Clare Barlow has been announced as the new Director for People’s History Museum (PHM) in Manchester. Clare joins PHM from the Foundling Museum in London, where she was Director of Programmes and Audiences. She brings a wealth of experience and vision to the national museum of democracy, having worked at leading cultural institutions and museums including Science Museum, Wellcome Trust, Tate and the National Portrait Gallery.
In 2017 Clare curated the highly acclaimed exhibition Queer British Art, 1861-1967 at Tate Britain and in 2019 opened Being Human, a new permanent gallery at Wellcome Collection that was shortlisted for the Arts + Heritage award for Permanent Exhibition of the Year. In all her work she has placed considerable emphasis on how museums can better engage with themes of identity, justice and equality.
Bernard Donoghue, Chair of People’s History Museum, says, “We are delighted to welcome Clare to People’s History Museum. She has incredible experience of programming ground-breaking exhibitions from roles at world class museums. In all of her work Clare’s values of inclusivity, social justice and providing platforms for unheard voices shine through, and fit seamlessly with PHM’s mission and vision. We are excited that Clare is joining us in our quest to champion and explore the compelling stories of those seeking a fairer world for all and in the creation of the empowering experiences that PHM is renowned for.”
Clare Barlow, incoming Director of People’s History Museum, says, “I fell in love with People’s History Museum on my first visit, seven years ago, and I’ve been back many times since to see their superb exhibitions and spectacular collections. Every time I’ve visited, I’ve found something new with an incredible story, from Thomas Paine’s writing desk to the extraordinary collection of banners. I’ve been inspired by their work with community experts on LGBTQIA+ rights, disabled people’s rights and stories of migration, projects that have been beacons to the sector. It’s an exciting time to be at the home of ideas worth fighting for and I’m delighted to be joining their amazing team and exploring with our audiences how we all can shape a fairer future together.”
It’s an important time for People’s History Museum, which has just completed a year long project to make the museum more accessible to visitors (Welcome Project at PHM) and is about to launch a new Learn programme for schools. Designed for primary and secondary aged children it includes a banner making workshop that draws inspiration from the museum’s collection of political, community and trade union banners, and an oracy and confidence building workshop that will encourage the asking of questions, listening to others and articulation of ideas.
Clare follows in the footsteps of Katy Ashton, who was Director of People’s History Museum for 14 years during a period that saw the museum expand to its current location in Manchester’s Spinningfields, where it occupies a purpose built space combined with a Grade II listed Edwardian building. Katy is now Head of Culture and Place Marketing at Sheffield City Council.
People’s History Museum’s opening hours are 10.00am to 5.00pm, every day except Tuesdays. Museum entry is free, with most visitors donating £10. To find out about visiting PHM, its full exhibitions and events programme visit phm.org.uk and you can keep up to date with the latest news by signing up to receive PHM’s e-newsletter.
ENDS
For further information please contact Fido PR: laura.sullivan@fidopr.co.uk / clare.short@fidopr.co.uk
Notes to editors:
Dr Clare Barlow biography
Dr Clare Barlow joins People’s History Museum from the Foundling Museum, where she was Director of Programmes and Audiences. Prior to this she has held roles at Science Museum, Wellcome Trust, Tate and the National Portrait Gallery.
Clare curated Being Human, a new permanent gallery at Wellcome Collection that opened September 2019 and placed the social model of disability at the heart of the museum, which was shortlisted for the Arts + Heritage award for Permanent Exhibition of the Year. In 2017, she curated the major exhibition Queer British Art, 1861-1967 at Tate Britain, the first show of its kind to focus on queer British art from this period.
Clare completed her PhD in 2010, as an Arts and Humanities Research Council-funded collaborative doctoral award between the National Portrait Gallery and King’s College London. Her thesis focused on the role of eighteenth century women authors in shaping British identity. Her research contributed to the National Portrait Gallery exhibition Brilliant Women: 18th Century Bluestockings.
About People’s History Museum
People’s History Museum (PHM) in Manchester is the UK’s national museum of democracy, telling the story of its development in Britain: past, present, and future. Through an eclectic and colourful mix of historic and contemporary collections, featuring banners, badges, posters, photography and more, the museum celebrates the radical stories of people coming together to champion ideas worth fighting for.
Offering an engaging programme of exhibitions and events, collaborating with communities to create authentic content, the museum is Family Friendly throughout – inspiring the next generation to be active citizens.
People’s History Museum encourages visitors to be empowered by the past to make a change for the future. We are all together in the fight for a fairer world.
About Arts Council England (ACE)
PHM is an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation (NPO). The work of PHM is supported using public funding by ACE, the national development agency for creativity and culture. ACE have set out their strategic vision in Let’s Create that by 2030 they want England to be a country in which the creativity of each of us is valued and given the chance to flourish and where every one of us has access to a remarkable range of high quality cultural experiences. From 2023 to 2026 they will invest over £467 million of public money from government and an estimated £250 million from The National Lottery each year to help support the sector and to deliver this vision.
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