opening the box
Understanding the collections at Platt Hall
What is the Platt Hall Collection? As part of Manchester Art Gallery, Platt Hall is home to a collection of several thousand objects and artworks. It ranges from household objects, homecrafts and handicrafts, to textiles, toys and clothing. It includes objects both familiar and curious, ancient and modern, local and global. There are hundreds of boxes - each one a potential treasure trove of stories, inspiration and ideas.
But who decides which boxes to open? Whose stories to tell? What do we know about the things inside, and what is still to be discovered? How did they get here? What should we do with them? Why does it matter?
Over the past year, we have been exploring the collection together with residents and partners, opening boxes, investigating their contents and asking questions about what it all means. The conversation has been beautifully documented by artist Abi Lake. This is just the start - there is so much more to find out to make the Platt Hall Collection really come to life. The conversation continues...
What people love is a reflection of themselves. So artefacts that reflect lots of different cultures…a range of people. Things that make them feel good about themselves.”
Platt Hall Open Door Consultation, January 2020