WHITEKNIGHTS STUDIO TRAIL 2019
Meet two ‘Whiteknights Studio Trail Introduces’ artists at The MERL This year, we are delighted to be supporting the WST’s new enterprise; ‘Whiteknights Studio Trail Introduces’. WST wants to encourage young artists to develop their practice and pursue a creative career, thus ensuring a vibrant and diverse creative future for Reading residents and the wider […]
COLLECTING OSCAR WILDE: PUBLIC AND PRIVATE GOOD
To coincide with the Staircase Hall display of illustrated editions of Oscar Wilde’s ‘The Ballad of Reading Gaol’, the collector Michael Seeney will talk about building a collection on Oscar Wilde. Some of Michael’s books will be on display as part of the exhibition, but his collection also extends to anything related to Wilde, from […]
THE MERL FAMILY EVENT: AN ENCHANTED SPRING
Join us in the MERL garden for an enchanting family event celebrating the season of Spring and the wonderful changes it brings. Dig out or create a costume to wear that symbolises Spring or perhaps a magical creature from the garden! Sessions are suitable for families with children aged 3 – 11* and will include: […]
EMBELLISH’D WITH GOLD
Last year the University was fortunate to make an important new acquisition, the European Manuscripts Collection. This display will feature highlights dating from the twelfth to the seventeenth century, including illuminated leaves from the Books of Hours, breviaries and graduals. The collection has been generously presented to the University by a private collector with the […]
DEMENTIA AWARENESS EVENT: A DAY AT THE MERL
This drop-in awareness event is part of The MERL and Reading Museum’s Cultural Commissioning partnership delivering ‘ageing well’ programmes. As part of Dementia Action Week 2019, The Reading Dementia Action Alliance (of which The MERL is a member) is coordinating the event to raise awareness of dementia and increase knowledge of services and support available in […]
COLOURS MORE THAN SENTENCES
A display celebrating the many different illustrated editions of Oscar Wilde’s famous poem. This exhibition, previously on display at the Berkshire Record Office, has been organised by the Department of English, University of Reading in collaboration with Michael Seeney. Related talk Collecting Oscar Wilde: Public and Private Good 30th May, 6.30-8pm Free. Booking advisable. A […]
Letterforms and Layout: Designing factual books for children
Letterforms and Layout: Designing factual books for children 17 May, 12-1pm Professor Sue Walker, Professor of Typography at the University of Reading. The middle decades of the twentieth century saw changes in the appearance of factual books for children—a move towards greater flexibility in the integration of text and image, and the use of visually […]
Ladybird Books Landscapes: What to look for in the What to Look For books
Ladybird Books Landscapes: What to look for in the What to Look For books 24 May, 12-1pm Dr Jeremy Burchardt, Associate Professor in the Department of History, University of Reading Ladybird Books’ What to Look For seasonal natural history series remains iconic, not least due to Charles Tunnicliffe’s distinguished illustrations. As ever with Ladybird Books, […]
LADYBIRD BOOKS: ‘HOW IT WORKS’ A MERL LATE AT READING MUSEUM
Join us at Reading Museum for a lively evening of drinks, music, talks and activities Live music from Dolly and the Clothespegs Cocktails | Silent disco Book in advance via Eventbrite £4 in advance / £3 students and concessions or buy on the door (subject to availability) £5 / (£3.75) Please note this event is […]
Nursery Vision: Reading the Ladybird Books Three Blind Mice
Nursery Vision: Reading the Ladybird Book Three Blind Mice 10 May, 12-1pm Dr Neil Cocks, Associate Professor in the Department of English Literature at Reading. At first sight, the colourful illustrations to The Ladybird Book of Nursery Rhymes might seem simplistic and overly literal depictions of the accompanying verse. Taking Three Blind Mice as its starting […]