Barker Langham

Sconce and Devon Park Restoration Official Celebration

colinsterling — Tue, 27 Jul 2010 14:42:38 +0000

The new visitor centre was opened today at Sconce and Devon Park in Newark. The new centre was part of a restoration project to promote the historic Sconce, the best preserved earthwork fort in Europe, and to improve facilities at this important park that attracts over 200,000 users per year. Barker Langham were instrumental in assisting the Council team in planning and delivering the audience and interpretation elements of the scheme. This included creating a volunteering plan; community consultation; creating a new event for the park; producing a new guide book, and all the on site signage and interpretation panels. Representatives from the HLF and Big Lottery praised the scheme.

Barker Langham to Work on New Archive and Museum Project with the University of Exeter

colinsterling — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 13:05:14 +0000

Barker Langham are working with Exeter University on a new project to create an archive for the Trucial Oman Scouts, a security force established in 1951 to help defend the seven emirates of Trucial Oman. The project will record oral testimonies of these men, create a digital archive of photographs and documents, create museum displays throughout the UAE, support reunions and related events, and publish histories and documentaries about these forces. Barker Langham have previously curated an oral history collection of Scouts who served at Jahili Fort, and are excited to be involved in this new undertaking.

To read more about the project visit the Centre for Gulf Studies, part of the Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies at the University of Exeter.

The UAE at Assilah Arts Festival

colinsterling — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 10:07:29 +0000

The UAE was the Guest of Honour at the 32nd Annual Assilah Arts Festival 2010 and commissioned Barker Langham to curate two exhibitions to celebrate UAE culture and heritage. Barker Langham developed the concept and design brief, selected content, managed the design and wrote the script for both exhibitions.

1. Continuity and Transformation: A Celebration of the Heritage of the United Arab Emirates.
Located in the Al Khamra Tower, in the old Medina of Assilah, this exhibition explores the origins and contemporary applications of the UAE’s distinctive heritage. The installations embrace both tangible and intangible heritage, showcasing what has shaped this vibrant culture: from the country’s striking natural landscape to the spirit and traditions of the people.

2. Cultural and Educational Projects of the United Arab Emirates.
With the historic Raissouni Palace as a backdrop, this exhibition is a celebration of the UAE’s belief in the value and power of culture and education. The exhibition showcases some of the many cultural and academic projects that are part of a spectacular flowering of culture in the United Arab Emirates.

Barker Langham to Work on Audience Development Plan for Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum

colinsterling — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 13:57:05 +0000

Barker Langham have been appointed by Bournemouth Borough Council to produce an Access and Audience Development as part of their ambitious Business Transformation Project at Russell Cotes Art Gallery and Museum. This gem on East Cliff holds a remarkable collection of art and objects, housed in a handsome villa overlooking the sea.

Barker Langham Appointed as Project Mentors for Rockingham Village Hall

colinsterling — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:16:00 +0000

Barker Langham Director Darren Barker has been appointed project mentor for the development of Rockingham Village Hall, an important 19th Century building in this historic Northamptonshire Village.

Barker Langham Appointed as Adviser to Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum

colinsterling — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 13:02:37 +0000

Barker Langham Associate Director John Thompson has been appointed project adviser by the Heritage Lottery Fund to assist in the development of ‘Building for a New Future’ at Cheltenham Art Gallery and Museum. This ambitious scheme seeks to provide new galleries, access stores and study facilities for the Museum, along with dedicated spaces for lifelong learning and a new gateway to Cheltenham’s oldest building, medieval St Mary’s Church.

Newarke Houses Museum and Gardens

colinsterling — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 15:19:57 +0000

Newarke Houses Museum and Gardens tells the story of 20th century Leicester and the history of the Royal Leicestershire Regiment. Working for Leicester City Museums and Galleries, Barker Langham developed an interpretation and design brief that helped secure Heritage Lottery Funding, define the exhibit themes and visitor routes and realise the new displays. Central to the brief was providing a voice for the local culturally diverse community and making links between this community and the history of the ‘Tigers’ – the Royal Leicestershire Regiment. Since the exhibition opened the museum has been highly successful – and is one of the most visited heritage attractions in Leicester.

“Leicester has achieved wonders turning three-linked buildings into one museum…this is, above all, a museum in which the people – and specifically the people of Leicester – win hands down.”

Nichola Johnson, Director of the Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, Museums Journal, September 2007

Berwick Borough Museum and Art Gallery

colinsterling — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:52:28 +0000

Barker Langham worked closely with key stakeholders and the public to develop a coordinated vision for the future of culture in Berwick – one of the world’s most important walled towns, home to Hawksmoor’s Berwick Barracks and 300 items of the world famous Burrell Collection.This work set up a steering group to debate the project with regional and local representation. This process revealed key regional issues with stakeholders, particularly the issues relating to the current Museum and Art Gallery and the Barracks themselves.

The consultation itself revealed a real sense of pride in a museum that was faced with closure. Ultimately the vision statement was underpinned by our proposals to give a new lease of life to the Barracks with a revitalised museum at its heart. Our work was fully endorsed by the Council, and led to a multi agency group being put together to develop the Museum and Barracks in tandem in the long term.

Sconce and Devon Park

colinsterling — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:34:52 +0000

Sconce and Devon Park is the largest of Newark’s parks – named after the River Devon and the Queen’s Sconce, the latter being the best preserved earthwork fort in Europe. The Queen’s Sconce, named after Queen Henrietta, is a star shaped earthwork over 3 acres in size; used to defend Royalist Newark during the Civil War. It was widely acknowledged that Newark was the ‘Key to the North’ and whoever held the town would be in control of the nation. When Newark fell in 1646 it was such as devastating blow that King Charles surrendered soon after. Barker Langham has worked with the Council over 4 years to develop funding bids and implement the plans for interpretation, activities, promotion and events for this important site.

Sarah Haines Joins Barker Langham as New Projects Director

colinsterling — Mon, 17 May 2010 13:53:41 +0000

Sarah previously worked for the London Development Agency (LDA) where she led a range of large capital and revenue projects. More recently she worked with Arcola Theatre on a grant funded project to assess the feasibility of creating a carbon neutral theatre in a site closer to the new East London Line station at Dalston Junction. The project was part of a wider Dalston regeneration package called Making Space for Dalston which was a public realm and cultural programming project led by the Design for London team at the LDA. She also led the Mayor’s Low Carbon Zones project on behalf of the agency and commissioned and project managed a branding project to create an identity for the LDA’s and GLA’s environment projects and programmes.

In her role as Projects Director she will be overseeing the development of Barker Langham’s entire project portfolio.