2023 is a big year for Manchester Museum, as they unveil a major transformation and renovation, including a brand new entrance. Part of that unveiling will be our new series of illustrations and products created in collaboration with them. We’ve worked on special projects in partnership with other Manchester institutions, and this has been an exciting escalation providing greater scope for both research and finished designs.
Manchester Museum started life as the Manchester Society of Natural History in 1821, and now holds a massive collection of more than 4.5 million objects in its building on Oxford Road. It has been a privilege to work with their enlightened and dedicated team, who have given us a very special insight into the collections and philosophy guiding Manchester Museum into the 21st Century.
Being such a prominent landmark and beloved institution, it’s easy to think of Manchester Museum as permanent and fixed, a staunchly robust place wilfully frozen in time in order to protect the sometimes Millenia old exhibits inside it.
The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. As part of the recent renovations the museum has restated its commitments to sustainability, biodiversity, and inclusivity. Their work is as much about using their reputation and resources to nourish the future of the city outside its door – and the wider natural world – as it is about the past.
Through our new range of tiles, cards and other products we’ve cast a wide net, and thanks to close collaboration and insights with curators at the museum, we’ve been able to take a uniquely Sculpts view of all these elements, looking at how artefacts and intent align – and impact the living world.
A brand new set of MANCHESTER letter tiles take us on a journey through the museum’s building, collections and ambitions. It starts in the obvious place – M for Manchester Museum – and passes through the Chinese Culture Gallery and Stan the famous T. rex, before ending up at the Rainforests of Panama and Costa Rica, and the rare living creatures the museum’s experts are helping to preserve.
We’ve also completed a simpler set of letter illustrations based on the same themes, for non-ceramics – and a unique history of the bee in arts and culture – so there’s much to peruse.
Each new drawing has been a chance to honour the heritage and interrogate its relevance and current role, just as the museum has done in reimagining itself over the last year. We’re very excited to see all our hard work finally on display, as they must be too.
You can browse and buy the entire new Sculpts x Manchester Museum collection here.
