Chester's Grosvenor Museum continues its year-long series of 'Object of the Month' talks on September 8. The free talks are aimed at attracting a lunch-time audience between 1-1:30pm in the museum's historic lecture theatre located within the museum at 27 Grosvenor Street, Chester. The talks give a fascinating insight into the unfolding work of West Cheshire Museum's three curators and Archaeology Officer - much of whose work in preserving the history of West Cheshire and the collections of its four museums takes place 'behind the scenes'. Booking is not required. For further information go to westcheshiremuseums.co.uk
8 September - Guest speaker, Rachel White from the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre on the BFG's sandal
The talk will be based on how Roald Dahl wrote the 'BFG' (Big Friendly Giant), including a brief introduction to his life and early ideas for the BFG story, showing how some ideas were developed and others were not. This creative process is explored in the fascinating story of the BFG's sandal, which is the Object of the Month, courtesy of the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre.
The Museum is currently hosting a fascinating 'BFG in Pictures' exhibition courtesy of Quentin Blake Centre of Illustration. It shows some of Quentin Blake's early and unknown BFG illustrations and the exhibition is open until 2 October. A sparkling series of free children's activities about dreams, giants and the power of imagination has also been organised by the Grosvenor Museum and other Chester-based organisations, including a film programme and an immersive children's activity space.
13 October, 'Scary' Victorian Doll, by Poppy Garrett, Assistant Curator, West Cheshire Museums
October is the month of Halloween so what could be more appropriate than the delving into the history of Victorian dolls and their power to be occasionally seriously unsettling? A recent inventory of the Grosvenor Museum's collection has 'brought to life' one particularly scary example - the 'Cracked Doll'.
10 November, Watergate Row North painted by Louise Rayner Painting
Liz Montgomery, Senior Curator, West Cheshire Museums will be looking closely at this picture, examining the scene and the story of Eliz Muras and her business, which is shown in the foreground. She will also examine Louise Rayner's contribution to the understanding and knowledge of Victorian Chester. Her talk will be linked to an exhibition this autumn that focuses on the glorious and unusual Rows of Chester, opening on 15 October - 30 April.
Councillor Louise Gittins, Leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council said: "Grosvenor Museum's 'Object of the Month' talks have been very successful. With their enthusiasm for illuminating the collection and its archives, the curators have chosen interesting and topical objects and I particularly pleased that September's talk will feature a guest speaker from the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre."