Wellcome Trust Announces Wellcome Collection
A New £30m Public Venue Exploring Human Wellbeing
Through Medicine, Life and Art
- Three major contemporary art purchases announced for new building
- Free events programme running in July

The nine-storey building will house at least 1,500 exhibits in temporary and permanent exhibitions across three galleries totalling 1,350m². Exhibits range from the bizarre to the beautiful, the ancient to the futuristic. Examples include a used guillotine blade; Napoleon’s toothbrush; 19th century amputation saws, (with extra wide gaps between teeth to prevent clogging) and a 14th Century Peruvian mummy. Contemporary works include a DNA sequencing robot, a sculpture exploring HIV by Mark Quinn, and major works by artists including John Isaacs and Christine Borland. All are linked to wellbeing or identity and combine to form a new approach to engaging the public in medical science and human health.

A lively programme of public events will expand on exhibition themes, bringing audiences face-to-face with prominent experts and personalities from the worlds of art, science and medicine, to explore the current issues and ancient mysteries of human wellbeing. The internationally renowned Wellcome Library, the world’s largest devoted to the history of medicine, will be housed on the upper floors of the building. Wellcome Collection will also have a café and its own members’ club.

Wellcome Collection is the transformation of the Wellcome Building, the former headquarters of Wellcome Trust, at 183 Euston Road, built in 1932 to the specification of Wellcome Trust founder Sir Henry Wellcome (1853 – 1936).

Sir Henry Wellcome was a pharmacist, entrepreneur, philanthropist and collector. His passionate interest in medicine and its history, as well as ethnography and archaeology, led him to gather more than 1,000,000 objects from across the world. Over 900 objects from Sir Henry’s collection will be on permanent display in Wellcome Collection, some of which were displayed in the exhibition ‘Medicine Man’, originally held at the British Museum.

Dr Mark Walport, Wellcome Trust, Director, said: “Wellcome Collection will be an exciting place in which to explore themes of human wellbeing, starting with the powerful collections of Sir Henry Wellcome. We will supplement this with contemporary artefacts, many of which will relate to current medical research and to public concerns about health and disease. Engaging with the public is an important part of the mission of the Wellcome Trust. The applications, implications and impacts of the biomedical sciences touch us all.”

Dr Ken Arnold, Wellcome Trust, Head of Public Programmes, said: “Sir Henry Wellcome was one of the world’s greatest collectors. Maybe the last great non-art collector. Much of his collection has never been seen, yet is a treasure trove of insight into human wellbeing through the ages. The three major art purchases we are announcing today, illustrate the powerful and evocative ways in which modern artists are engaging in today’s human health and wellbeing. Wellcome Collection combines Sir Henry’s museum with modern and contemporary exhibits to provide novel and experimental installations offering the public unparalleled insights into human wellbeing from the gruesome to the beautiful.

“Wellcome Collection builds on our experience of running hugely popular exhibitions at the British Museum and Science Museum and provides a new public venue for future collaborations with institutions in the UK and abroad.”

Architectural Transformation
Hopkins Architects is re-modelling 183 Euston Road to create Wellcome Collection. Sir Henry Wellcome specified the building should include a sculpture court and majestic galleries. Wellcome Collection will reflect this vision and the ideas of public access and exploration. The transformed building will be a light, modern, airy and contemporary space while also linking back to the original architecture and design. The ground floor windows are being enlarged to better connect the inside of the building to the outside; passers by will be able to gaze into the gallery and café areas. The entrance has been modified to allow wheelchair access. Three galleries span two floors, the materials used in these spaces include limestone and maple flooring, maple wall panels, steel and glass. They provide a modern yet largely neutral space to enable the artwork and collections to be presented to best effect. The Wellcome Trust headquarters at 215 Euston Road was designed by Hopkins Architects and completed in 2005.

Wellcome Collection forms an integral part of a new cultural quarter emerging in North London around Euston and King’s Cross. Wellcome Collection is close to UCL, Birkbeck College, SOAS, the British Library and the British Museum. The redevelopment of King’s Cross and the arrival of the Eurostar in 2007 provide an exciting new commuter, commercial and creative hub.

Purchase of Three Major Art Works Announced
Three major art works by leading contemporary artists including a mountainous figure of obesity, a sculpture from HIV drugs and a symbolic representation of the Periodic Table have been purchased by Wellcome Trust for Wellcome Collection.

The works by Marc Quinn, Keith Wilson and John Isaacs all engage in different ways with medical science and human wellbeing. They captivate the viewer to consider issues of human wellbeing and survival. The works are:

• John Issacs – I can’t help the way I feel, 2003
  
• Mark Quinn – Silvia Petretti, Sustiva Tenofivir, 3TC (HIV), 2005
  
• Keith Wilson – Periodic Table, 2004

The full release on these purchases, together with high-resolution images of each work can be found at: http://www.kallaway.co.uk/wellcome-press-release3.htm

Three Free Public Events Announced
Three free public events run by the Wellcome Trust are set to explore the nation’s health through happiness, music and medicine. The series provides a foretaste to the type of events that will be held at Wellcome Collection. Members of the public will be able to join experts from the arts, sciences and humanities in exploring how contemporary notions of wellbeing affect how we think, feel and function.

The free events are held at the Soho Theatre, Dean Street, London.

1. What makes us happy? 11 July, 1830 – 2030
2. Exploring the rhythms of life, 19 July, 1830- 2030
3. Full life, long life? 26 July, 1830 – 2030

Each event includes short talks, chaired discussion, open floor debate and an informal drinks reception. Tickets must be booked in advance and are not available on the door. Public ticket hotline: 020 7611 8442. Booking email:events@wellcome.ac.uk .

A full press release for each event, including speakers, topic areas and high-resolution pictures can be found at http://www.kallaway.co.uk/wellcome-press-release2.htm


Wellcome Collection Content:

Three Galleries
First floor
There will be two permanent exhibitions:

• Medicine Man, (350m²) will showcase a mix of 900 fascinating objects from Sir Henry’s original collection. The exhibition is a new version of the hugely successful Medicine Man show at the British Museum in 2003, attended by over 200,000 people.
  
  
• Medicine Now (350m²) will look at contemporary medical topics through the eyes of scientists, artists and popular culture, illustrating developments in aspects of these topics in the era after Sir Henry’s death.
  
  Ground floor
  Temporary exhibitions:
  
• The largest gallery (650m²) will host temporary shows, presenting newly commissioned works and thematic exhibitions built around topics of medical, cultural and ethical significance. The first temporary exhibition will be announced in 2007.

Flexible Events Space
First Floor
A series of public events, debates and performances will support and expand upon the exhibitions programme, bringing together experts from the worlds of art, science and medicine to explore the current issues and ancient mysteries of human wellbeing. The space holds up to 70 people and has been specially designed to facilitate a wide range of activities including performing arts, workshops and debates.

Wellcome Library (http://library.wellcome.ac.uk/)
First to Third Floors
The Wellcome Library is one of the world’s greatest collections of books, manuscripts, pictures, films and images about the meaning and history of medicine, from the earliest recordings to the present day. Collections include over 100,000 paintings, ancient Egyptian medical prescriptions, Van Gogh’s only etching, a first edition of Gray’s Anatomy, AIDS campaign posters and the papers of Francis Crick – co-discoverer of the structure of DNA. Over 600,000 books and journals, an extensive range of manuscripts, archives, films and more than 100,000 pictures are available for study.

The Wellcome Library takes up the second floor of Wellcome Collection including the restored reading room from the original building. This will be the first time all its collections are in the same space. The Wellcome Library is currently in a temporary location at 210 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE.

Conference Centre
Lower Two Floors
A new conference centre comprising a 150 seat auditorium, meeting rooms and breakout areas has been created and will be available for hire.

Wellcome Collection Club
Second Floor
A members’ club will provide an intimate environment where scientists, artists, historians, researchers, students and those with a keen interest in Wellcome Collection can meet and exchange ideas. As well as access to a private social room, members will be invited to private views and have priority booking on events and discounts on paid events.

Café and Bookshop
Ground Floor
The café will provide an informal space for Wellcome Collection visitors and passers-by to relax and take in Wellcome Collection’s atmosphere and exhibits. The bookshop will provide high-quality resources related to the exhibitions and Wellcome Collection’s themes of medicine, life and art.

The Wellcome Trust Centre For The History Of Medicine at UCL
Fifth and Sixth floors
Part of the University College London, the Wellcome Trust Centre and its historians will be based in the Wellcome Collection building, ideally placed to access the Wellcome Library and the exhibitions within the building and take part in the public events programme.


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Notes to Editors

Wellcome Trust Past Exhibitions (www.wellcome.ac.uk/pastexhibitions)
During the past decade the Wellcome Trust has organised more than 20 exhibitions covering a vast range of biomedical topics, from jellyfish to autism, metamorphosis to pain. In 2003, Medicine Man at the British Museum (a showcase of roughly 700 objects from Henry Wellcome’s original collection of more than one million) attracted approximately 200,000 visits. Between 2002 and 2005 the Trust presented a series of five major exhibitions at the Science Museum, culminating with Future Face in late 2004 which attracted 120,000 visits. The Trust also hosted numerous exhibitions in its TwoTen Gallery and funded major projects such as the Wellcome Trust Gallery (home to the Living and Dying exhibition) at the British Museum.

About The Wellcome Trust (www.wellcome.ac.uk)
The Wellcome Trust, an independent charity, is one of the world's leading biomedical research charities and is the UK's largest non-governmental source of funds for biomedical research. The Wellcome Trust has an asset base of over £11 billion, spends over £400 million a year and funds 3,500 researchers in 44 countries. The Wellcome Trust’s mission is to foster and promote research with the aim of improving human and animal health. Wellcome Trust funding has supported a number of major successes including:

• Sequencing of the human genome
  
• Development of the antimalarial drug artemisinin
  
• Pioneering cognitive behavioural therapies for psychological disorders
  
• Establishing the UK Biobank
  
• Building the Wellcome Wing at the Science Museum

The Wellcome Trust’s registered charity number is 210183.

Further Information
Wellcome Collection Website: www.wellcomecollection.org.uk.
The website for Wellcome Collection.

Online Press Centre: www.kallaway.co.uk/wellcome.htm.
High-resolution images of ancient and contemporary Wellcome Collection exhibits can be downloaded from this site. All Wellcome Collection press releases and backgrounders are also available.

Kallaway: www.kallaway.co.uk
Public Relations, Wellcome Collection
Will Kallaway   020 7221 7883   will.kallaway@kallaway.co.uk
Anna Cusden   020 7221 7883   anna.cusden@kallaway.co.uk

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