Join us for a day exploring the role of the senses in museums and galleries. With a range of speakers who have incorporated the sensory into their curation, interpretation and engagement, we will share successes and learnings of working with smell, sound and touch alongside visual art.

This day takes its point of departure from the Barber’s current exhibitions, Scent & The Art of The Pre-Raphaelites, and Peace & Noise, and invites speakers from the V&A, Compton Verney, The Sainsbury Centre and The Sensational Museum to reflect on their own practice with the senses.

Some of the concepts explored include: the impact on dwell time and the diversity of audiences; the academic underpinnings of sensory research; and audiences’ evolving historical relationship with the sensory world.

If you have any questions, please email learning@barber.org.uk

Your ticket includes a buffet lunch, where you can network with colleagues. If you have any dietary requirements, please let us know at learning@barber.org.uk

Programme

10.30—11.00 Registration, Teas & coffees. Our galleries are open from 10.00 for those who would like to see the exhibition first

Morning Session: Scent in the Visual Arts

11.00—11.05 Welcome from Professor Jennifer Powell, Director, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts.

11.05—11.15 Introduction from Chair, Robert Wenley, Deputy Director, Collections & Research, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts.

11.15—11.40 Speaker: Sarah Grant, Senior Curator, V&A Museum.

11.40—12.05 Speakers: Antje Kiewell, Founder & Curator Artphilia; Gregorio Sola, Senior Perfumer and Creative Director, Puig; Dr Christina Bradstreet, exhibition curator of Scent and the Art of the Pre-Raphaelites at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.

12.05—12.30 Speakers: Dr Amy Orrock, National Curator, National Trust; Annelise Hone, Exhibitions. & Collections Manager at Compton Verney

12.30—13.00 Q&A with the morning’s speakers

13.00—14.00 Lunch

Afternoon Session: The Multi-sensory Museum

14.00—14.05 Introduction from Chair

14.05—14.30 Speaker: Rebecca Owen-Keats, Doctoral Researcher, Department of Art History, Curating and Visual Studies, University of Birmingham. Curator of Peace & Noise: The Sounds of the Landscape at the Barber Institute of Fine Arts.

14.30—14.55 Speaker: Jago Cooper, Director of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts and Professor of Art and Archaeology at University of East Anglia.

14.55—15.20 Speaker: Professor Hannah Thompson, Principal Investigator on The Sensational Museum, Royal Holloway University of London

15.20—15.50 Q&A with the afternoon’s speakers

15.50—16.00 Closing remarks from the chair

16.00—17.00 Networking, refreshments & opportunity to explore the galleries.

Optional Lunchtime Tour

13.00-13.30 Lunchtime talk with Dr Maddie Hewitson exploring Simeon Solomon’s A Saint of the Eastern Church. Lady Barber Gallery.

Dr Maddie Hewitson is a Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow within the Art History Department at the University of Birmingham. Their Leverhulme fellowship project, titled ‘The First Covenant: understanding the role of the Hebrew Bible in Victorian art’ offers the first sustained analysis of the role the Old Testament played in British visual culture.

Access and Facilities

The day will include audio description introductions and BSL interpretation, if you should need anything else to make the day more accessible, please don’t hesitate to be in touch with the learning team at learning@barber.org.uk

The main entrance to the Barber is accessed by 13 shallow steps. Level access is available via a permanent, sloped ramp at the rear of the building. This entrance is not staffed or supervised by the Visitor Services team; visitors are asked to contact reception via the intercom located on the right side of the gate. A member of the team will meet visitors and assist with the entry to the Barber.

The galleries are accessed by 31 shallow steps, however step-free access is available via our lift. Our lift provides access to all floors and, for security reasons, is staff-operated. Visitors wishing to use the lift can do so by asking a member of the Visitor Services team located at the ground floor reception, on the gallery level at the entrance, and in the red gallery.

There is an accessible toilet located by the lift on the 1st floor of the building. Please speak to a member of the Visitor Services team for help finding this. Baby-changing facilities are available in both the women’s toilet on the ground floor and the accessible toilet.

Portable fold-up stools are available for you to take around our galleries, and there are wooden benches for you to sit and rest. We kindly ask that you return the fold-up stools to a member of the gallery staff once you have finished.

Hearing loops are fitted at our reception desk. Large-print versions of information panels are available throughout, located in each gallery, including our temporary exhibitions. We welcome guide and hearing dogs throughout the building.

Blue Badge parking is available in any parking space on the campus, please display your Blue Badge as usual. There are limited spaces directly outside the Barber.

For our full Access Guide please visit our AccessAble listing.