February 24, 2016
Sonia Overall is currently the Resident Armchair Artist at The Beaney in Canterbury. Today I am drawn to the display of dolls houses and furniture in the Materials and Masters room. The bottom shelf of the cabinet is packed with household items, a bric-a-brac array of plates, serving dishes, cups, glasses, jugs, pots and pans and […]
January 12, 2021
Day 297: Monday 11th January Looking beyond the experience of old routines (weekly football, commuting, travel) coming to a stop I have been thinking a little bit about privileges (having a car/garden/supportive family and friends/a job/a job I can mostly do from home) and one in particular began to stand out – I have a […]
March 03, 2021
Today is a new month and has been marked by the postman delivering my letter inviting me to book my coronavirus vaccine! I can book both appointments so this means I will receive my second vaccine just before I’m due to go back to work in May. Despite feeling disappointed that our return to work […]
July 06, 2020
Over the last year, I have had numerous requests from my team for me to write my ‘Talking Heritage’ blog, and unfortunately I have told them that I was too busy each time. Now, following a week that is sure to go down in history, I have stopped and taken the time to reflect. My job […]
February 16, 2021
Day 332: Monday 15th February I’m sitting in the upstairs room of a delightful house in rural Devon. This is my current lockdown abode. The wind is howling and the rain lashing against the window. I’m looking out over the lawn at a valley beyond which is a very faint outline of Dartmoor. It is […]
May 12, 2020
Over the last year, I have had numerous requests from my team for me to write my ‘Talking Heritage’ blog, and unfortunately I have told them that I was too busy each time. Now, following a week that is sure to go down in history, I have stopped and taken the time to reflect. My […]
April 20, 2020
Over the last year, I have had numerous requests from my team for me to write my ‘Talking Heritage’ blog, and unfortunately I have told them that I was too busy each time. Now, following a week that is sure to go down in history, I have stopped and taken the time to reflect. My […]
October 06, 2016
Last Friday night we celebrated the opening of Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences in The Beaney. The exhibition was official opened by Darren Henley, Chief Executive of Arts Council England, followed by a fantastic dance performance by the Leo Dance Company. A massive thank you to everyone who came along and supported us […]
October 02, 2016
If you think Grayson Perry’s work isn’t your cup of tea, I urge you to give this artist a chance. The exhibition is free, so if you walk away and we haven’t managed to convince you otherwise, then you’ve lost nothing but a little time. However, I sincerely believe everyone will walk away with a […]
August 05, 2016
The ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’, or Wunderkammer, was a personal collection of unusual items from around the world. Many of these collections existed in private homes throughout Britain and Europe throughout the 19th Century. As they were the forerunner to the modern ‘museum’ they are of great interest to historians and curators. The Beaney houses its […]
June 10, 2016
The latest blog from Adam De Ville, Resident Armchair Artist at The Beaney in Canterbury. For my second visit I am met with sounds and sweet airs that give delight: something chicken based is on the stove and the aroma of a particularly delightful coffee sensation tries its best to tempt me over to the dark side […]
April 18, 2016
Highlights of the Front Room Programme in 2015 and past projects