Documenting an Art Fund Event Across Liverpool’s Museums and Galleries

Art Fund is the UK’s national charity supporting museums and galleries. For over 120 years grants have helped them to acquire, commission and display great works of art, fund curatorial training and research, and reach new communities and audiences across the UK. Their Art Partners are a group of patrons who share our passion for museums and galleries, providing annual support that makes our work possible. I was asked to document a patron’s event in Liverpool that gave exclusive insights into their work and the museums they support. The tour took us to the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool Library, FACT and the Bluecoat and was led by Liverpool Biennial CEO Sam Lackey, who I was delighted to meet again having known her for her great work in her previous role as Head of Collections and Exhibitions at the Whitworth in Manchester.

Photographing Manchester Museum for Art Fund

The newly remodelled Manchester Museum has officially opened its doors, and as a professional photographer, I had the pleasure of capturing the energy, excitement, and intricate details of this incredible space. Commissioned by Art Fund, I spent several hours documenting the museum’s refreshed galleries and exhibits, and I left inspired by both the design and the crowds.

Capturing the Energy of a Busy Museum

Visiting a museum packed with enthusiastic guests is a dream for any photographer. The Manchester Museum reopening was buzzing with visitors, families, and art enthusiasts, providing a perfect opportunity to photograph candid moments and dynamic interactions. The lighting, architectural renovations, and open gallery spaces made it ideal for both wide-angle shots and detailed close-ups.

Photography Tips Inside the Manchester Museum

Museums present unique challenges and opportunities for photography. During my visit to the Manchester Museum, I focused on using natural and ambient lighting, which the galleries provide in abundance, creating excellent conditions for photography without harsh shadows. I also concentrated on capturing intricate details and textures in the artifacts and architectural elements, which are ideal for close-up photography. Including people interacting with exhibits added life and scale to the images, helping viewers experience the museum vicariously through my photographs.

Highlights from the Remodeled Galleries

The Manchester Museum renovation has made the galleries more immersive and visitor-friendly. From interactive displays to carefully curated collections, every corner offers an opportunity for engaging photography. During my visit, I focused on the central atrium and entrance areas to capture the architectural makeover, explored the gallery layouts to show how visitors engage with exhibits naturally, and documented the diverse collections of natural history specimens, cultural artifacts, and art pieces.

Looking Forward: The Egyptian Mummies Exhibition

One of the most anticipated upcoming attractions is the Egyptian Mummies exhibition. I plan to return next week to photograph this fascinating display, which promises not only historical insight but also visually compelling opportunities for photography enthusiasts. Capturing the textures, lighting, and intricate details of the mummies will be a highlight for my portfolio and an engaging story for museum visitors.

Why Visit the Manchester Museum

Whether you’re a photographer, history enthusiast, or family looking for an educational day out, the remodelled Manchester Museum offers a rich experience. The updated galleries, dynamic exhibitions, and beautifully curated spaces make it a must-see destination in Manchester. For photographers, this museum is particularly rewarding: the combination of architectural renovations, diverse exhibits, and lively visitor interactions makes it an ideal place to practice composition, lighting, and storytelling through images.

Photographing for Art Fund at the Bronte Museum

Art Fund is a UK-based charity that aims to help museums and galleries to acquire and display works of art. The charity was established in 1903 and has since supported hundreds of museums and galleries across the country, helping to enhance their collections and make art more accessible to the public.

One of the most notable initiatives of Art Fund is the National Art Pass, which provides free entry or discounted admission to over 240 museums and galleries across the UK, as well as other benefits such as exclusive events and discounts at art-related shops and restaurants.

Meet Me at the Museum is a podcast series published by Art Fund where famous faces take their best mate, their mum, their neighbour (whoever they want) for an afternoon at a favourite museum or gallery. As well as getting a peek behind the scenes, seeing what makes a museum tick, it's also the starting point for some great conversations about life, the universe and everything. As well as a chance to eat lots of cake in the cafe.

During the production of this episode, I photographed writer Amy Liptrot, author of The Outrun and The Instant, as she took her friend, poet Zaffar Kunial, to the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth, West Yorkshire. Together they explore the former home of the Brontë sisters – Charlotte, Emily and Anne – and see where some of their most famous novels were written. From the dining table where the sisters shared their work, to early reviews of Wuthering Heights, intimate objects and artefacts prompt conversations about Amy and Zaffar’s own inspirations as writers. And, after exploring the house and museum, they head out into the landscape and discover a poem in the wild.

The Bronte Museum, located in the picturesque village of Haworth in West Yorkshire, England, is a must-visit destination for literature lovers and fans of the Bronte sisters. The museum is dedicated to the lives and works of the Bronte family, particularly the three sisters - Charlotte, Emily, and Anne - who wrote some of the most celebrated novels of the 19th century, including "Jane Eyre", "Wuthering Heights", and "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall".

The museum is housed in the former home of the Bronte family, which has been carefully preserved to provide visitors with an authentic glimpse into the lives of the famous siblings. The museum contains an extensive collection of Bronte memorabilia, including original manuscripts, letters, personal belongings, and artworks. Visitors can explore the various rooms of the museum, including the dining room, drawing room, and bedrooms, which have been furnished to recreate the atmosphere of the Bronte family home.

Mark Radcliffe for Art Fund

Photography for Art Fund Podcast Recording at the Science and Industry Museum, Manchester

I was very pleased to be asked to contribute still photographs for a forthcoming episode of the Meet Me at the Museum podcast produced by the Art Fund. The episode features broadcaster Mark Radcliffe and musician Paul Langley as they explore the galleries of the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester.

My role was to photograph the recording session and create a set of images documenting the presenters’ visit to the museum. These photographs accompany the podcast and provide visual material for promotion, editorial use and online publication.

Mark Radcliffe and Paul Langley at the Museum

Mark Radcliffe is widely known for his long career in broadcasting, particularly through programmes on BBC radio devoted to music and culture. I have photographed Mark a couple of times before, once memorably for a Daily Telegraph motoring feature in which he appeared alongside a vintage Volkswagen Beetle at Tatton Park in Cheshire.

On this occasion the setting was rather different. Together with Paul Langley, Radcliffe toured the Science and Industry Museum while recording their discussion for the podcast. The format of the series combines informal conversation with reflections on objects, exhibitions and cultural history within museums across the UK.

Exploring Manchester’s Musical History

During the recording we spent time in the exhibition Use Hearing Protection, which explores the formative years of Factory Records between 1978 and 1982.

Factory Records played a crucial role in shaping Manchester’s musical identity during this period. The label became internationally recognised for its roster of influential artists, including bands associated with the city’s post-punk scene, while also developing a distinctive visual language through collaborations with designers and photographers.

The exhibition at the Science and Industry Museum examines how Factory Records combined music, graphic design, technology and cultural experimentation to create a unique identity for Manchester. Through artefacts, recordings and archival material it tells the story of a label whose influence continues to shape perceptions of the city’s creative history.

Photographing Podcast Production in a Museum Environment

Photographing a podcast recording inside a museum presents its own set of challenges. The aim is to document the interaction between presenters and exhibits without disrupting the recording process or the experience of other visitors.

The images from the session capture Mark Radcliffe and Paul Langley in conversation as they explore the exhibition space, reflecting both the atmosphere of the gallery and the informal tone of the podcast itself. These kinds of photographs help audiences visualise the context of the recording and connect the spoken discussion to the objects and stories within the museum.

Listening to the Podcast

The Meet Me at the Museum podcast series invites well-known figures to explore museums around the UK and share their reactions to exhibitions and collections. The conversations offer a relaxed way to discover museum spaces through the perspectives of artists, musicians and broadcasters.

You can listen to this episode and other recordings from the series through the Art Fund website:
https://www.artfund.org/whats-on/meet-me-at-the-museum

Further information about the exhibition Use Hearing Protection can be found here:
https://www.scienceandindustrymuseum.org.uk/whats-on/use-hearing-protection