A new museum of art and archaeology opens in Lincoln on October 1 2005 following a massive £12.5 million development.
The result of a partnership, dating back to 1999, between the City of Lincoln Council and Lincolnshire County Council, The Collection is located in a new building built on Lincoln’s historic hillside.
"It has been a pleasure to see this magnificent building taking shape," said Cllr Edna Chapman, chair of Lincolnshire County Council.
"It will, I am certain, be a great attraction not only for schools throughout the county and beyond but also for the university students of the city as the visiting public."
The largest mosaic to be discovered in Lincoln for over 100 years was unearthed during construction work on The Collection. Courtesy Lincolnshire County Council.
The Collection replaces the original City and County Museum in Lincoln, which had been open since 1906 and encompasses the Usher Gallery next door.
Located in the centre of the city, the new institution has been purposefully built to fit in with its historic surroundings. As such it is faced in Lincolnshire limestone and the roof has been made to look like lead so as to complement the roof of Lincoln Cathedral nearby.
Building work began in 2003 and actually created more work for the new museum’s curators, when excavations at the site revealed the largest Roman mosaic to be unearthed in the city for over 100 years.
It turned out to be a section of 2,000-year old pavement and was carefully removed. Now it forms the centrepiece of the Roman displays at the new museum.
Nick, 2000, Tomoaki Suzuki. © Tomoaki Suzuki 2005. The Frank Cohen Collection, courtesy Corvi-Mora, London.
Other artefacts and showcases trace the history of the area from the Stone, Bronze and Iron Ages through to the Saxon, Viking and medieval eras.
But as well as exploring Lincolnshire’s rich archaeological heritage, visitors will get a chance to discover a vast art collection. A programme of temporary exhibitions is planned, while formal and informal learning opportunities will be available to all through partnerships with the likes of the University of Lincoln.
It’s hoped that around 80,000 people will visit in The Collection’s first year of opening and that the new building will act as a gateway to exploring the built heritage and other attractions in Lincolnshire.
While the entire institution will get its official opening ceremony on October 4, when HRH The Duke of Gloucester will do the honours, Saturday October 1 will see the public opening of the inaugural exhibition in the new art space.
One, 1992, by Dan Graham. © Dan Graham 2005.
The New Curtois Gallery, a white cube space for contemporary art, is playing host to Wunderkammer: The Artificial Kingdom until January 8 2006.
Curated by artist Edward Allington, Wunderkammer – literally, ‘cabinets of wonder’ – features work by 38 contemporary artists, including Dan Graham, Arman and Marc Quinn, as well as historically significant artists such as Marcel Duchamp and Eduardo Paolozzi.
Referring to the collection of objects that began in the Middle Ages and developed into the first public museums in the 18th century, the exhibition celebrates the idea that artists continually make artificial worlds.
Although it has been created by a partnership of the City of Lincoln Council and Lincolnshire County Council, The Collection has been made possible by the support of a large number of organisations.
Untitled (Dodo), 1994, by John Isaacs. © John Isaacs. Courtesy Arts Council Collection, Hayward Gallery, London.
Amongst others, the European Regional Development Fund, the East Midlands Development Agency, Arts Council England and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) have all provided money to the development.
"At the HLF we have worked hard to revitalise and rejuvenate the museum sector in the last 10 years, investing over £1 billion," explained Nick Dodd, shadowing trustee for the HLF.
"The fact that Lincoln has been able to develop a new and exciting museum is a reflection of that commitment and enthusiasm and one of which we are very proud."
