Latest news with #RichardMorris
BBC News
22-06-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Droitwich Spa street murals 'bring our town to life'
Streets, buildings and underpasses in a Worcestershire town have been turned into vibrant works of art local children have been involved five murals are at Chawson Pleck Underpass, Camp Furlong Underpass, the Rik Mayall's Comedy Emporium, The Talbot pub, and Union initiative has been funded by Wychavon District Council and the Droitwich Spa Place Board - using money from the district council's share of the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.A new piece will also be revealed at Emms Haberdashery this summer. The children contributed to both of the underpass Loves Books, the art at Chawson Pleck, features characters from children's literature enjoying landmarks of Droitwich Spa - inspired by ideas from students at Chawson First Camp Furlong mural, called Positive-Safe-Future, depicts uplifting images and messages with students' designs incorporated into the final artwork. The piece at The Talbot completely covers the side of the building, depicting the town's iconic landmarks and heritage."We take pride in collaborating with the residents of Droitwich Spa, and Droitwich Spa Place Board on this transformative project," said council leader, Richard Morris. "We gained insights and feedback from the local community, and the designs have been crafted which embody our shared vision."Matt Nicol, Chairman of Droitwich Spa Place Board, added: "We can't wait for everyone to experience the stunning art that brings our town to life!""People, memories and stories of our amazing town have inspired each illustration." Follow BBC Hereford & Worcester on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Spectator
04-06-2025
- Business
- Spectator
V&A's new museum is a defiant stand against the vandals
In last week's Spectator, Richard Morris lamented museum collections languishing in storage, pleading to 'get these works out'. There's an alternative solution: bring the public in. V&A East Storehouse, which opened last weekend, was designed by New York architects Diller Scofidio + Renfro to do just that. The museum's collections were previously holed up in the creaking, late-Victorian Blythe House. The government decided to sell it in 2015, leading the V&A to find a new home in the Olympics's former Broadcasting Centre in Hackney Wick, a big box since rebadged as Here East, an 'innovation campus'. The Storehouse's entrance indeed blends in with the startups and students sharing the building. With its techy-twee café and plywood-clad reception, it could be yet another co-working space. Yet a glimpse through the glass soon suggests otherwise. After passing through an airlock, I enter a tunnel-like walkway, lined with shelves of objects: a bust of Christ, a carved teak shrine from Ahmedabad, and a chair by Marcel Breuer. In the absence of any curatorial logic, the objects are placed according to their storage requirements, and mounted on to pallets with bespoke fixings that carefully hold the objects in place for shipping. In one way the space is an overdue recognition of the once invisible labour of art handlers. The Storehouse is utilitarian. But its sparing flourishes count, namely by welcoming visitors through the underbelly of the central hall. I emerge in the middle of a climactic triple-height space, encircled by walkways, crowned by a plane of light. Rows of ordinary warehouse shelving extend in all three dimensions, including below, via the glass floor.
Business News Wales
29-05-2025
- Business
- Business News Wales
Welsh Vineyards Prepare for Welsh Wine Week 2025
Welsh Vineyards Prepare for Welsh Wine Week 2025 Welsh vineyards are preparing for Welsh Wine Week 2025, a celebration of the exceptional quality and diversity of wines produced in Wales. Now in its fifth year, Welsh Wine Week will take place from 30 May to 8 June. This week-long event aims to highlight the dedication and passion of Welsh vineyards, offering a variety of activities and events from vineyard tours, tastings, meet the producer sessions, promotions, and celebrations. Welsh Wine Week is organised by the Food & Drink Wales Drinks Cluster, part of the Welsh Government's clustering initiative and works in partnership with drinks producers and vineyards to promote the industry and its production of world-class products. Richard Morris of Ancre Hill Estates said: 'The Welsh wine industry has been growing over the past 10 years and is becoming an integral part of the Welsh economy. Welsh Wine Week represents a pivotal moment for the Welsh Wine Industry, shining a spotlight on the exceptional quality and unique character of our wines. 'It's a time when we come together to celebrate the fruits of our labour and the growing recognition of Wales as a distinguished wine-producing region. The week is about more than just wine; it's about community, culture, and the collective effort to elevate Welsh viticulture on the world stage.' The Welsh wine industry has seen remarkable growth and success in recent years. With around 50 vineyards now operating across the country, Wales has established itself as an innovative producer of high-quality wines and is becoming renowned for boutique-style wines using grapes suited to cooler climates. Gwen Davies of Vale Vineyard – Gwinllan y Dyffryn, said: 'We are thrilled to be part of Welsh Wine Week 2025. This event allows us to share our passion for winemaking with a wider audience and showcase the exceptional quality of Welsh wines. The Welsh wine industry means a great deal to us, as it represents not only our livelihood but also our beautiful country and commitment to sustainable agriculture. 'Welsh Wine Week presents a unique opportunity for us to connect with wine enthusiasts, educate them about our processes, and celebrate the collective achievements of Welsh vineyards. We look forward to welcoming visitors to our vineyard and sharing our story.' The unique microclimates and landscapes of Wales provide ideal conditions for growing a variety of grapes, resulting in award-winning red, rosé, white, and sparkling wines. The industry is also playing an increasing role in the visitor economy, with many vineyards becoming popular tourist destinations. The Welsh Government's Drinks Cluster has been instrumental in supporting the industry, aiming to increase the sector's value tenfold to £100 million by 2035. The drinks industry makes a significant contribution to the Welsh economy, with a turnover in excess of £800 million, a Welsh retail sales value of over £950 million, and employs 12,000 people. The week-long festivities will also feature a showcase event in Cardiff for trade and press, where attendees can sample a selection of wines while mingling with producers and fellow wine lovers.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Project aims to put hidden artworks on display
An art historian and lecturer is looking to attract a new audience for hundreds of artworks currently in storage at galleries and museums. Richard Morris, of Woodbridge, Suffolk, has launched the Everyone's Art project in order to research and exhibit pieces rarely seen by the public. The 60-year-old, who specialises in 20th Century British and European paintings, hopes the scheme, beginning in Suffolk, will eventually be adopted nationwide. "I am trying to get all these works out so the public get to appreciate them and appreciate the people that lived amongst them," he said. Among the works Mr Morris wants to put on display is Harry Becker's Two Men Clearing Banks. It belongs to Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service (CIMS), jointly run by Colchester City Council and Ipswich Borough Council. It was on display at Christchurch Mansion, Ipswich, from 1995 to 2019 and is currently in storage, but Ipswich Borough Council said it might be back on show next year as part of an exhibition focusing on the working landscape. Another is Henry Bright's 1830 crayon and chalk drawing Symphony, which has not been on display since 1997 due to its delicate condition. Mr Morris said he would like some of the works in storage, many of which were by lesser-known late Suffolk artists, to be displayed in community centres, churches and "places where people can easily go". "If you put up an exhibition with an obscure artist's name, nobody is going to go - that's why there are lots of exhibitions on Gainsborough or Constable," he said. "Some of these artists were rivalling very well-known artists in their day, and that is the unfairness of the art market, really, that it is only painters that are patronised by well-known people that get a look in. "So, it's just about trying to reverse that and see how we can make sure this work is appreciated for what it should be." Gallery curators, however, have previously put the decision to remove some artworks from display down to other factors. It was previously revealed that the Tate showed about 20% of its permanent collection, while The Louvre showed just 8%. The Guggenheim, meanwhile, only showed 3% of its collections and the Berlinische Galerie just 2%. Its director Thomas Köhler said: "We don't have the space to show more. "A museum stores memory, or culture. But here, like in other museums around the world, many works rarely, if ever, see the light of day." Mr Morris, who has lectured at The Courtauld Institute of Art, in London, and previously worked on a project to digitise the works of Rembrandt, believes the first part of the project will cost about £10,000 - money he has received from a private backer. He said the majority would be spent on frames, display easels, transport and insurance. Ipswich Borough Council said it "holds a large number of artworks in its collection" but it was 'not possible to have all items on display at any one time". It said its loan programme gave exhibitors the chance to borrow artworks, provided they adhered to the scheme's rules. It said factors including security, environment, insurance, light levels, staffing and conservation were among those that must be considered. 'Our excellent Colchester and Ipswich Museums Service Collections team work hard to showcase our artworks as part of our often-changed hangings in Christchurch Mansion as well as our expertly curated exhibitions," a spokesperson added. "It is keen to support loaning objects to museums across the UK and abroad." Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X. Mural of town's 'beautiful spirit' to be unveiled Street art and murals brighten up town centre Wellbeing charity at risk amid funding 'crisis' Everyone's Art
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Southern Miss will host children's book festival in 2025
HATTIESBURG, Miss. (WHLT) – The University of Southern Mississippi will host the annual Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival and the Ezra Jack Keats (EJK) Award ceremony on its Hattiesburg campus April 9-11. According to organizers, the event will honor one of the most prolific figures in children's literature, along with a group of emerging authors and illustrators poised to make a lasting impact in the genre. Germantown High School celebrates new performing arts center LeUyen Pham, a Caldecott Honor-winning illustrator of Bear Came Along by Richard Morris, and the New York Times bestselling illustrator of Julianne Moore's Freckleface Strawberry book series and Kelly DiPucchio's picture book Grace for President, will receive the festival's top honor, the Southern Miss Medallion. Other featured speakers include Susan Campbell Bartoletti, known for her nonfiction work in children's literature, and Carmen Agra Deedy, who draws from folklore and Cuban culture to craft her stories. Dr. Jamie Naidoo will offer a scholarly perspective on librarianship, while illustrator Will Hillenbrand will discuss creating art for children as this year's de Grummond Lecturer. The festival also offers valuable professional development opportunities for educators and librarians through breakout sessions. Those wishing to attend the festival can register online at 2025 Children's Book Festival Registration | Fay B. Kaigler Children's Book Festival | The University of Southern Mississippi. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
