Birmingham Museums Trust to speak at our 'Cultural Cities' forum

We are delighted that the Co-CEO at Birmingham Museums Trust Zak Mensah will be joining our 'Cultural Cities' debate on 24th March.

Zak has wide experience of transformational change programmes and will be using the recent grant from the Garfield Weston Foundation to progress the Trust's digital offer, while the visitor sites remain closed due to Covid-19.

Before joining the Trust, Zak worked at Bristol Museums & Archives with Laura Pye (now Director of National Museums Liverpool) who will also be speaking at our forum on the master plan for public realm in Liverpool providing a joined-up offer to visitors around the International Slavery Museum.

Zak also joins the Director of The Wallace Collection Dr Xavier Bray. The Wallace Collection has also just received funds from the Garfield Weston Foundation and will be using these to attract visitors back to the art gallery following the pandemic.

Birmingham Museums Trust has a vital role in telling the story of this major city in England's West Midlands region - a city full of industrial revolution-era landmarks which showcase its manufacturing powerhouse origins.

The Trust provides leadership for a collection of attractions including Aston Hall, Museums of the Jewellery Quarter, Sarehole Mill, Blakesley Hall, thinktank - Birmingham Science Museum, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, and Weoley Castle. Birmingham On Demand gives access to exclusive digital content created by in-house experts. One talk has a focus on 'Railway Journeys in Art' looking at three paintings in the collection of the art gallery by Augustus Leopold Egg, David Cox and Charles Rossiter.

Our March forum will look at how museums and art galleries play an important role in the cultural life and development of cities, asking questions around how audiences might have changed their interest and approach to attractions following the pandemic and how investment will ensure survival of these important institutions.