The Box, Plymouth

Come and work for The Box! We're recruiting for a Senior Archivist to join our Collections Team. The successful candidate will be a team player with a passion for archives, collections management and supporting the delivery of The Box’s ambitious programme. D/L for applications is 22 December. Full details available from https://ow.ly/i5Ug50U5q5w.

Proud to play our part in Plymouth's Remembrance Weekend commemorations with these giant poppies created by Babcock that are on display in the lantern room at Smeaton's Tower. The light projections in Old Town Street and New George Street are looking lovely too. #lestweforget

#DYK The Box's collection of marine creatures preserved in fluid is the largest of its kind in the South West? This week our Curator of Natural History is speaking at the International Preservation of Natural History Wet Collections Conference in Switzerland! Her paper looks at the history of our unique collection; from its links with the Marine Biological Association to its current uses in helping us to understand the impact of climate change. 📷 by Chris Parkes

'Power doesn’t die, it reinvents itself.' 'Osman Yousefzada - When will we be good enough?' - a beautiful new installation is now on show in our St Luke's gallery, asking questions about the past, present, future and our place in the world. Yousefzada has carefully integrated archive film footage and objects from The Box's collections alongside new works created especially for this presentation. The exhibition, which runs until 9 March 2025, has been a huge team effort. We're also really grateful for the support of the Henry Moore Foundation.

So pleased with this great review of our 'Land Sea Sky' exhibition from the People's Republic of South Devon! We really appreciate the support and great feedback we've had about our new seasons of exhibitions so far. https://lnkd.in/eMRGiRWw

She's only gone and done it again! Here's our very own poem for Halloween, penned by our brilliant volunteer Angela. Twas the Eve of All Hallows, now called Hallowe'en And The Box was asleep with no one to be seen. But the galleries silent and shrouded with night Were suddenly stirring in a shaft of moonlight. In the Media gallery Gus opened one eye And he cocked up his ears as he heard a deep sigh. Then the figureheads stirred as if swept by a breeze And Mildred, awake now, got up from her knees. 'Now it's time folks,' she called, 'for some tricking and treating. Let's to the North Hall and we'll have a meeting, For Hallowe'en calls for processions of ghosts And we want to see who's best at frightening the most.' So they raided the store rooms for costumes to wear, But Mildred was sad for it seemed so unfair. 'There's costumes a plenty but I fear none for me For I'm a bit larger than the bygone gentry.' King Billy said, 'Mildred, here's what will solve that. All you need is a broomstick and a black witch's hat.' And himself, he was draped in a white bloodied sheet, Which kept getting tangled in his rather large feet. Then the sighing got louder and clatter arose And to see what was happening Mildred stood on tiptoes As a frightening vision rattled into the hall And gasps of amazement were uttered by all. The skeletons - a monkey, a gorilla, a man - Charged into the meeting and danced the can-can, Their bony limbs waving, teeth snapping and gnashing And, most horrible of all, empty eye sockets flashing. And from 'Planet Ocean' came a fish made of bones, A skeleton cod mouthing very loud groans. A snake skeleton slithered and coiled around feet And hissed at King Billy, 'Sssoo, tricksiesss or treat?' Then Mildred cried, 'Order, let's off to the square And see can we frighten whoever's out there.' With the skeletons leading on into the night They crossed to St Luke's to give someone a fright. But a group of young children awaited them there Clad in costumes so horrid they got such a scare The troupe turned in terror, and beat a retreat Followed by cries of, 'Come on, is it trick then or treat?' They all scattered indoors, finding places to hide, Hoping ghosties and ghoulies couldn't reach them inside. The skeletons tucked themselves into their cases, Billy marshalled the figureheads back to their places. Trying to be invisible Mildred crept through the shop And Gus fled upstairs with a squeak and a hop. But the moon peeped out laughing at the comical scene Of skeletons terrified of Hallowe'en. And the children danced off, singing 'We won all right. Happy Eve of All Hallows and to all a good night.'

What a week we had here last week! Award dinners, conferences, live music and the launch event for many of our autumn exhibitions. Thank you to everyone who came along to support us and to everyone who worked so hard to make it all happen.

As the climate crisis accelerates, finding innovative ways to reduce our carbon footprint is more important than ever before. The Box is committed to building sustainable and resilient practice across everything we do and in sharing that practice with others. Last week, our Media Archivist was invited to speak at the FIAT/IFTA Conference 2024 as part of a panel of international experts. Her talk drew on the #decarbonisation work we are doing behind the scenes for our British Film Institute (BFI) The National Lottery Heritage Fund Reimagining the Film Archive programme and the importance of advocacy networks and communities like the Archives & Records Association (UK & Ireland) #environmentalsustainability Group. Head to Discover in our website to find out more about the Reimagining the Film Archive programme. #TheBoxPlymouth #Collections #Archives #FilmArchive #SectorLeadership #KnowledgeExchange

BEHIND THE SCENES... There's a lot of hard work going here at The Box as we prepare for the opening of 'Land Sea Sky: Ingrid Pollard, JMW Turner & Vija Celmins', 'Paul Rooney - Broken Token' and 'Devonport 200' this Saturday.

A plaque recognising the achievements of John Smeaton has been restored to Smeaton’s Tower today. It's located underneath sculptor Philip Chatfield's granite bust of the world renowned civil engineer in the Lantern Room, and it's been a pleasure to support the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) on the project. https://ow.ly/bY1B50TMwnr