Transforming Collections Programme: Commissioning New Work for Collections, 18 March 2026, online via zoom
Transforming Collections is a series of online sessions designed to help museums to think about how they can explore, question, and review collections and collections information collaboratively to build more inclusive collections development practices.
This session will explore how museums can work with artists and communities to commission and co-commission new work.
Agenda
10.00: Welcome and Introductions
10.10: Dr Norma Gregory, a Consultant and Diverse Heritage Specialist
10.40: Gaynor Seville, Creative Director at the Whitaker Museum and Art Gallery
10.55: Break-out room discussion: how are you, or might your museum, approach commissioning new work. Do you need to:
- Think about bringing in new perspectives on collections and/or contemporary issues
- Work with communities to tell new stories through creative responses
- Grow your collections for inclusivity, relevance and engagement
- Work with artists to develop creative responses to current collections or contemporary issues
11.10: Break
11.20: Rob Dingle, Senior Programme Manager for Jerwood Art Fund Commissions
11.35: Q & A
11.55: Closing Statements and Follow-up
Before the session it would be helpful if you could think about how and why you do, or might do, activities in your museum. This may include:
- Reflecting on your collections development policy
- Thinking about gaps in collections or new perspectives to tell new or representative stories
- Thinking about how you might go about commissioning new work – who would you want to work with?
Booking opens 19 January 2026. Details of the full programme can be found here.
If you have any questions about the programme, please contact Sue Hughes sue.hughes@museumdevelopmentnorth.org.uk.