Blog

black and white photograph of a man weaving a basket
Rural crafts and tradition in Britain

Considering a post-war travelling exhibition of rural handicrafts

two men hold colourful nativity scenes on the main square of Krakow
Krakow nativity scenes

In Krakow, Poland, making nativity scenes is seen as a cultural tradition going back centuries.

colour photograph of a brown / beige textile, with mostly red pattern of flower vines
What is chintz?

Objects and craft of desire, from India to Europe

black and white photograph of Max Euwe who arranges chess pieces on a shelf
Max Euwe, Dutch chess grandmaster

The life and legacy of a Dutch chess legend

colour painting, portrait of Timotei Cipariu
Timotei Cipariu, a Transylvanian Erasmus

Renowned scholar of the Romanian Greek-Catholic Church

black and white illustration, portrait of Pierre Cuypers
Pierre Cuypers, Dutch architect

Visionary architect who designed many landmarks in the Netherlands

World Collage Day

World Collage Day is an annual international celebration of collage on the Second Saturday of May. This an excellent opportunity to learn more about this technique, explore cultural heritage collections and get creative.

colour photograph of the Hagia Sophia Church
5 buildings that have been both mosques and churches

Architecture crossing cultures

black and white portrait photograph of Mela Muter
Mela Muter, a Polish artist in Paris

Painting the beauty of everyday life

colour photograph of a field of red tulips with a windmill in the background
How the tulip became a symbol of Turkey and the Netherlands

The history of a floral motif over several centuries

black and white illustration portrait of Laura Bassi
Laura Bassi, one of the first women in science

Pioneering female scientist in 18th century Bologna

black and white photograph of a group of people
Our Fatima of Liverpool

The first woman to convert to Islam in Liverpool

Mystics of the medieval and modern ages

Women of wisdom and courage

black abstract drawing
Delia Derbyshire and Daphne Oram

Female pioneers of electronic music

Four children by a water pump, two older children pumping water and the other two younger ones looking on.
Through the eyes of Dorothea Lange

Documenting the The Great Depression and Japanese American internment

8 women botanical artists from across Europe

Making contributions to both art and science

illustration of a woman kneeling in front of a frog
Jessie M. King

Artist, designer and pioneer of the Glasgow Style

Sybil Connolly - Dublin's Dior

Forging a path for Irish designers

Maneli, men’s meeting place in Heinola, was located on the corner of Torikatu street and Kauppakatu street in Heinola, Finland. Women bought newly-baked bread on the other side of the building in the Maneli Bakery. A boy rides a bicycle along Kauppakatu street.
'Little Pietari’s town' by Anja Halla

Photographer documenting two decades in a Finnish town

Black and white photograph of Sylvia Beach and Adrienne Monnier
Sylvia Beach and Adrienne Monnier

The lesbian love story at the heart of a Parisian bookstore