Collecting Coventry exhibition attracts 12,000 visitors in first two months
15 July 2024
An exhibition which celebrates items collected from Coventry’s rich history has proved a huge hit with visitors.
Since opening two months ago, Collecting Coventry at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum has seen 12,000 people enjoy a unique exhibition which tells the story of Coventry through 75 years worth of collections.
The footfall makes the first two months of Collecting Coventry a hugely successful opening in comparison to other temporary exhibitions the venue has held in recent years.
Covering art, archaeology, natural sciences and social and industrial history, the exhibition represents the sheer diversity of collections Culture Coventry has.
It is hoped that holding such an exhibition will allow visitors to explore the collections through a diverse display of fascinating objects and curiosities - from a 467-million-year-old meteorite with particles from the beginning of the universe to a Covid testing kit, as well as old favourites like LS Lowry’s superb painting of Ebbw Vale plus an array of items displayed for the first time.
The Herbert aims to represent people and communities from Coventry in its collections. As part of Collecting Coventry, the venue has set up discussion and feedback points where visitors' views on what should be collected and how communities can be better represented can be gathered.
The venue also wants to know how visitors think technology could improve their visit. Guests are invited to take in the exhibition before giving their feedback afterwards.
Ali Wells, a Herbert curator involved in compiling the exhibition, said: “We’re delighted at how popular Collecting Coventry has proven so far.
“We really wanted to use this exhibition to not only represent our collections but to also represent Coventry and its communities - so to see how well it’s been received is really encouraging.”
Exhibits wowing visitors include the ancient Ogham stone, found in a Coventry garden in 2020 and inscribed with a 1,500 year old Irish language, a handbag which survived the lesser known Coventry Blitz of 1941 and a sword belonging to a Leamington-based soldier who was executed for poisoning his brother-in-law, a crime which he probably didn’t commit.