Features

Making waves

From bracing promenades to fading funfairs, the British seafront has endured popularity peaks and troughs, but now a growing number of museums are regenerating towns by capitalising on their seaside heritage. Geraldine Kendall Adams reports

King of the castle

The chief executive of York Museums Trust, Reyahn King, talks to Eleanor Mills about her ambitious plans. Photography by Phil Sayer

Down to a fine art

Commissioning new art has been part and parcel of the museum and gallery sector for years. Gareth Harris discovers what makes for a successful scheme

Variety show

Thembi Mutch discusses the importance of encouraging diversity in museums, particularly in the voices that are heard and the debates that take place. Illustration by Michael Driver

International opening: Cité Internationale de la Tapisserie, Aubusson, France

Nicola Sullivan meets Emmanuel Gérard, the head of a new museum on the tapestry heritage of central France

Adapt or die

Museums with natural history collections have been struggling to deal with the loss of curators with specialist scientific knowledge combined with the wider funding problems facing the sector. But life finds a way: by evolving strategies to cope with changing conditions, museums are forming partnerships with other organisations in order to engage the public. Jonathan Knott ventures deep into the undergrowth in search of a new breed of museum

Let there be light

Jonathan Knott discovers the museums that have switched on to light shows

Museum of…

Louise Gray walks the thin blue line at a new museum dedicated to the City of London’s police

In good spirits

Eleanor Mills talks to Kevin Mason, the director of Bodelwyddan Castle Trust in north Wales, about making history you can step into

Playing to the gallery

Museums are using on-site performances to interpret collections in new ways, says Jonathan Knott

International opening: Kunstmuseum Basel, Switzerland

Eleanor Mills talks to Bernhard Mendes Bürgi about his vision for a striking new museum extension

Target audience

Laura Pye, the head of culture for Bristol City Council, talks to Eleanor Mills about breaking down barriers