The Heritage Collections at the Houses of Parliament - Melissa Hamnett

A Friends of Kenwood Sunday lecture given by Melissa Hamnett.
The Heritage Collections at the UK Parliament are of national and international significance with many of them specifically designed to complement the interiors of the Palace of Westminster, which was rebuilt in the 19th century after a massive fire. It is a Grade 1 listed building and UNESCO World Heritage site.
The collections comprise about 30,000 objects: works on paper, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, metalwork, textiles and historic furniture, as well as architectural items linked to the Estate. How do these living, ‘working’ collections capture and maintain corporate memory? How do they explain the functions and processes of Parliament from the ceremonial to the day-to-day?
Melissa Hamnett is Director of Heritage Collections and Chief Curator at Parliament. She is responsible for the strategy and management of the Parliamentary Art Collection, the Historic Furniture and Decorative Arts Collection and the Architecture Collection.
This lecture was given one month before the most recent UK General Election, on 4 July 2024.
Introduction music: A Parliament of Owls, 2020, by Agnes Obel
Produced by Friends of Kenwood
www.friendsofkenwood.org.uk
@friendsofkenwood7574
[NB: any copyright acknowledged. There is no revenue from this video]

[@freddiebanks]

Thoroughly enjoyed watching, thank you!