Herbert exhibition reaches 50,000 visitors

10 February 2025

A popular exhibition which celebrates Coventry’s historic museum collections has recently reached a huge milestone.

Collecting Coventry at the city’s Herbert Art Gallery & Museum has welcomed its 50,000th visitor since opening in April 2024. The exhibition, which still has two months to run, brings together objects that tell the story of the city, highlighting its past and present through a mix of historical artefacts and contemporary items.

Among the objects on display are a 4.5 billion-year-old meteorite, a Covid testing kit, and LS Lowry’s painting of Ebbw Vale. A recently discovered Ogham stone, unearthed by a local resident during the 2020 lockdown, is also featured. 

In October 2024, the exhibition entered its second phase, with updated works added, including Doing Lines 1 (Lockdown) Line Journeys, a drawing by Turner Prize-nominated artist Claudette Johnson, and a historic team jersey donated by Coventry’s first LGBT rugby club.

Ali Wells, curator at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum, said: "We’re really pleased with how well Collecting Coventry has been received. The variety of objects on display means there’s something for everyone, whether people are interested in local history, art, or more recent events. 

“Visitors have told us how much they enjoy seeing both familiar and unexpected items that reflect the city’s identity. It’s been great to see so many people engaging with the exhibition, and we hope even more will come and explore it before it closes next year."

Collecting Coventry will run until 27 April 2025.