Good morning, today we'll be getting to know some of our fantastic curators here at the Houses of Parliament to celebrate #AskACurator Day. Have a question for them? Just tweet us. π¬β
The Houses of Parliament hold important collections of historic objects that have been built up over the centuries. These include works of art, furniture, decorative arts, architectural fragments, libraries, and archives. #AskACurator
Professional curators, librarians, archivists, and collection care staff look after these publicly owned collections. Preserving them for future generations to ensure they play a role in supporting a thriving parliamentary democracy. #AskACurator
The Parliamentary Art Collection contains 9,000 works of art in a wide variety of media, from oil paintings to digital video. The first Curator of Works of Art in the Palace of Westminster was appointed in 1853. #AskACurator
We also hold around 11,000 items of historic furniture, silver, clocks and ceramics across the Houses of Parliament. The collection is a living, working collection and many pieces are used daily in offices, restaurants, and in the Chambers of both Houses. #AskACurator
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We're #hiring a Head of #Conservation#Architecture who can
π oversee the strategy for building conservation
ποΈ keep the programme of conservation works up to date
π be a great team leader
We're also #hiring a Principal Doorkeeper who can:
πͺ lead a busy team of 22 Doorkeepers
π ensure the smooth running of ceremonial events
π remain calm and prioritise in a fast-paced environment
Recently we've shared the people, stories, and secret histories behind 150 years of the Palace of Westminster. See what you've learned in our quiz! β¬οΈ
(π€« Psst: No one sees your choices, so don't worry about getting it wrong! We'll be back with answers later.)
Today is #AskACurator Day, and we have 3 specialist curators answering your questions on our Parliamentary Art, Historic Furniture and Architectural Fabric Collections! πΌοΈπͺπͺ
Let's hear your questions and their answers β¬
First over to our Parliamentary Art expert Melanie π¨πΌοΈβοΈ
π¬ "How many works are hidden away in storage? Do they get put on display in rotation?" β
80% of our 9,000 artworks are on display - a high percentage compared to many museums. We do rotate the works on display - some are fragile and can only be displayed for short periods.