Islamic Art and Material Culture Subject Specialist Network Study Day

The theme is Contemporary Collecting, and it will take place at Brighton Museum on Monday 2nd March. 

Deadline for bookings is 25^th February

Please note that numbers are limited to approx 20, on a first come first served basis. Please book by emailing Harriet Hughes 


The day is free of charge to SSN members and includes lunch.

Provisional Programme
10.30am – Arrival and Tea / Coffee 11am Welcome & Introductions

Displaying New Acquisitions or Loans
11.10 - 11.30 – Rebecca Bridgman, Curator of Islamic & South Asian Art, Birmingham Museums Trust and Chair of SSN for Islamic Art and Material Culture
11.30-11.50 – Daniel Robbins, Senior Curator at Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea (based at Leighton House Museum)
11.50 – 12.00 – Questions
12.00 – 12.30 – Harriet Hughes, Curator of World Art, Brighton Museum – including a tour of the gallery

12.30 – 1.15 LUNCH

How to Collect & What to Collect
1.15 – 1.35 - Julia Carver, Curator, Visual Art, Bristol Museum and Art
1.35 – 1.55 - Marguerite Nugent, Head of Curatorial Services at Wolverhampton City Council (based at Wolverhampton Art Gallery)
Talk title: ‘Contemporary Collecting on the theme of the Arab/Israeli Conflict’
1.55-2.15 - Venetia Porter, Assistant Keeper (Curator), Islamic and contemporary Middle East
2.15-2.25 – Questions


2.25-2.40 pm Tea / Coffee Break

Acquisition Schemes & Funding
2.40 – 3.00 - Robert Dingle, National Network & Strategic Projects Manager at Contemporary Art Society & Christine Takengny, Museums Acquisitions, Public Programme, Whitechapel Gallery Displays Manager at Contemporary Art Society
3.00 – 3.20 - Rachel Browning, Programmes Manager (Projects), Art Fund Talk title: ‘See, fly, buy: Art Fund research and collecting programmes’
3.20 – 3.30 – Questions

3.30 – 4.00pm Round up and Discussion – Role of SSN for Islamic Art and Material Culture in this area

4.00 pm Close