Curious tales of storytelling explored in latest Beaney exhibition 

Have you ever wondered where in the world museum objects come from? Or why, as humans, we like to collect things?  

On Saturday 7 September, The Beaney is opening its brand-new Curious Stories exhibition where visitors can delve into the origins of the museum’s collection and question how stories about objects are often presented and shared today.   

Co-created with community groups, the exhibition offers the chance to learn from Canterbury’s explorers of the past. 

It will feature specially-chosen objects from Rev Henry Lansdell’s explorations alongside colourful and creative responses to connect the things we have in common across cultures and time.  

The exhibition draws inspiration from The Beaney’s Explorers and Collectors gallery and features a playing and reading area, designed in partnership with a local youth group. 

Families and younger visitors will also get to explore the Curiosity Corner to discover, draw and reimagine intriguing artefacts.  

Plus, there will be lots of new things to see and do throughout the exhibition’s run, with a variety of special events and activities planned to take place. 

Cllr Charlotte Cornell, Cabinet Member for Culture and Heritage, said: “Not only does The Beaney do a brilliant job of telling Canterbury’s local history, but visitors also get to learn about some really important stories from a variety of cultures and time periods through the museum’s permanent collection. 

“Telling stories through objects has always been at the heart of what museums do, but I can’t wait to dive deeper into how that process is now being reimagined as a part of this latest exhibition.” 

Drop by The Beaney’s Special Exhibitions Room to see the display until Sunday 16 March 2025. 

Admission is free, with donations encouraged.  

Find out more about the Curious Stories: Exploring and Collecting at the Museum exhibition on The Beaney’s website. 

Curious Stories forms part of Canterbury Museums and Galleries’ work as a member of the Kent and Medway Museum Partnership – a National Portfolio Organisation for Arts Council England.    

The exhibition has been co-designed and co-created with local partners, including: 

• The Beaney’s Be Connected Panel   
• Kent Refugee Action Network  
• Switch Youth Group   
• Jack Hanrahan (MA Student, University of Kent) 
• The Beaney’s community wellbeing groups:   
  • The Power of the Object 
  • CAMEO (Come and Meet Each Other) 
  • Sensing Culture   

Published: 22 August 2024