Mark Liebenrood
@markliebenrood.bsky.social
Historian, mostly museums. Postdoctoral researcher at Birkbeck 2023-2025 (https://mapping-museums.bbk.ac.uk/museum-closure-in-the-uk-2000-2025/).
Personal website: https://markliebenrood.com/
Personal website: https://markliebenrood.com/
Pinned
Museum Closure in the UK: Themes, Issues, and Trends
| Museum & Society
journals.le.ac.uk
Hello to all new followers. Just to introduce myself, I'm a historian primarily working on museums in the UK. My focus so far has been on why museums close. My latest article explores some of the themes, and it's open access: journals.le.ac.uk/index.php/ma...
Reposted by Mark Liebenrood
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
November 25, 2025 at 9:26 AM
I wish I didn’t have to share this. But the BBC has decided to censor my first Reith Lecture.
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
They deleted the line in which I describe Donald Trump as “the most openly corrupt president in American history.” /1
The Museum of Carpet in Kidderminster is the only one of its kind and is due to close in December: www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/2563429... #museumclosure
'A very sad day for Kidderminster' reactions to carpet museum closure
THE news of the impending closure of Kidderminster's carpet museum has led to an outpouring of sadness at its loss.
www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 2:57 PM
The Museum of Carpet in Kidderminster is the only one of its kind and is due to close in December: www.kidderminstershuttle.co.uk/news/2563429... #museumclosure
The Quaker Tapestry Museum in Kendal is due to close in December. It's been open for over 30 years www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Kendal Quaker Tapestry Museum to shut over high running costs
The announcement comes after the Kendal museum won a 2025 small visitor attraction award in July.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 19, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The Quaker Tapestry Museum in Kendal is due to close in December. It's been open for over 30 years www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Opposition to the relocation / supposedly temporary closure of Walsall Leather Museum is growing, with over 1900 signatures now. No new home for the museum has been identified so far. www.change.org/p/stop-the-c...
Sign the Petition
Stop the Closure of Walsall Leather Museum
www.change.org
November 18, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Opposition to the relocation / supposedly temporary closure of Walsall Leather Museum is growing, with over 1900 signatures now. No new home for the museum has been identified so far. www.change.org/p/stop-the-c...
Reposted by Mark Liebenrood
📣 Call for Papers 📣
Please share widely.
I am pleased to announce a #CfPs for the upcoming international
conference on Museums and Dissidence at @officialuom.bsky.social
Scan the QR code for further details.
#Museums
#Dissidence
#PoliticalDisagreement
#Conference
#MuseumActivism
Please share widely.
I am pleased to announce a #CfPs for the upcoming international
conference on Museums and Dissidence at @officialuom.bsky.social
Scan the QR code for further details.
#Museums
#Dissidence
#PoliticalDisagreement
#Conference
#MuseumActivism
November 12, 2025 at 3:11 PM
📣 Call for Papers 📣
Please share widely.
I am pleased to announce a #CfPs for the upcoming international
conference on Museums and Dissidence at @officialuom.bsky.social
Scan the QR code for further details.
#Museums
#Dissidence
#PoliticalDisagreement
#Conference
#MuseumActivism
Please share widely.
I am pleased to announce a #CfPs for the upcoming international
conference on Museums and Dissidence at @officialuom.bsky.social
Scan the QR code for further details.
#Museums
#Dissidence
#PoliticalDisagreement
#Conference
#MuseumActivism
Reposted by Mark Liebenrood
Which one is more English?
November 6, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Which one is more English?
Sad news about DeJohnette; this is a nice obit. I once saw him play with Jarrett's Standards Trio. There were a lot of camera flashes, irritating Jarrett. DeJohnette appealed to the audience to stop, saying: 'don't take photos, just take the music', in the most dignified way you can imagine.
Jack DeJohnette, just one of the deepest musicians ever, and a personal hero. Here is my obituary for NPR Music.
Jack DeJohnette, dynamic and instantly recognizable jazz drummer, dies at 83
Jack DeJohnette, of the most daring and singular jazz drummers of the last 60 years, died on Sunday.
www.npr.org
October 27, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Sad news about DeJohnette; this is a nice obit. I once saw him play with Jarrett's Standards Trio. There were a lot of camera flashes, irritating Jarrett. DeJohnette appealed to the audience to stop, saying: 'don't take photos, just take the music', in the most dignified way you can imagine.
Tickets still available for this in conversation event, 'Ritual Objects and Avant-Garde Art at the Jewish Museum of New York', online on Wednesday.
The next @mghg.bsky.social in conversation event is on Wed 22 Oct 2025 at 17:30.
Hear Jeffrey Abt talking about his book 'Too Jewish or Not Jewish Enough: Ritual Objects and Avant-Garde Art at the Jewish Museum of New York'.
Book here: www.eventbrite.com/e/mghg-in-co...
Hear Jeffrey Abt talking about his book 'Too Jewish or Not Jewish Enough: Ritual Objects and Avant-Garde Art at the Jewish Museum of New York'.
Book here: www.eventbrite.com/e/mghg-in-co...
MGHG In Conversation No.3- Ritual Objects & Art at the Jewish Museum NY
Join us for an online discussion with Dr Susanna Avery-Quash & Prof. Jeffrey Abt about his recent book 'Too Jewish or Not Jewish Enough'
www.eventbrite.com
October 20, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Tickets still available for this in conversation event, 'Ritual Objects and Avant-Garde Art at the Jewish Museum of New York', online on Wednesday.
Pollocks Toy Museum and the Bakelite Museum have been looking for new homes. This new collaborative project in Dalston, East London, could be the one: www.colvestone.org
Colvestone Co-Lab | Join the Creative Community Today
Discover Colvestone Co-Lab, a vibrant community hub in Dalston dedicated to arts, culture, and social engagement through creative spaces and local partnerships.
www.colvestone.org
October 20, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Pollocks Toy Museum and the Bakelite Museum have been looking for new homes. This new collaborative project in Dalston, East London, could be the one: www.colvestone.org
This article may be of interest, 'The hair of distinguished persons in the patent office building museum'. It's historical, and an American case: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:14 AM
This article may be of interest, 'The hair of distinguished persons in the patent office building museum'. It's historical, and an American case: www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Mark Liebenrood
Films: We need to hack a keycard, obtained by seducing one of the guards. We then need to drop in from the skylight after jumping from a plane, and dodge all of the lasers and traps, carefully switching the jewels for fakes that weigh the same to avoid tripping the alarm.
Real life:
Real life:
October 19, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Films: We need to hack a keycard, obtained by seducing one of the guards. We then need to drop in from the skylight after jumping from a plane, and dodge all of the lasers and traps, carefully switching the jewels for fakes that weigh the same to avoid tripping the alarm.
Real life:
Real life:
The next @mghg.bsky.social in conversation event is on Wed 22 Oct 2025 at 17:30.
Hear Jeffrey Abt talking about his book 'Too Jewish or Not Jewish Enough: Ritual Objects and Avant-Garde Art at the Jewish Museum of New York'.
Book here: www.eventbrite.com/e/mghg-in-co...
Hear Jeffrey Abt talking about his book 'Too Jewish or Not Jewish Enough: Ritual Objects and Avant-Garde Art at the Jewish Museum of New York'.
Book here: www.eventbrite.com/e/mghg-in-co...
MGHG In Conversation No.3- Ritual Objects & Art at the Jewish Museum NY
Join us for an online discussion with Dr Susanna Avery-Quash & Prof. Jeffrey Abt about his recent book 'Too Jewish or Not Jewish Enough'
www.eventbrite.com
October 6, 2025 at 11:33 AM
The next @mghg.bsky.social in conversation event is on Wed 22 Oct 2025 at 17:30.
Hear Jeffrey Abt talking about his book 'Too Jewish or Not Jewish Enough: Ritual Objects and Avant-Garde Art at the Jewish Museum of New York'.
Book here: www.eventbrite.com/e/mghg-in-co...
Hear Jeffrey Abt talking about his book 'Too Jewish or Not Jewish Enough: Ritual Objects and Avant-Garde Art at the Jewish Museum of New York'.
Book here: www.eventbrite.com/e/mghg-in-co...
Reposted by Mark Liebenrood
Probably the loveliest thread you will read today, full of beauty and kindness and improvised owl physio
Six weeks ago, I picked up a year-old tawny owl with a broken leg off the main road near our home and dropped him off at our nearest vet.
After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵
After a few days, I received one of the most bizarre phone calls I’ve ever had, asking “So when are you coming to pick up your owl?” 🧵
October 5, 2025 at 9:43 AM
Probably the loveliest thread you will read today, full of beauty and kindness and improvised owl physio
Reposted by Mark Liebenrood
New! Cassetteboy vs Keir Starmer.
This took absolutely ages, so if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com/cassetteboy we'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
This took absolutely ages, so if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com/cassetteboy we'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
September 30, 2025 at 10:55 AM
New! Cassetteboy vs Keir Starmer.
This took absolutely ages, so if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com/cassetteboy we'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
This took absolutely ages, so if you'd like to buy us a coffee at ko-fi.com/cassetteboy we'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
Reposted by Mark Liebenrood
Thousands of Londoners have indefinite leave to remain.
They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city.
Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.
They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city.
Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.
Farage vows to scrap indefinite leave to remain, placing thousands at risk of deportation
Reform UK plans to force non-citizens to apply for visas with high salary thresholds and no access to NHS services
www.theguardian.com
September 22, 2025 at 10:13 AM
Thousands of Londoners have indefinite leave to remain.
They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city.
Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.
They have legal rights and are our friends, neighbours and colleagues, contributing hugely to our city.
Threatening to deport people living and working here legally is unacceptable.
Reposted by Mark Liebenrood
Still time to book tickets for the museums history event of the season! Join us on 26-27 September for two days packed with papers showcasing UK and international perspectives, in-depth keynote talks and roundtable discussions:
www.nationalgallery.org.uk/events/confe...
www.nationalgallery.org.uk/events/confe...
Creating the museum: Exploring the museum impulse in local, regional and national contexts | Events | National Gallery, London
Creating the Museum Conference
www.nationalgallery.org.uk
September 18, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Still time to book tickets for the museums history event of the season! Join us on 26-27 September for two days packed with papers showcasing UK and international perspectives, in-depth keynote talks and roundtable discussions:
www.nationalgallery.org.uk/events/confe...
www.nationalgallery.org.uk/events/confe...
Reposted by Mark Liebenrood
Another powerful blog post and kudos @wadehistory.bsky.social
I don’t think “ECR” works as a meaningful label any more
E - “early” is based on an out of date PhD➡️ postdoc➡️ permanent timeline
C - “career” is wildly optimistic for most of us
R - how many of us in teaching jobs get paid to research?
I don’t think “ECR” works as a meaningful label any more
E - “early” is based on an out of date PhD➡️ postdoc➡️ permanent timeline
C - “career” is wildly optimistic for most of us
R - how many of us in teaching jobs get paid to research?
Today a follow up to yesterday’s post on being an ECR in French History, by @wadehistory.bsky.social
frenchhistorysociety.co.uk/6744/ 🗃️ #FRHistory
frenchhistorysociety.co.uk/6744/ 🗃️ #FRHistory
September 18, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Another powerful blog post and kudos @wadehistory.bsky.social
I don’t think “ECR” works as a meaningful label any more
E - “early” is based on an out of date PhD➡️ postdoc➡️ permanent timeline
C - “career” is wildly optimistic for most of us
R - how many of us in teaching jobs get paid to research?
I don’t think “ECR” works as a meaningful label any more
E - “early” is based on an out of date PhD➡️ postdoc➡️ permanent timeline
C - “career” is wildly optimistic for most of us
R - how many of us in teaching jobs get paid to research?
Just a week remaining to get your tickets for the @mghg.bsky.social conference on 'Creating the museum':
🏛️ National Gallery, London
📅 26-27 September, 10-5pm (come for one or both days)
🔗 www.nationalgallery.org.uk/events/confe...
All welcome!
🏛️ National Gallery, London
📅 26-27 September, 10-5pm (come for one or both days)
🔗 www.nationalgallery.org.uk/events/confe...
All welcome!
Creating the museum: Exploring the museum impulse in local, regional and national contexts | Events | National Gallery, London
Creating the Museum Conference
www.nationalgallery.org.uk
September 18, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Just a week remaining to get your tickets for the @mghg.bsky.social conference on 'Creating the museum':
🏛️ National Gallery, London
📅 26-27 September, 10-5pm (come for one or both days)
🔗 www.nationalgallery.org.uk/events/confe...
All welcome!
🏛️ National Gallery, London
📅 26-27 September, 10-5pm (come for one or both days)
🔗 www.nationalgallery.org.uk/events/confe...
All welcome!
Reposted by Mark Liebenrood
do you work in a university/faculty/school in the UK that abolished “departments”? willing to share experiences (by DM if preferred)? RTs also appreciated
September 18, 2025 at 3:52 PM
do you work in a university/faculty/school in the UK that abolished “departments”? willing to share experiences (by DM if preferred)? RTs also appreciated
Just an astonishing bit of engineering - read down the thread for more info
“you can’t do anything to a listed building, ever!”
okay, counterpoint, you can hoist a 700 year old church tower up 16metres in the air to build a new subterranean basement for an office block
okay, counterpoint, you can hoist a 700 year old church tower up 16metres in the air to build a new subterranean basement for an office block
September 11, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Just an astonishing bit of engineering - read down the thread for more info
Reposted by Mark Liebenrood
Sonny Rollins is 95 today which feels slightly miraculous, a survivor from his art form's heroic age
September 7, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Sonny Rollins is 95 today which feels slightly miraculous, a survivor from his art form's heroic age
Reposted by Mark Liebenrood
Israel committing genocide in Gaza, world’s top scholars on the crime say
Israel committing genocide in Gaza, world’s top scholars on the crime say
Almost 90% of leading academics on subject back resolution stating that Israel’s actions meet legal definition
An overwhelming majority of members of the world’s leading genocide scholars’ association has backed a resolution stating that Israel’s actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of the crime.
Eighty-six percent of those who voted in the 500-member International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) supported the motion. The resolution states that “Israel’s policies and actions in Gaza meet the legal definition of genocide in Article II of the United Nations Convention for the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (1948).” Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
September 1, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Israel committing genocide in Gaza, world’s top scholars on the crime say
Thanks for offering - please email mappingmuseums@bbk.ac.uk with the details.
August 26, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Thanks for offering - please email mappingmuseums@bbk.ac.uk with the details.
Reposted by Mark Liebenrood
(1902, Wuppertal, Germany.) Another era, very stylish. The still-functioning oldest suspended monorail in the world.
August 18, 2025 at 6:03 AM
(1902, Wuppertal, Germany.) Another era, very stylish. The still-functioning oldest suspended monorail in the world.
K20 and K21? Great art galleries from what I remember, if that's your kind of thing: www.kunstsammlung.de/en/
Home | Kunstsammlung NRW
K20 and K21 are internationally renowned for their outstanding art collections of early modernism, postwar and contemporary art. Our museums are vibrant, public places that are accessible to all.
www.kunstsammlung.de
August 17, 2025 at 7:58 AM
K20 and K21? Great art galleries from what I remember, if that's your kind of thing: www.kunstsammlung.de/en/