The Bowes Museum

The Bowes Museum was created over 100 years ago by an extraordinary couple, John and Joséphine Bowes. Together they built up the greatest private collection of fine and decorative arts in the North of England and constructed a magnificent building to house them in. The collection contains thousands of objects including furniture, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, textiles and many other items covering an extensive range of European styles and periods.

For the museum, Of Many Circles was commissioned to identify funding opportunities, scope strategic projects and articulate a vision for development of the Museum within its locality. We led on engagement with local communities & stakeholders including Durham County Council, Arts Council England & Heritage Lottery Fund.

We realised over £700k through the Government Culture Recovery Fund. We scoped and managed extensive research/public engagement commission using online & in-person research techniques, generating data from over 1,000 respondents. The extensive research was both qualitative and quantitative, involved economic research and market assessment which led to fundamental changes in strategy, pricing & programme strategies.

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"Of Many Circles are exceptional strategic thinkers with strong project management skills and an extensive cultural sector network. They have delivered time and time again. They have supported transformational change in our organisation, market, brand and perceptions realising long term sustainability through commercial income streams and government funding"

Rachael Fletcher, Marketing Manager at The Bowes Museum