CABINET OF CURIOSITIES
The history of museums and galleries has its beginnings in the display, by private individuals of collections of objects and artefacts. These collections were sometimes known as ‘Cabinets of Curiosity.’
This cabinet was designed by Mai Thomas and made in collaboration with furniture maker Kai Venus- Demetrio.
Its purpose was to help eliminate barriers to participation in museums and galleries and to provide a mobile resource and handling collection of artists’ objects and artefacts for use in galleries and museums and the wider community. It also provided a pop-up exhibition space for participants to display their own work in response to the collection of objects.
To date the Cabinet of Curiosity has been used as part of:
The Dementia and Imagination Project
Storiel, Bangor community project for families
Ruthin Craft Centre with local primary and secondary schools, Afaisic Cymru and family groups.
Denbighshire Arts Service, Oaktree Family Centre, Rhyl.
Gwynedd Arts Service with Criw Celf at Nant Gwtheyrn.