Manchester Museum

Did you know the Top Floor at the Museum is an environmental action and social justice hub? This transformation was made possible through Roots & Branches, a collaborative project with The Carbon Literacy Project and Museum Development North. Designed to empower museums to respond to the climate crisis, Roots & Branches has seen 1500 staff within the sector undertake Carbon Literacy training. Head to the link in our bio to check out our short report and find out more about how we’re responding to the climate crisis. https://lnkd.in/eqqgPts2

It's always exciting to see and hear young people's perspectives on our collections. Especially when they're this stunning. Recently, students from the Level 3 Art and Design course at Blackburn College paid us a visit and were challenged with creating a piece of work inspired by artefacts in the Museum’s collection in a cubist style. All of the submissions were beautiful but we were asked to pick three winners. So here are the brilliant pieces from Jess Thorpe, Chloe Boyle and Sage Butterworth.

African diaspora communities were recently given opportunity to contribute to vital work aimed at developing new understandings of African collections. The unique event, organised in collaboration with methods@manchester at The University of Manchester, encouraged attendees to handle objects and share their own experiences of them. These African objects, generally seized within a colonial context and often with violence, are usually held in stores concealed from public view. But this was part of ongoing work to make their stories visible by collaborating with African diasporans. https://lnkd.in/eFtqMD9W

Music has the power to inspire, to help and to heal. It creates moments of connection and contemplation, helping us to better understand ourselves and one another. As part of the Big Give #ChristmasChallenge we’re raising money to launch two new series of our Muso Baby programme, which uses music therapy to support mothers suffering with postnatal depression. So we asked members of the team to share their earliest music memories. Head to the link to find out more and make a gift to change a family’s life. https://lnkd.in/et7cvd_X

You don't want to end up on Stanta Claws' naughty list. So please head down to the Museum to support our annual Christmas gift appeal, Stan's Secret Santa, if you can. We're collecting new, non-perishable Christmas food items, including chocolate selection boxes, biscuits and sweets, as well as items of clothing for Manchester-based charities Barnabus Manchester and Mustard Tree. So your generous donations will help people experiencing homelessness or living in poverty this festive season. It runs until 5pm on Sunday (8 December). https://lnkd.in/g_F_Zgtm

Muso Baby offers a lifeline to parents suffering from postnatal depression and anxiety. But this vital programme can only continue with your support. Around one in 10 mothers suffer from postnatal depression. Muso Baby uses the power of music to help parents bond with their babies and develop new strategies to support their own wellbeing. We’re aiming to raise £15,000 through this year’s Big Give #ChristmasChallenge to fund two full series of Muso Baby. We only have seven days to raise the vital funds we need but every gift you give will be doubled thanks to a generous matched donor. If you would like to donate please head to the link below. https://lnkd.in/dicz-5hb

It’s not just the fascinating objects and collections at Manchester Museum that have stories to tell—so does the building itself! 🏛️ Join us this Wednesday lunchtime for Collection Bites: Manchester Museum – A Brief Architectural History, and discover how the museum building's history, at the heart of The University of Manchester, has shaped the spaces we know and love today. 📅 Wednesday, 4 December, 1.15-1.45pm 💡 Free to attend, but spaces are limited. Reserve your spot here: https://lnkd.in/e8MiKUZ4

This scene from our recent Diwali celebration captures the current mood at the Museum. And that's because we've been nominated for the European Museum of the Year Award 2025! We're one of just two venues from the UK on the shortlist for this huge prize and that's testament not only to our team but also to all of you - our partners, our communities, our visitors and our colleagues. We appreciate all the support. This one means a lot to us because the award is such a good fit with our own values. European Museum of the Year aims to recognise museums that promote inter-cultural dialogue and community participation, demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, and show creative and imaginative approaches to the production of knowledge. Now we just have to wait until May to find out whether we've won. https://lnkd.in/e96u9WTc

It’s that time again! 🎅🦖 Stanta Claws is ready to come roaring back into town for another instalment of our annual Christmas gift drive, Stan’s Secret Santa. Drop into the Museum during opening hours between Tuesday 3 December and Sunday 8 December to donate gifts and food for people experiencing poverty and homelessness. Stan’s elves will then deliver all of your kind donations to our chosen charities Barnabus Manchester and Mustard Tree to ensure they put a smile on someone’s face this festive season. We’re also hosting a festive fun day in the Museum on Saturday 7 December featuring free family workshops where you can make personalised gifts and decorations, plus seasonal music performances throughout the day. https://lnkd.in/e387xjug

Our Director Esme Ward is in excellent company on the Blooloop Museum Influencer List 2024. The breadth of talent on the list points to a really bright future for the sector, but we're also really proud to see Manchester Museum receiving global recognition. https://lnkd.in/gF3JJetr