Midlands Art Papers 7 (2024)

Midlands Art Papers is a collaborative online journal, working between the University of Birmingham and 13 partner institutions to research and explore the world class works of art and design in public collections across the Midlands.

Introduction: Co-production in regional collections

Photograph of art installation in which gallery interior has been set up to resemble a traditional Irish pub. A number of fabric banners hang from the ceiling.

Midlands Art Papers special issue editors Sophie Hatchwell and Gregory Salter introduce this seventh issue of MAP and discuss the many ways co-production can benefit museum and gallery spaces.

Co-producing the Leicester Stories Gallery

Interior of a museum. Glass display cases labelled ‘arrival’ and ‘community’ contain everyday items such as clothing and street signs

In 2021 the Leicester Stories gallery opened in Leicester Museum and Art Gallery. In this Q&A, Community Co-Producer Angela Robinson tells us about the use of co-production when curating this gallery space.

Co-production at the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum

A group of people stand in a gallery. Behind them fabric banners hang on the wall

In this Q&A, the Cultural Director of CV Life, Head of Learning and Engagement, and Head of Exhibitions and Events at the Herbert Museum and Art Gallery discuss how co-production practices have been used to continue the legacy of Coventry City of Culture 2021.

Co-producing Pickford's House, Derby

Derby Museums are currently re-hanging Pickford’s House, the Georgian home of the Enlightenment architect Joseph Pickford. In this Q&A their Senior Curator of Art and their Head of Interpretation and Display discuss how this project has been inspired by a previous co-production venture at the Joseph Wright of Derby Gallery, Derby Museum.