new approaches to learning and outreach practices, or innovative change to institutional ethos, for example.

This event will present the opportunity to share new findings, best practice case studies, and innovative working models among sector colleagues. It will also support networking and collaboration between curators, museum learning professionals, researchers, academics and conservators.

This theme is inspired by new displays and interpretation both at the National Portrait Gallery and the National Gallery. The event will feature reflections from National Portrait Gallery staff one year after its reopening, as well as the future vision of the National Gallery as they embark on their bicentenary celebrations.

We are now inviting proposed papers of twenty minutes each in the form of case studies, questions, issues or challenges. Themes of interest include:

  • Collection rehangs
  • Co-curation and co-production projects
  • Decolonising collection display
  • New approaches to interpretation
  • Partnership working and collections
  • Reimagining organisational ethos
  • Future directions for collection display practices

The event will take place at the National Portrait Gallery in London on Tuesday 22 October 2024. Speakers’ travel expenses will be reimbursed, and we will arrange overnight accommodation for any speakers travelling a greater distance from London. Please send presentation proposals of 300 words maximum, together with a short biographical note (co-presented papers are also welcome) of 100 words maximum to [email protected]. The final date for submissions is Monday 3 June 2024, and we will reply to all potential speakers in July 2024. This information in PDF can be downloaded here.

Arts Council England