A gem of an exhibition celebrates Museum of English Rural Life and The Archers' diamond jubilee
Release Date 13 May 2011
Download the interview with Mark Mason, curator of the Exhibition (right-click to save)
A unique exhibition celebrating the 60th anniversary of two iconic institutions has opened this May.
The Museum of English Rural Life (MERL), which is owned and managed by the University of Reading, has teamed up with the BBC to bring visitors Everyday stories of country folk: celebrating 60 years of The Archers and MERL'.
This will be the only major public display to examine the themes and aims of The Archers during its diamond jubilee. It tells the story of two intertwining institutions and the far-reaching contributions they have made to our increased understanding of farming and country life.
On view will be an exciting array of photographs and objects that together reveal the history of The Archers from 1951 to the present day. Items from MERL's own archives include rare footage of characters from the series. There will also be a wide range of memorabilia, much of which has been loaned generously by some of the programme's many fans, and will be used to help tell the story of its massive public following.
Alongside this, important artefacts, rare books and fascinating archival holdings from the Museum will chart the changes to farming that both MERL and the Archers have witnessed over the last 60 years.
Visitors can also help shape the future direction of MERL by sharing their ideas about what is important about the countryside. Feedback about the most significant rural issues of the last six decades will help staff to find new stories to tell through its evolving displays.
In addition to the exhibition, an anniversary trail will take visitors round the Museum's permanent galleries, drawing out themes familiar to fans of The Archers, MERL aficionados, and countryside enthusiasts alike.
Kate Arnold-Forster, Director of MERL: "We are delighted to offer the public the opportunity to witness such a fascinating display. It will show how MERL was founded to record the past and to salvage ways of life seen to be falling out of common practice, providing a fascinating contrast with the radio serial which has always been a forward-looking programme, helping to promote new developments in farming."
BBC Radio 4's The Archers has come a long way since it started in 1951 and although its original mission to educate the farmers of post-war Britain has long-gone, agriculture still lies at the core of the programme.
Vanessa Whitburn, Editor of The Archers, said, "This exciting collaboration with MERL is a wonderful part of the celebrations for The Archers' 60th anniversary year. The exhibition offers a unique opportunity for Archers' listeners to explore how the changing world of agriculture has been reflected throughout the programme's six decades."
The Exhibition runs until 22 December, 2011. It's free to visit and on the 1st Saturday of each month guest curator Mark Mason will be offering a guided tour of the exhibition. Tours can also be pre-booked for groups at other times.
An exciting anniversary programme of events inspired by the Exhibition includes a symposium on Media and the Countryside, a 1950s night as part of the national Museum at Night' campaign, the MERL Village Fete in June, family activities throughout the school holidays, and the MERL Annual Lecture in November. Details can be found on the MERL website at www.reading.ac.uk/merl
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for more information contact Alison Hilton, marketing officer, on 0118 378 8660
Notes for editors:
1. The Museum of English Rural Life, in Redlands Road, Reading, was founded by the University of Reading in 1951 to reflect and record the changing face of farming and the countryside. It houses designated collections of national importance that span the full range of objects, archives, photographs, film and books. Today, it forms part of the University's Museums and Collections Service. The Museum operates as a major resource and research centre for the history of food, farming and the countryside with links into the School of History and other academic departments at the University.
2. The University of Reading is one of the foremost research-led universities in the UK. Founded in the 19th Century and gaining a Royal Charter in 1926, we offer a wide range of programmes from the pure and applied sciences to languages, social sciences and fine art. New research and the latest thinking continually feed into undergraduate teaching, with our academic staff working at the forefront of their fields of expertise.