During Museums at Night 2011 Culture24 staff and reporters visited night-time events and reported back with pictures and a few words. We'll be doing the same in 2012 during the weekend of May 18 - 20 2012. In the meantime here's a taster from 2011.

It’s hard to believe the Bloomsbury set never had a band in during their many soirees at Duncan Grant and Vanessa Bell’s farmhouse Charleston, but apparently this is the first time there has been live music in the house. 

A packed night at Charleston saw 40 lucky culture vultures enjoy this musical premier with a night-time tour of the former bolt hole of the Bloomsbury set, nestling in the gently twilit landscape of the Sussex Downs. 

Split into groups of ten we were effortlessly guided around the house and its treasures by highly knowledgeable and passionate Charleston volunteer guides.

Ours was elegant and erudite as she quietly contextualised Charleston’s amazing interior in which everything has been decorated to become a work of art.

Four of the rooms also contained a musician who played solo pieces from Bach as we perused the amazing furnishings, paintings and décor before coming together for a full string quartet performance in the cafeteria/kitchen.

“Hopefully this will be the first of many events like this” said the events manager at Charleston Holly Wood, who, after thanking everybody, asked for suggestions for future activities.

One of the strongest was for an evening of music from the era of Bell, Grant and their famous friend Virginia Woolf.

Perhaps we will be dancing the Charleston at Charleston for next year’s Museums at Night?