About
Born in Killyleagh in 1660, Sir Hans Sloane was a physician and naturalist who created an encyclopaedic collection of books, manuscripts, coins, prints and drawings, plants, fossils, and cultural objects from all over the world. When he died in 1753 his collection became the foundation of the British Museum.
According to Sloane's will, the purpose of the collection was the improvement of knowledge and 'satisfying the desire of the curious'. The new British Museum Touring Exhibition For the curious and interested will, for the first time, reunite a selection of objects from the collection that Sloane assembled, that are now cared for by the British Museum, the British Library and the Natural History Museum. Each item in this exhibition offers a unique insight into Sloane's curiosity about the world.
Confronting the complex history behind Sloane's vast collection, which was financed in part by profits from transatlantic enslavement, the touring exhibition will reveal how and why objects from across the world were brought together and explore some of the stories of those Sloane worked with and relied upon for their knowledge and skills.
Join British Museum Curator Dr Alicia Hughes, to explore the history of the collection that Sloane assembled and how the exhibition was developed in collaboration with members of the County Down community. How did objects from different parts of the world come together? Where did the money come from to pay for them? What do they tell us about the importance of museums today?
Facilities
Establishment Features
- Accommodation nearby
Guide Prices
| Ticket Type | Ticket Tariff |
|---|---|
| Ticket | Free |
Please contact the organiser for any further information that's required.
