The Higgins is Amazing…

by Paula Walker

It’s official – The Higgins is amazing! I’ve been fortunate enough to see some of the galleries on a couple of occasions over the last few weeks and the transformation is astonishing. I went to the press preview on Wednesday afternoon, as The Clanger representative (thanks Erica) and, believe me, it’s impressive. We were expertly shown round by Gemma Hutton, the Museum’s Sales and Marketing Officer, in a group which included Mayor Dave Hodgson and a number of journalists and photographers.

 

From the moment you walk in, the museum is breathtaking: the lighting, the colour scheme, the graphics, the gallery design, the imaginative displays and the sheer quality of the exhibits, all combine to give the visitor an exhilarating experience. The two original buildings have been successfully joined and reconfigured to create more exhibition space, which can more flexibly house both touring exhibitions and the permanent displays.

Among my favourites (how to choose?), is the new Burges Gallery, which is located in a spectacular hexagonal room.  The beautifully painted furniture is dramatically spotlit against dark blue wall and this world-renowned collection now includes a recently acquired Zodiac Settle, as well as the famous Sleeping Beauty Bed. The overall effect is really quite magical.

The Edward Bawden Gallery is a treat for everyone, young and old, particularly as this first exhibition is Aesop’s Fables, his vibrant lino-cut prints of the well-known stories, such as The Hare and the Tortoise. As well as the wall-mounted prints, there are pull out drawers full of his work. This gallery will host  changing exhibitions, highlighting different aspects of this world class collection of Bawden’s work.

Congratulations are in order to the whole team, who have had the vision, imagination and tireless energy to bring such an ambitious project to fruition: the Mayor can be rightly proud of this achievement by the Borough. There can’t be many towns the size of Bedford that are able to boast a museum of this calibre.  I’m looking forward to spending more time in all of the galleries, which is just as well, as I’m going to be a volunteer Gallery Interpreter, starting next week – and I just can’t wait.

I could tell you more about the other permanent galleries: Settlement (showing the human journey through time), Great Bedfordians, Somewhere in England (the story of Bedfordshire), The Collectors, the Higgins House and the Design Gallery. There are also the temporary exhibitions: The Pre-Raphaelite Watercolours and Drawings, the Veolia Environment Wildlife Photographer of the Year (on loan from the Natural History Museum), A Sense of Place (community groups explore their sense of place), Fatal Attractions (curated by Beauchamp Middle School pupils). Also important are the interactive areas and touch screen tablets in each gallery – very child-friendly. However, you really need to investigate for yourselves.

Finally of course, all cultural experiences require a shopping opportunity and refreshments! I spotted some lovely Bawden inspired items in The Higgins’ shop and the Higgins Pantry looks inviting too.