About University Collections
Our University Collections (formerly Research and Cultural Collections) contain over 10,000 objects and artworks housed across our Edgbaston campus. Covering a breadth of disciplines across the arts and sciences, the collections reflect a rich history of ideas, discovery, and creativity at the University of Birmingham that inspires audiences on a local and global stage.
An accredited museum with a team of experts in curation and collections management, we balance the use and care of objects to support the University’s commitments to research, teaching and engagement.
From ancient pottery to contemporary sculpture, via anatomical waxes and African textiles, the objects in the collections have the power to change perspectives, outlook and understanding. We are deeply committed to sharing this power as widely as possible, supporting staff, students and public to use collections to discover untold stories, and to write new ones.
Our vision is to explore the history of ideas, research and making at the University of Birmingham to inspire audiences on a local and global stage. We aspire to share our collections and platforms for people to tell their own stories, and are committed to use our expertise to act as connectors for people, places and things
The University Collections Team
Clare Mullet, Head of University Collections
Clare leads the University Collections. She oversees the interpretation, care, and management of a wide range of modern and historic artefacts, driving projects that engage staff, students, and the public with the collections. During 25 years in the university museum sector, Clare has created and led teaching modules and curated countless exhibitions. She has established hugely successful artist-in-residence schemes and founded the University Collections Study Centre - a base for research, teaching, and student placements. Her work has always connected people, places, and objects – and she leads an incredible team, who you can meet here.
Daniel Bowmar, Collections Manager
Dan is a Collections Manager with over 15 years’ experience, working across the arts and sciences. He works across all the University Collections, managing conservation, art handling and transport, storage, exhibition management, loans programme, acquisitions and disposals, insurance and security. He sees Collections Management as a creative and critical practice rather than a series of simple processes to be followed. Dan is the departmental lead for sustainability and is working to ensure that our exhibitions, storage, materials, contractors and supply chains are working towards best practice in this area.
Jenny Lance, Curator (Art)
Jenny is a curatorial specialist in art, interpretation and accessibility. She is curatorial lead for the Campus Art, Medical and Dental and University Heritage collections, and is departmental lead for interpretation and accessibility. She focusses on creating opportunities for people to engage with art and heritage across the campus including artist’s residency programmes, interpretation trails, exhibition programmes and large-scale public art commissions. She has a passion for enabling more people to enjoy the campus environment through public art and making the collections more accessible and inclusive.
Anna Young, Curator (Objects)
Anna is a curator whose specialisms include material culture and the lives of objects. She is passionate about engaging with communities where the museum collections are most relevant and seeing things in new ways. She is the curatorial lead for the African, Archaeology, Physics and Chemistry and Chemical Engineering collections. She also leads on digital practice, exploring how digital technologies can enhance the discovery and use of collections.