The Geffrye Museum will celebrate two major milestones this year – the centenary of the launch of London’s only museum to focus on the history of the home, and the tri-centenary of the building.
Kicking off the festivities on 29 April is an exhibition marking the best of domestic design, ‘Useful + beautiful: contemporary design for the home.’ This will be followed by curator and designer talks, a debate on the future of design, and workshops.
In the summer, the gardens will take centre stage with tea-themed events, music and theatre performances, as well as behind-the-scenes tours of the collections and archives. An outdoor exhibition will open in the front gardens in late July.
In the autumn, the public can look forward to candlelight performances, a banquet, and the annual Ceramics in the City selling fair with 50 potters.
The museum’s director, David Dewing, said: “2014 is a big year for the Geffrye Museum. Today it has never been more popular. We are seeing record numbers of visitors and growing demand for our learning programmes for schools and for people of all ages and abilities in our local and wider communities.”
He added that the museum’s staff was “pleased” to be part of Hackney’s social and economic regeneration and that the museum will be developed in the next few years to allow more people to enjoy the resources. “In this centenary year, we are both celebrating the past and embracing the future. We are encouraging as many Hackney residents as possible to come and take part,” he said.
To keep up to date with the Geffrye’s centenary events, visit their website.
