Members of the British Museum Friends support the work of the Museum by providing vital funding. In
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Dear Members - please note that this page is now inactive. You can follow the British Museum on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/britishmuseum/. Thank you for using this page and we hope you continue to enjoy the Museum's updates on the main Museum page. If you have any queries about your Membership, please contact the Membership Office on 020 7323 8195.
A museum of the world, for the world. Discover over two million years of human history and culture.
The Membership team would like to wish all our Members a very happy holiday season! If you are planning a visit during the festive period, please note that the Museum will be closed on 24, 25 and 26 December and 1 January.
For up-to-date advice about visiting the Museum as a Member, check the visiting information page: http://www.britishmuseum.org/membership/visiting_information.aspx The Membership Office will be closed from 24 to 28 Dec and 1 Jan.
We look forward to seeing you at the museum in 2016!
Visitor information for British Museum Members
Find out more about our current 5* exhibition on in this youtube playlist. Members go free!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0LQM0SAx603HhJbBa0rC4rqKevvtgPL2
Discover Egypt’s incredible journey over 12 centuries, as Jews, Christians and Muslims transformed this ancient land. It is a story charting the change from ...
Avoid the hustle and bustle of the high street and join us for a more relaxing Christmas shopping experience.
On Monday 7 December, Members can take advantage of a 20% discount across all Museum shops at our Members’ shopping evening. The Waddesdon Bequest (Room 2a) will be open all evening, and there will also be a chance to enjoy music and dance from medieval ensemble Gloriana, whilst trying some festive food and drink from the museum’s cafés.
Free, no booking required, present your Membership card for entry
Please note that Egypt: faith after the pharaohs and Celts: art and identity will not be open.
Mon 7 Dec, 18.15–21.00
Find out more: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=2579&title=Members%27%20shopping%20evening&eventType=Members%27%20evening
Have you seen the announcement of our new major exhibition yet?
We are delighted to announce our first major exhibition on underwater archaeology! Submerged under the sea for over a thousand years, two lost cities of ancient Egypt were recently rediscovered. Their amazing discovery is transforming our understanding of the deep connections between the great ancient civilisations of Egypt and Greece.
300 outstanding objects will be brought together in this blockbuster exhibition, including many Egyptian objects shown in the UK for the first time.
Book now for , opening 19 May 2016 http://ow.ly/VfOEj
The British Museum Friends are delighted to announce that our target for the Members’ Appeal 2015 has now been reached and the Stoney Waterloo Album will be joining the permanent collection.
Thanks to a very generous offer, the British Museum was given the opportunity to acquire images which until now had been completely unknown – the Stoney Waterloo Album. These watercolours are the earliest known images of the landscape and aftermath of the Battle of Waterloo. With the help of the Friends of the British Museum and a generous donation from the American Friends of the British Museum in honour of Neil MacGregor, the Museum has secured this historic album in the 200th anniversary year of the Battle of Waterloo. The successful acquisition of the Stoney Waterloo Album is an important milestone in the British Museum’s collection of prints and drawings. It demonstrates that discoveries from temporary exhibitions can provide a springboard for further developments in research and collecting.
Neil MacGregor, Director of the British Museum comments, ‘I have been astounded by the kind pledges we have received from the Friends of the British Museum, the American Friends of the British Museum and those who contributed through the ‘Just Giving’ website. Thanks to their assistance we have been able to add these watercolours to the collection and make them accessible to the widest possible public.’
5* review for Egypt: faith after the pharaohs - opens tomorrow, 29 October. Members go free!
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/oct/27/egypt-faith-after-the-pharaohs-review-british-museum
With its miraculously preserved ancient objects – precious texts, gleeful art, children’s toys – Neil MacGregor’s last hurrah gets close to solving the mystery of religion itself
Did you know that the first depiction of snow in visual art was as late as 1400?
Or that Keat’s wrote ‘Ode to Autumn’ two days before the autumn equinox in 1819?
Discover more about how artists and writers have responded to our idiosyncratic English weather in our next Members’ lecture in 19 October, where award-winning writer and cultural historian Alexandra Harris will introduce her new book, Weatherland: Writers and Artists Under English Skies (Thames & Hudson).
The book has been described as “highly original and beautifully crafted” by The Sunday Times, “an impressively wide-ranging survey” by The Financial Times and “literary scholarship at its life-enhancing best” by The Independent.
Mon 19 October, 18.30–20.00
Tickets £15, includes a complimentary drink
Find out more and book tickets: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=2473&title=Writers%20and%20artists%20under%20English%20skies&eventType=Members%27%20lecture
Last night Members’ enjoyed an exclusive introduction to the upcoming exhibition. Thanks to curator An Van Camp for giving such a fascinating and engaging lecture.
Drawing in silver and gold: Leonardo to Jasper Johns opens this Thursday in Room 90. http://ow.ly/RlpFC You can purchase the beautifully illustrated exhibition catalogue at the special Members’ price of £27.00: http://www.britishmuseumshoponline.org/invt/cmc6124
Feeling inspired by silverpoint? Come to our next Members’ evening on 2 November where Philippa Abrahams will be giving metalpoint workshops, so you can try your hand at this challenging technique. Further information coming soon.
Drawing in silver and gold: Leonardo to Jasper Johns. 10 September – 6 December 2015 at the British Museum.
Get an exclusive preview to the new exhibition!
Next week see’s the opening of the new exhibition in Room 90, Drawing in silver and gold: Leonardo to Jasper Johns.
Members’ can gain an exclusive insight to this exhibition in our Members’ lecture this Monday, given by Curator An Van Camp. She will speak about the challenging metalpoint technique, focusing on its use in northern Europe, as well as looking at the scientific work done in preparation for the exhibition
Mon 7 Sep, 18.30–20.00
Tickets £15, includes a complimentary drink
Find out more and book tickets: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=2426&title=Drawing%20in%20silver%20and%20gold&eventType=Members%27%20lecture
Only one week to go until our exhibition opens! See masterpieces in silver and gold by Leonardo, Dürer and Raphael http://ow.ly/RlpFC
Members' Competition
Win a pair of tickets to The Waddesdon Bequest and Waddesdon Manor: a legacy of collecting
Fri 25 Sep, 18.30–19.30
BP Lecture Theatre
Chaired and introduced by Curator Dora Thornton, British Museum, this discussion will trace the history of both the Manor and the Bequest, articulating the forces, figures and factors that shaped its formation. Featuring Pippa Shirley, Head of Collections and Gardens at Waddesdon Manor, Michael Hall, author of Waddesdon Manor: The Biography of a Rothschild House, and leading authority on metalwork, silver and jewellery Charles Truman.
To enter the competition, email your name and Membership number to [email protected], with the subject line WADDESDON PANEL by 23 September.
Find out more about this event: http://ow.ly/RJX1G
12 pairs of tickets to be won.
A Special event at the British Museum on Friday 25 September 2015 18:30.
Win a pair of tickets to 15 years of the Great Court: the architect's view
Fri 18 Sep, 18.30–19.30
BP Lecture Theatre
Architect Spencer de Grey, Professor of Architecture at the Royal College of Art and Head of Design at Foster & Partners, discusses the development and concepts of building the British Museum's spectacular Great Court, for which he was lead architect. Part of Architecture Week.
We are offering Members the chance to win a pair of tickets to this event. To enter the competition, email your name and Membership number to [email protected], with the subject line GREAT COURT LECTURE by 7 September.
Find out more about this event: http://ow.ly/RCEFB
12 pairs of tickets to be won.
Good luck!
A Lecture at the British Museum on Friday 18 September 2015 18:30.
Members' screenings
Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb
As a Member, you and your family can enjoy an exclusive screening of Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb. Join Larry (Ben Stiller) as he heads to London on an epic quest to save his friends! His only hope is to recover the magical tablet of Akhmenrah, and his solution lies in the Egyptian galleries of the British Museum...
Mon 10 Aug, 14.00–16.00
Mon 17 Aug, 14.00–16.00
Cert: PG, 98 mins
£3.50 per person
To book tickets call +44 (0)20 7323 8195 (please note the office is open from 09.30–17.00 Monday–Friday).
Booking is now open for our Autumn series of Members’ exclusive lectures:
Drawing in silver and gold
Mon 7 Sep, 18.30–20.00
Curator An Van Camp, British Museum, will speak about the metalpoint technique, focusing on its use in northern Europe, as well as looking at the scientific work done in preparation for the exhibition Drawing in silver and gold: Leonardo to Jasper Johns.
Egypt: faith after the pharaohs
Mon 14 Sep, 18.30–20.00
Curator Elisabeth O’Connell, British Museum, presents an exclusive introduction to the forthcoming exhibition on Abrahamic faiths (Jews, Christians and Muslims) in Egypt before it opens in late October.
Writers and artists under English skies
Mon 19 Oct, 18.30–20.00
Writer and cultural historian Alexandra Harris introduces her new book Weatherland: Writers and Artists Under English Skies. From the wintry world of the Anglo-Saxons, to the Middle ages in Spring, this lecture celebrates the English skies and those who have lived under them.
Tickets £15, includes a complimentary drink
Tickets can be booked by phoning the Membership office on +44 (0)20 7323 8195 (please note the office is open from 09:30-17:00 Monday-Friday) or online here: http://www.britishmuseum.org/memberevents
Exclusive lectures and evening events for Members of the British Museum Friends.
Last night was our special Members' event, Cult of the Bacchae: live performance music and play
Members enjoyed a promenade performance of Euripides' The Bacchae, specially adapted for the British Museum by UCL Classical Drama Society.
In the galleries we had fabulous music from DJ John Sizzle, mischievous mask making and life drawings as you've never experienced before from London Drawing
Here is what some of you have been saying on twitter...
"daring, innovative & mesmerising Life drawing in Duveen G was magical"
"Fabulous night of Bacchic revelry. Brilliant acting and fab DJ . Loved it!"
"An AMAZING experience. Live show of The Bacchae in Great Court and then life drawing… "
We hope that all who attended had a great evening!
The British Museum Friends's cover photo
It's the final week of the current Room 3 display, Larrakitj:
Aboriginal memorial poles by Wukun Wanambi, closing on 25 May. Don't miss it!
Don't miss our free Room 3 display of Aboriginal memorial poles by Aboriginal Australian artist Wukun Wanambi, closing 25 May http://ow.ly/MwUqr
British Museum
Yesterday we welcomed the Prince of Wales to our exhibition http://ow.ly/Mnet1
The Prince is the Patron of the exhibition. In a speech to Indigenous artists and community leaders, he said: 'My great hope is that exhibitions of this kind can help build a bridge to enable indigenous and non-indigenous people to communicate with, and understand, one another more effectively' http://ow.ly/Mneux
At our April Members’ evening, Members enjoyed talks and activities themed around the exhibition Defining Beauty: the body in ancient Greek art. Project Curator Celeste Farge gave 20 minute talks about the exhibition, and staff from the Department of Conservation and Scientific Research gave an insight into their work on the exhibition. There was also the chance to discuss Philosophy with students from UCL and draw sculptures in the Museum. Don’t miss our next Members’ evening on 15 June:http://www.britishmuseum.org/pdf/events/2158_809_6207_FriendsOEP_June2015.pdf
Members' evening - Monday 27 April, 18.15–22.00
Join us on Monday for our April Members’ evening!
Members’ are invited to enjoy both the exhibition Defining beauty: the body in ancient Greek art and the BP exhibition Indigenous Australia: enduring civilisation at this special event, whilst taking in talks, salons and activities inspired by the Defining Beauty exhibition. Hear project curator Celeste Farge speak about overarching themes explored within the exhibition; join discussions with lecturer Fiona Leigh and students from the department of Philosophy, UCL, and spend time hearing from Museum experts from the Conservation and Scientific Research departments.
No booking required, present your Membership card for entry.
Find out more by visiting our website: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=2131&title=Members%27%20evening&eventType=Members%27%20evening
A Members' evening at the British Museum on Monday 27 April 2015 18:15. Free for Members, no booking required - present your Membership card for entry
is now open! Discover the remarkable story of one of the world’s oldest continuing cultures in this major exhibition. Free entry for members. http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/indigenous_australia.aspx
opens tomorrow. Here’s a sneak peek in the exhibition… http://ow.ly/LXhFQ
Objects pictured include:
Roy Underwood, Lennard Walker, Simon Hogan and Ian Rictor, Pukara. Acrylic on canvas, 2013. © the artists, courtesy Spinifex Arts Project.
Charlie Allungoy (Numbulmoore) (c. 1907–1971), Ngarinyin Mowanjum. Pigment on composition board, 1970. Kimberley region, Western Australia. The National Museum of Australia.
Mask of turtle shell. Mer, Torres Strait, before 1855.
Selection of shields:
Mulgrave River region, near Cairns, Queensland, c. 1900.
Adelaide Plains region, South Australia, before 1848.
South-east Australia, mid-19th century.
South-east Australia, before 1950.
Did you know that this Thursday is International Hans Sloane day?
To celebrate the life and work of the man who founded the British Museum, Sloane’s biographer Ian Foster is hosting a day of talks and a free exhibition just round the corner from us at 33 Museum Street.
To find out more about the events taking place click here: http://sloaneday.org/
You can read more about Sir Hans Sloane and his collection on our website: http://www.britishmuseum.org/about_us/the_museums_story/sir_hans_sloane.aspx
Celebrating the Life & Work of Sir Hans Sloane
Members’ exclusive lecture - Changing displays in the Members' Room: analysing the past
Learn more about the forthcoming series of displays in the Members’ Room on the theme of science at this exclusive lecture on Monday 11 May at 18.30.
The current display features a study into the microscopes that Members helped to purchase in 2007, the objects that they have been used on, and the fascinating images that they have produced.
Tickets can be booked by phoning the Membership office on +44 (0)20 7323 8195 or online here: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=2171&title=Changing%20displays%20in%20the%20Members%27%20Room:%20analysing%20the%20past&eventType=Members%27%20lecture
Members’ exclusive lecture - Indigenous Australia: the inside story
Members can find out behind-the-scenes information about before it opens to the public in a lecture by Exhibition Curator Gaye Sculthorpe on Monday 13 April at 18.30.
Tickets can be booked by phoning the Membership office on +44 (0)20 7323 8195 or online here: http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=2130&title=Indigenous%20Australia:%20the%20inside%20story&eventType=Members%27%20lecture
British Museum
The spring is mentioned in this 3,000-year-old cuneiform tablet ow.ly/Kdnfh
On Monday 9 March, our colleagues from the Photography and Imaging department will be giving a lecture, exclusively to Members, on the work that they do to capture images to illustrate exhibitions and displays. Join us to learn more about the work that the department carries out, and spend some time enjoying their beautiful imagery.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=2129&title=Spotlight%20on...&eventType=Members%27%20lecture
Images from Left-right: Durga Puja celebrations. India, Kolkata. Photo: John Williams
Herculaneum street scene. Photo: John Williams and Kevin Lovelock
Medinet Habu temple. Luxor, Egypt. Photo: John Williams
There is still time to purchase a British Museum Gift Membership for Christmas. Order by midnight on Wednesday 18 December for guaranteed delivery in time for the big day.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/membership.aspx?webSyncID=b745e6b2-9180-cb0b-8b81-3aac20aa6530&sessionGUID=b7923352-a423-973d-b05e-c13e3819e94d
......as promised, here's a few more images from our fantastic party last week. Enjoy!
Last week's Members' party was very popular. There was a chill in the air outside, but inside the atmosphere was glowing as guests enjoyed hot mulled wine, curator-led talks, craft activities, a bespoke Museum quiz and music from Barbican Brass. Here's a few images from the night.....more to come!
British Museum
Today we are helping the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg celebrate its 250th anniversary. Our Trustees are delighted to lend the marble Parthenon sculpture of the river god Ilissos to the State Hermitage Museum, in recognition of the shared Enlightenment principles and parallel histories uniting our museums.
Read British Museum Director Neil MacGregor’s blog post here:
http://blog.britishmuseum.org/2014/12/05/loan-of-a-parthenon-sculpture-to-the-hermitage-a-marble-ambassador-of-a-european-ideal/
Have you see the new Christmas lights? http://ow.ly/Ex7jR
Don’t forget to download the free app and explore the Museum! http://ow.ly/E30BR
The Regent Street Christmas Lights switch on was a resounding success as thousands of visitors attended in their droves to officially mark the start of the festive season. Not even the wet weather could dampen spirits as celebrity guests and performers kept the crowds entertained with live music all…
Why not join us in the Members Room tonight for our Friday Night Winedown? Enjoy music, cheese, and a glass of wine whilst taking in the magnificent views of the Great Court. Takes place the first Friday of every Month from 18.00-20.00
Happy Halloween!
Why not visit our free exhibition Witches and wicked bodies, examining the portrayal of witches and witchcraft in art from the Renaissance to the end of the 19th century. Open Fridays until 20.30pm
Our exhibition is now open!
From Renaissance to reunification, this exhibition explores 600 years of German history.
Germany: memories of a nation, an exhibition at the British Museum exploring 600 years of German history. Buy your tickets now. Adults £10, members free.
The British Museum Friends's cover photo
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