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"As a local historian and journalist I have found The Herbert's new History Gallery a tremendously well thought out way to tell the story of Coventry's past. The museum's covered court provided a perfect venue for the 2009 History Fair, the 6th that I have run in the city. Bringing in the many and varied societies for the weekend event invariably has its ups and downs, but the museum staff provided all the help and assistance that anyone could hope for."
Keith Draper, Coventry
Chief Executive, Ludo Keston briefly shares his thoughts on his work and why he loves working here
Christopher Kirby, Head of Collections and Programmes describes his work here and why he loves the Herbert
"As an employee I have never worked with such a hard working, dedicated team of individuals who go beyond what can be reasonably expected to engage with the local community with a cultural experience amongst testing times. We deliver well above our expected levels. In the last year visitor figures have swelled from 55,000 per annum to over 300,000. Our learning, social inclusion and media teams touch the lives of the local communities in lasting and enjoyable ways. We are celebrating our 50th anniversary on a minimal budget. Winning would be a fitting tribute to the dedication of the staff team and to the people of Coventry, who have finally had their cultural heart returned to the city 70 years after it was destroyed by one of the worst WWII blitzes ever to affect a UK city. Please consider us as a winner so we can continue our investment for these people and their descendants."
Jamie Perry, Herbert Art Gallery & Museum
"The Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust has been proud to work with the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum for many years. We have valued their support, advice and help to promote museums and galleries across the West Midlands to family groups from diverse communities. Their innovative approach to marketing and product development provides an excellent template."
Director of Marketing and PR, Ironbridge Gorge Museums
"From when I was a little girl I would visit the Herbert now an artist myself it was the first gallery I visited and such a lot of work and changes have been made to accommodate all that happens in Coventry I would like to think they could win."
Jane Atkins, Rugby Warwickshire
"One of the Herbert's guiding principles is to bring history and the arts to life in Coventry – to celebrate and explore the creativity and cultural heritage of the City, its people and its place in the world, to recognise and harness the influence that it has had on the past, is having on the present and will have on the future. The Board of the Herbert believes in the power of the arts to open people’s imaginations and to transform lives, and since the buildings' refurbishment and re-opening visitor numbers have rocketed from an average 80,000 people to more than 311,000 visitors in the last 12 months. Proof indeed that people are celebrating the unique contribution that the Herbert is making to the life of the City."
Keith Railton
"I work at the Herbert as an administrator and I really enjoy my job. It appears to me that everyone who works here is very dedicated to providing the best possible service to the public. The permanent exhibitions here are well designed and curated, the temporary ones are well thought out and popular and the museum has a good programme of events which should appeal to everyone. In particular, I enjoy the Natural History gallery ("Elements") which is both innovative and informative."
Andrew Peel
"I enjoy visiting the Herbert and as Parish Secretary to St. Margaret's Church Wolston, found the Gallery staff most kind in lending a large robot, the Herbot, to our Holiday Bible Club. As Clerk to the Wolston, Brandon and Bretford Joint Burial Committee I had cause to seek advice from the historian, archivist and archaeologist, who were extremely helpful and very expert in their field. The gallery provides a most useful local resource to us in Coventry."
Juliet Carter
"The 'Herbert' has become a wonderful resource for the people of Coventry. The Family History Centre, historical time line of local history, the collection of local antiquities and historical records are a wonderful resource for visitors. The innovative programme of events and exhibitions means there is always something of interest for all age groups even for those visiting on a regular basis. They also support local projects (e.g. the Coventry Historical Environment Project) with help, guidance and the free use of facilities. All this is provided by a dedicated, knowledgeable staff and except for a very few events is all free."
K. Battersby
"I am the senior conservator at The Herbert and am therefore in a position to observe the work of frontline staff and my colleagues directly responsible for exhibitions events etc. What I see is dedicated staff working often beyond the call of duty to produce an excellent and imaginative offer with limited resources; and a good cross-section of the population coming in, coming back and thoroughly enjoying themselves – it's a tonic to see the smiles. There's a real buzz about the place, and very often folks waiting for opening time – we need to be out smartly after cleaning/maintenance. I think every contractor I've had to take through galleries has made spontaneous positive comments, with several wishing they lived near enough to bring the kids. And on top of that we have a knitting group and the opportunity to learn Celtic harp!"
Jane Pudsey
"In my opinion, The Herbert holds a fascinating series of exhibits invaluable to the physical, written (both in musical and literary form!) and heard history of Coventry and the nation as a whole. There are areas within these that specifically engage with children, something all museums and art galleries need to do to preserve themselves for future generations. Winning the Art Fund Prize would help The Herbert to increase the visibility of pieces of art and historical artefacts that should be displayed and well preserved in a location which is not only accessible but incredibly appropriate – near the most visible symbol of Coventry's history."
David Boston, Coventry
"I believe that the Herbert looks good both inside and out. I find that it is accessible and user-friendly, with lots of suitable activities and things to see. I have worked in partnership with the staff at the Herbert and have established a great working arrangement with them. We have produced award winning work and I feel that they have an award winning building with the right attitude to back it up."
Jacqueline Latty, Coventry
"The Museum has always been and is a vibrant place for children and adults alike. The exhibits and the lay out are set out to bring history to life. It has recently held an evening at the museum with the BBC and the curator and organisers did the city proud. Also the food outlet is wonderful and serves a good selection of meals and snacks in a very clean environment."
Janice Palmer
"The Herbert is an important partner for the British Museum. Our museums have worked together for a number of years and the partnership has become increasingly productive in recent years. The wonderful redevelopment has created fine new exhibition spaces and we have been able to collaborate on two major exhibitions. One, La Bouche du Roi, explored issues around the bicentenary of the Parliamentary Abolition of the Transatlantic Slave Trade. The other, China Journey to the East, aimed to introduce modern and ancient China to family and schools audiences. Both exhibitions were complemented at the Herbert by strong learning programmes. Both also involved significant partnerships with local community groups – and were better exhibitions for it. The Herbert is now planning its own ambitious touring exhibition on ancient Egypt – and the British Museum is happy to provide support for this."
John Orna-Ornstein, The British Museum
"Considering the upheaval of the refurbishment and changing over to Trust status it has transformed itself from a 'provincial' inward looking museum and gallery to a outward facing gallery of increasing regional and national significance."
Nicholas Ripley, Photographer, Artist and Poet
"A beautiful oasis in the industrial city with incredible gallery spaces and well curated history museum."
Cormac Faulkner, Sound Artist and Festival Organiser Coventry
"Because it’s so much more than just an art gallery and museum. It pushes boundaries and unites communities and is a much needed part of the cultural community in Coventry."
Nicola Young, Coventry
"The Herbert is an important resource for both the people of Coventry & Warwickshire and also visitors to the City of Peace & Reconciliation. It tells the compelling history of Coventry and also provides a location for people to see both local and visiting artists’ work."
Nick Rogers, Leamington Spa
"It is also an important element in the local film-making scene."
Andrew McGeechan
"In addition to being a wonderful art gallery, in this past year they also held a free filmmakers’ workshop with Chris Jones and played a significant role in the A Thing About Machines festival."
Ian Thompson, Leamington Spa
"The museum is an important community resource and offers valuable opportunities for young artists in the area."
David Horsburgh
"In 2008 I did work experience at The Herbert. I thought the museum was unbelievably well designed and thought out. The exhibits were wonderful, especially the ones relating to the history of Coventry which gives the museum an individual quality. I found the staff there extremely kind, helpful and hard working. It would be great for the gallery and museum to carry on displaying amazing artworks for the people in Coventry to see."
Helen, Rugby
"The Herbert offers great opportunities for local Coventry art students."
Rachel Henshaw
"It is a marvellous reinvention for Coventry. It has become a focal point for the creative arts in a city that needs all the help it can get. It hosted "a thing about machines" arts festival and I had work exhibited in the Herbert. It was my first showing in an art gallery, so it is a very special place for me."
"My son was well looked after during work experience at the Herbert. The investment in the facility is focussed on making 'culture' accessible and interesting to a challenging audience, overcoming some of the natural reticence and disinterest in a community with many social, economic and cultural challenges."
Andy Scott, Kenilworth
"We all work here and would love to get the recognition for the amazing difference the last year has made to the venue and local community... help us invest to make things even better!"
Front House, Coventry
Emilie Gould
"Whilst working on this project as a team I have seen the impressive transformation from what would be considered dowdy to a very imaginative build, especially the roof detail of the entrance via Priory Street. There has been more interest due to its attractive appearance and the extra exhibitions being held at this venue."
Suzanne Smith
"It has been an established cultural venue in Coventry for many years and I had the pleasure of being able to perform with a contemporary dance group in the gallery, using a piece of art as inspiration. The refurbishment and recent additions made have made this gallery and museum even more attractive and it really feels like a leading arts institution which deserves to win an award like this."
Gemma Raishbrook
Nicholas Ripley, Photographer, Artist and Poet
"A beautiful oasis in the industrial city with incredible gallery spaces and well curated history museum."
Cormac Faulkner, Sound Artist and Festival Organiser Coventry
"Because it’s so much more than just an art gallery and museum. It pushes boundaries and unites communities and is a much needed part of the cultural community in Coventry."
Nicola Young, Coventry
"The Herbert is an important resource for both the people of Coventry & Warwickshire and also visitors to the City of Peace & Reconciliation. It tells the compelling history of Coventry and also provides a location for people to see both local and visiting artists’ work."
Nick Rogers, Leamington Spa
"It is also an important element in the local film-making scene."
Andrew McGeechan
"In addition to being a wonderful art gallery, in this past year they also held a free filmmakers’ workshop with Chris Jones and played a significant role in the A Thing About Machines festival."
Ian Thompson, Leamington Spa
"The museum is an important community resource and offers valuable opportunities for young artists in the area."
David Horsburgh
"In 2008 I did work experience at The Herbert. I thought the museum was unbelievably well designed and thought out. The exhibits were wonderful, especially the ones relating to the history of Coventry which gives the museum an individual quality. I found the staff there extremely kind, helpful and hard working. It would be great for the gallery and museum to carry on displaying amazing artworks for the people in Coventry to see."
Helen, Rugby
"The Herbert offers great opportunities for local Coventry art students."
Rachel Henshaw
"It is a marvellous reinvention for Coventry. It has become a focal point for the creative arts in a city that needs all the help it can get. It hosted "a thing about machines" arts festival and I had work exhibited in the Herbert. It was my first showing in an art gallery, so it is a very special place for me."
"My son was well looked after during work experience at the Herbert. The investment in the facility is focussed on making 'culture' accessible and interesting to a challenging audience, overcoming some of the natural reticence and disinterest in a community with many social, economic and cultural challenges."
Andy Scott, Kenilworth
"We all work here and would love to get the recognition for the amazing difference the last year has made to the venue and local community... help us invest to make things even better!"
Front House, Coventry
Emilie Gould
"Whilst working on this project as a team I have seen the impressive transformation from what would be considered dowdy to a very imaginative build, especially the roof detail of the entrance via Priory Street. There has been more interest due to its attractive appearance and the extra exhibitions being held at this venue."
Suzanne Smith
"It has been an established cultural venue in Coventry for many years and I had the pleasure of being able to perform with a contemporary dance group in the gallery, using a piece of art as inspiration. The refurbishment and recent additions made have made this gallery and museum even more attractive and it really feels like a leading arts institution which deserves to win an award like this."
Gemma Raishbrook
