The Fan Museum

08/03/2023

Celebrating International Women’s Day with some important people at The Fan Museum, whose care of our buildings and collections make us what we are. Thank you to them and all women everywhere for their voices and expertise

31/01/2023

Tomorrow, our new exhibition Coronations and Celebrations is open. Come and visit to see centuries of royal fans from across the continent in commemoration of the crowning of King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla, who has for many years shown a keen interest in our work. Featuring a special printed fan marking the restoration of King Charles II nearly 400 years ago.

For more information please visit our website.

20/01/2023

Happy New Year! Here is a sneak peek of the new permanent displays in The Green Room. We look forward to welcoming you back soon ✨

18/11/2022

Join us tomorrow, 19th November, for the next Curator in Residence! ✨

Join our Curator Ailsa Hendry on the ground floor as she gives a series of short talks on the permanent galleries. The event continues in the Orangery with etching and printing demonstrations - by artist, teacher, poet, and actress, Helen Adie. Our current exhibition, Brisé, continues on the first floor.

Check the link in our bio for more information.

01/11/2022

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
This Christmas season, see The Fan Museum in a new light.
Museum by Candlelight - a magical new take on our exhibition spaces to mark the festive season.

Wednesday 14th to Saturday 17th Dec
16h30-19h00 each evening

Limited tickets on sale now: https://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/events/museum-by-candlelight

18/10/2022

Join us on Saturday, 22nd October, for the next Curator in Residence!

Join our Curator Ailsa Hendry on the ground floor as she gives a series of short talks on the permanent galleries. The event continues across the Museum with etching demonstrations - as practised by the makers of some of the fans in our current seasonal exhibition Brisé - by artist, teacher, poet, and actress, Helen Adie.

Pre-booking is not required but tickets can be bought on our website.

The event is offered free of charge in addition to standard Museum entry costs.

10/10/2022

✨New Shop Items✨

We are pleased to announce that new tote bags are available in our shop. Only available at The Fan Museum. Pick one up when you visit or order on our website.

28/09/2022

From Wednesday 28th September, The Fan Museum hosts its newest seasonal exhibition of 2022 - Brisé - which sees fans from across the world spanning centuries of culture.

The brisé fan is usually a ‘folding’ fan without a ‘leaf’, dating back as far as perhaps 8th Century Japan, through to Korea, and coming to Europe via Dutch and Portuguese trading ports in China.
In this showcase of East-meets-West, discover how international trade, collaboration and enterprise has resulted in some of the finest examples in The Fan Museum’s collections.

Running until 17th December 2022, Brisé promises to be yet another “vision of beauty” in this unique “hidden gem”.

Admission to the Museum can be booked via thefanmuseum.org.uk or else on the door on arrival. Opening times are Wednesday to Saturday each week, 11h00-17h00 (last admissions at 16h30).

12/09/2022

The Fan Museum mourns the loss of Queen Elizabeth II and extends its thoughts and prayers to His Majesty the King, Her Majesty the Queen Consort our esteemed patron, and the royal family. The Museum will close on the day of the state funeral.

Pictured: 2012 commissioned fan to mark Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee. Painting by Charles Summers and monture by Sylvain le Guen.

29/07/2022

Our hugely popular monthly fan making workshops recommence next week on Saturday 6th August.

LIMITED SPACES AVAILABLE.

Book online or over the phone: call the Museum on 02083051441.

27/07/2022

Yesterday, Interim Curator Ailsa Hendry visited Brighton Museum with The Fan Circle International to look at advertising fans collected by Martin Battersby and speak to Martin Pel, Curator of Fashion and Textiles, about his research on Battersby. Here are some of the beautiful advertising fans we saw ✨

22/07/2022

✨Curator in Residence - Tomorrow✨

From 13.00-16.30hrs you can see Peony Girl Siyuan Ren painting her enchanting silk fans alongside our Bouquet of Fans exhibition. On the ground floor Interim Curator Ailsa Hendry will be giving short talks on the permanent displays at 13.00, 14.00, 15.00, & 16.00hrs. We look forward to seeing you!

Pre-booking is not required and the event is free in addition to standard museum entry ticket costs.

11/07/2022

We’re excited to announce that our next Curator in Residence will feature a demonstration of silk painting from the Peony Girl, Siyuan Ren. On Saturday, 23 July, join us on the upper floor gallery to see her work along side the mesmerising floral fans featured in our Bouquet of Fans exhibition. Curator in Residence continues on the ground floor where Interim Curator Ailsa Hendry will give a series of talks on aspects of our permanent galleries.

❧ Silk Painting Demonstration: 13h00 - 16h30 ❧

No pre-booking required. Admission is free in addition to standard museum entry costs.

18/05/2022

Join us on Wednesday 25 May for the second instalment of Season II of 'Talking Fans'. Join TFM Curatorial Assistant, Ailsa Hendry, who will be exploring printed dance fans and their role in the Georgian assembly room.

For booking info, please visit our website: https://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/news/talking-fans-season-ii

Image: Folding Fan, c. 1800. The Fan Museum Trust Collection, LDFAN2018.95.

17/05/2022

The Fan Museum invites you to visit our new exhibition…

The first-floor galleries have bloomed with the astounding beauty of ‘A Bouquet of Fans’! Curated by The Fan Museum’s Founder and Director Hélène Alexander MBE, the vast array of floral designs on show span the centuries dating back to the late 16th Century.

We hope to see you soon!

Please visit our website for opening times: https://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/

20/04/2022

Join us on the evening of Wednesday 27th April for the launch of Season II of 'Talking Fans'. The first of four online presentations will be given my TFM Consultant, Mary Kitson, whose chosen topic is the artist George Sheringham (1884-1937) and his distinctive fan paintings.

For booking info, please visit our website: https://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/news/talking-fans-season-ii

28/03/2022

We're pleased to announce that 'Talking Fans', our popular series of online curatorial presentations restarts next month with a talk by TFM Consultant, Mary Kitson on the artist and fan painter, George Sheringham (1884-1937). Follow the website link for booking instructions and to preview the schedule: https://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/news

18/03/2022

Join us tomorrow, Saturday 19th March, for Curator in Residence! TFM Curator, Jacob Moss, will be in the museum throughout the day offering free-to-attend short talks on aspects of the ground floor displays.
You can also visit our current exhibition, ‘The Allure of Lace’, on the upper floor of the museum.
Event schedule (13h00-16h00)
Ground floor: 15-20 minute talks every half hour
Pre-booking not required. This event is offered free of charge but in addition to standard Museum entry costs.
For more information, please contact: [email protected].

21/02/2022

We are delighted to announce the launch of a new partnership with Art UK, the ‘online showcase for art in every UK public collection’.

Our dedicated collection page features more than seventy fans from the private collection of the Museum’s Founder, Hélène Alexander and The Fan Museum Trust Collection. Each fan is beautifully photographed and enriched with detailed descriptions of its imagery, design, manufacture and context.

The Fan Museum’s Curator, Jacob Moss says: the Museum appreciates the opportunity to highlight its treasures on Art UK and we encourage everyone to explore our collections page and enjoy the outstanding artistry of fans throughout the ages.

Explore our collections on Art UK: https://artuk.org/discover/artworks/view_as/grid/search/collections:the-fan-museum

16/02/2022

Following today's reopening of The Fan Museum, we are pleased to announce the return of our ever-popular ‘Curator in Residence’ initiative.

Join us on Saturday 19th February when Curator, Jacob Moss, will be on site throughout the day offering free-to-attend short talks based on different aspects of the ground floor displays. Our current exhibition ‘The Allure of Lace’ continues on the upper floor of the Museum where you’ll also find lace maker Tina Pedrick in residence. Alongside one of her students, Tina will demonstrate different lace making techniques and encourage visitors to try their hand at lace making, too.

Event Schedule (13h00-16h00)
Ground Floor: 15 minute talks every half hour.
Upper Floor: lace making demonstrations and opportunities for visitors to try their hand at lace making.

Pre-booking not required. This event is offered free of charge but in addition to standard Museum entry costs. For more information, please contact: [email protected]

11/02/2022

Following on from the Museum’s annual January closure, we are pleased to announce our reopening to the public on Wednesday 16th February 2022. The year begins with a continuation of our current exhibition, ‘The Allure of Lace’, an intricate display of the Museum’s finest lace fans dating from the 18th century onward.

The Museum will be open each week from Wednesday to Saturday, 11.00-17.00hrs with last admissions at 16.30hrs. Whilst the Orangery is not yet available for public refreshments, we invite visitors to ask the General Manager about private hires or small functions.

For more information, please visit our website: www.thefanmuseum.org.uk

23/12/2021

Wishing everyone a very merry Christmas from The Fan Museum.

Although we are now closed, we will reopen to the public on 16th February 2022 and look forward to seeing you for the final weeks of our seasonal exhibition, The Allure of Lace.

Until then, we hope you enjoy a very restful New Year.

16/12/2021

Join us at 19h00 on Wednesday 22nd December for the final installment of our digital series 'Talking Fans'. Our speaker, TFM Founder/Director, Helene Alexander MBE will offer a lighthearted and suitably festive edition focusing on fans decorated with seasonal subjects. Please visit our Eventbrite page to book: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talking-fans-christmas-lecture-with-tfm-founder-helene-alexander-tickets-167865120093

Image: Folding fan with mother of pearl monture, the lace leaf with painted insert depicting a skating party; signed Van Garden. France, ca. 1900. The Fan Museum, HA Collection

22/11/2021

Talking Fans > The Whole World is Angelicamad!

There's still time to book tickets for our next online event, 'Talking Fans: The Whole World is Angelicamad!' Scheduled for 19.00hrs on Wednesday 24th November, Art Historian and TFM consultant, Mary Kitson will explore the Kauffmann craze via painted and printed fans.

For more information and booking instruction, head over to Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/talking-fans-the-whole-world-is-angelicamad-tickets-167861254531

Talking Fans > The Whole World is Angelicamad! A talk by TFM's consultant, Mary Kitson

10/11/2021

Today is the day! The Fan Museum is thrilled to announce its reopening to the public following an extended period of closure. We greatly look forward to welcoming visitors to 'The Allure of Lace', our new exhibition curated by Hélène Alexander, the Museum's Founder and Director.
Please visit our website for revised opening times: https://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/visiting

29/10/2021

Following an extended period of closure, The Fan Museum is pleased to announce its reopening to the public on Wednesday 10 November 2021.

Visitors to the UK’s only Museum devoted to the history, culture and artistry of the fan will find updated ground floor displays featuring an array of treasures, including an important fan painting by the post-Impressionist artist, Paul Gauguin and modernist masterpieces by fan maker extraordinaire, Sylvain Le Guen.

The first floor galleries, with their elegant, paneled interiors, will, from Winter through to early Springtime, play host to a sensational exhibition of the Museum’s finest lace fans. Aptly titled 'The Allure of Lace', the exhibition (curated by the Museum's Founder, Helene Alexander MBE) will feature more than seventy European fans incorporating both handmade and machine lace leaves dating from the 18th century to present day. Highlights include a spectacular late-19th century folding fan with intricate lace seascape fashioned by Belgian lace maker, Jenny Minne-Dansaert, and a fine quality Brussels lace fan mounted on blonde tortoiseshell sticks enriched with gold work, diamonds and enameling by maison Fabergé.

The Fan Museum’s Curator, Jacob Moss says: 'It is with much excitement that we prepare to welcome visitors back to the Museum, who I’m sure will greatly enjoy our first exhibition since closing back in March 2020. Prepare to be dazzled by the beauty & craftsmanship which is The Allure of Lace!'

For more information about the exhibition, please contact: [email protected]

30/09/2021

The Fan Museum is pleased to announce the launch of ‘Mapping London’s Fan Makers’ on the Layers of London website.
Please follow the link to obtain access: https://www.layersoflondon.org/map/collections/682

A culmination of many months of painstaking research, the interactive map features the names and locations of 200+ fan makers, fan painters and associate workers active in London in the 17th and 18th centuries. Many of the entries link through to fans & associated objects in other museum collections and are further enriched with biographical details, unfolding stories of migration, poverty and even crime!

Take a tour of the map and discover the fascinating history of London’s fan trade and learn more about the craftspeople and entrepreneurs involved in the making and selling of handheld fans during a period when London’s fan makers achieved a pinnacle of productivity and ingenuity.

03/09/2021

Lauren Laverne - Gemma Cairney sits in - BBC Sounds

Yesterday morning TFM curator, Jacob Moss spoke to Gemma Cairney on BBC Radio 6 Music about fans and The Fan Museum. If you'd like to listen in to their brief conversation, head over to BBC Sounds where the '6 Museum' segment begins at around 1.07.00.
Follow the link: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000z719

Gemma curates your musical choices in the People's Playlist.

20/08/2021

Talking Fans > The Fan Museum Digital Talks: Autumn/Winter 2021

Following the success of our recent ‘The Fan Museum at 30’ anniversary series of online talks, we are pleased to announce the launch of ‘Talking Fans’, a series of four presentations for the 2021 Autumn/Winter season. Delivered by the Museum’s expert curatorial staff, each of the four talks will cover a different aspect of the multi-layered history, culture, and artistry of the fan.

Please visit our website for booking information and schedule of talks: www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/news/talking-fans-autumn-winter-2021

29/07/2021

Job Vacancies | The Fan Museum, Greenwich

The Fan Museum is recruiting! Please visit our website to find out more about current employment opportunities:
www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/vacancies

Find out more about job opportunities at The Fan Museum.

30/06/2021

'The Fan Museum at 30' series of free-to-attend online talks continues at 19.00hrs on Wednesday 07 July when the Museum's curator, Jacob Moss revisits the 2014 exhibition, 'Seduced! Fans & the Art of Advertising'. Booking info here:
https://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/events/the-fan-museum-at-30

28/05/2021

'The Fan Museum at 30' series of free-to-attend online talks continues at 19.00hrs on Wednesday 02 June when Museum consultant Mary Kitson reflects upon the 2018 exhibition 'The Romantic Age'. Please visit our website to find out more & to book your place: https://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/news/the-fan-museum-at-30-digital-lecture-series

14/05/2021

On Wednesday 5th May 2021, The Fan Museum marked the special occasion of its thirtieth anniversary. Due to COVID-19, celebrations were inevitably curtailed, but the Museum’s Director and small team of staff were able to meet (socially distanced, of course) for a glass of champagne and a spectacular birthday cake themed around the Museum’s brand colours and distinctive logo.

Following on from the small reception attended by staff only, the Museum’s Founder and Director, Hélène Alexander gave a memorable talk to an online audience of more than eighty. Launching The Fan Museum at 30 series of online talks, her personal musings on several of the Museum’s past exhibitions were greatly enjoyed by all who attended. Please visit our website to find out more about the next talk in The Fan Museum at 30 series, scheduled for Wednesday 2nd June: https://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/news/the-fan-museum-at-30-digital-lecture-series

21/04/2021

The Fan Museum's Curator, Jacob Moss presents the latest episode in The Arts Society's 'Lectures from Home' video series. Head over to their YouTube channel and watch Jacob explore from multiple perspectives the story of one mid-eighteenth century fan from The Fan Museum's collections, its leaf painted with a medley of trompe l'oeil images, including a portrait of Maria, Countess of Coventry. Follow the link to watch: https://youtu.be/s8Pgc4b1MCA

Image: Folding fan, England, ca. 1755/60. The Fan Museum, Helene Alexander Collection.

06/04/2021

2021 marks thirty years since The Fan Museum first opened to the public. To celebrate this landmark anniversary, we're launching a series of free-to-attend online talks, each exploring a different aspect of the Museum’s extensive archive of fan-themed exhibitions. Talks will take place on the Zoom conferencing platform and advance booking is essential. To book places, please email [email protected] stating your full name and the title/s of the talk/s you would like to attend.
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The Fan Museum at 30: Schedule of Talks

19.00–20.15 hrs BST, Wed 05 May 2021.
The Fan Museum at 30: 'Director’s Choice.'
Join The Fan Museum’s Founder and Director, Hélène Alexander as she reflects on 30 extraordinary years (to the day!) of exhibition making. Curator, Jacob Moss will facilitate a richly illustrated presentation in which Mrs Alexander will highlight just one exhibition from each of the past three decades she’s presided over. The talk will conclude with a short Q&A. If you would like to put questions to Mrs Alexander, please do so in advance by emailing [email protected]

19.00–20.15 hrs BST, Wed 02 June 2021.
The Fan Museum at 30: 'The Romantic Age.'
Join Mary Kitson, The Fan Museum consultant and Secretary to the Fan Circle International as she reflects on the 2019 exhibition, 'The Romantic Age'. Mary will discuss some of the exhibition’s key themes and illustrate a selection of early to mid-19th century fans featured within the displays.

19.00–20.15 hrs BST, Wed 07 July 2021.
The Fan Museum at 30: 'Seduced! Fans & the Art of Advertising.'
Join The Fan Museum’s curator, Jacob Moss as he reflects on the 2013 exhibition, 'Seduced! Fans & the Art of Advertising'. Jacob will discuss some of the key themes within the exhibition and present a colourful array of promotional fans dating from the late-19th century to interwar period.

19.00–20.15 hrs BST, Wed 04 August 2021.
The Fan Museum at 30: TBC
Details of the final talk in the current series coming soon.

Visit our website for more information: https://www.thefanmuseum.org.uk/news/the-fan-museum-at-30-digital-lecture-series