Dr Katy Barrett
@spoonsontrays.bsky.social
Deputy Chief Curator & Head of Engagement @UKParliament. Vice Chair of Trustees @OldOpTheatre. #histArt #histSci #sciart. Keeper #MuseumofShadows All opinions my own.
www.spoonsontrays.com
www.spoonsontrays.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:56 PM
New blog post on experiencing museums anew through children’s galleries
In praise of children’s galleries (and country houses) — Spoons on Trays | Katy Barrett
Days out to a museum look a little different these days. Gone is the time when we could wheel a reasonably compliant baby around an exhibition and absorb the content. Today, Alfie is fascinated by, an...
www.spoonsontrays.com
November 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
New blog post on experiencing museums anew through children’s galleries
Look what arrived in the post! Now out in paperback so much more affordable, and still looking pretty good, though I say it myself
www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10....
www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10....
November 12, 2025 at 1:56 PM
Look what arrived in the post! Now out in paperback so much more affordable, and still looking pretty good, though I say it myself
www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10....
www.liverpooluniversitypress.co.uk/doi/book/10....
Home from an exceptional week with Oxford Cultural Leaders #OCLResidential2025. Could not have asked for a more perfect set of trainers, activities, locations and colleagues. Now for the reflection, absorption and change to begin!
September 27, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Home from an exceptional week with Oxford Cultural Leaders #OCLResidential2025. Could not have asked for a more perfect set of trainers, activities, locations and colleagues. Now for the reflection, absorption and change to begin!
What a nice surprise to receive a review for ‘Looking for Longitude’ in The Scriblerians and the Kit-Kats, with thanks to Manushag Powell scholarlypublishingcollective.org/psup/scrible...
Barrett, Katy. Looking for Longitude: A Cultural History
In 1714, the British government joined a number of European powers in passing an act to encourage the study of the longitude question—literally: how do we reliably calculate longitude at sea?—in the i...
scholarlypublishingcollective.org
September 20, 2025 at 12:28 PM
What a nice surprise to receive a review for ‘Looking for Longitude’ in The Scriblerians and the Kit-Kats, with thanks to Manushag Powell scholarlypublishingcollective.org/psup/scrible...
This is a great PhD opportunity for someone! I was lucky to do some work on Sarah Sophia’s coin collection in early days www.bl.uk/services/res...
Collaborative Doctoral Partnerships research theme 3
Research theme 3 for the CDP 2026/27 cohort is Rediscovering a Woman Collector at the British Library: New Sources and Perspectives on Sarah Sophia Banks
www.bl.uk
September 16, 2025 at 9:58 AM
This is a great PhD opportunity for someone! I was lucky to do some work on Sarah Sophia’s coin collection in early days www.bl.uk/services/res...
Excited and humbled to have got a place on #OCLResidential2025 later this year.
Looking forward to everything I can learn from my cohort and the Oxford Cultural Leaders team
Looking forward to everything I can learn from my cohort and the Oxford Cultural Leaders team
August 8, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Excited and humbled to have got a place on #OCLResidential2025 later this year.
Looking forward to everything I can learn from my cohort and the Oxford Cultural Leaders team
Looking forward to everything I can learn from my cohort and the Oxford Cultural Leaders team
‘Antiquities are helpfully ambiguous’. I hadn’t realised this context was why I’m enjoying #Andor so much!
Andor and the antiquities trade | Apollo Magazine
In the <i>Star Wars</i> series about the creation of the rebellion, Stellan Skarsgård’s art dealer/spymaster is perfectly placed to understand the inner workings of empire, writes Will Wiles
apollo-magazine.com
June 27, 2025 at 7:06 PM
‘Antiquities are helpfully ambiguous’. I hadn’t realised this context was why I’m enjoying #Andor so much!
What’s it really like curating a working collection? Watch my brilliant colleague Eloise Donnelly discussing historic furniture and decorative arts in the Lords Chamber
A look inside the House of Lords chamber
YouTube video by House of Lords
youtu.be
June 19, 2025 at 10:26 AM
What’s it really like curating a working collection? Watch my brilliant colleague Eloise Donnelly discussing historic furniture and decorative arts in the Lords Chamber
Lots of really useful things to ponder in this report on how GenZ engage with historic houses
www.historichouses.org
June 12, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Lots of really useful things to ponder in this report on how GenZ engage with historic houses
A day at the Science Museum celebrating the life and legacy of Jim Bennett. A real joy to connect with history of science research for the day
June 9, 2025 at 6:10 PM
A day at the Science Museum celebrating the life and legacy of Jim Bennett. A real joy to connect with history of science research for the day
Come and see what I and the team have been working on!
A new display in Westminster Hall explores how Parliament and its people met the challenges of wartime Britain.
June 6, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Come and see what I and the team have been working on!
Had a rare moment of energy and clarity so finally pulled some career reflections into a blog that I shared with @bbkhistorical.bsky.social students recently
On networking: some career reflections — Spoons on Trays | Katy Barrett
It’s funny how you remember some small events for years. I vividly recall early in my career being overawed at a conference by how confidently a senior colleague met and talked to people. How would I ...
www.spoonsontrays.com
May 11, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Had a rare moment of energy and clarity so finally pulled some career reflections into a blog that I shared with @bbkhistorical.bsky.social students recently
#OftheTree by #marshmallowlaserfeast newly installed at @rbgkew.bsky.social. A beautiful day, so many people pausing, being drawn in. Left me thinking how far technology can make us look differently at nature
May 3, 2025 at 6:35 PM
#OftheTree by #marshmallowlaserfeast newly installed at @rbgkew.bsky.social. A beautiful day, so many people pausing, being drawn in. Left me thinking how far technology can make us look differently at nature
We’re looking for new trustees at @oldoptheatre.bsky.social! Particularly if you can bring expertise in medical, commercial, fundraising or social inclusion, get in touch!
oldoperatingtheatre.com/vacancies/
oldoperatingtheatre.com/vacancies/
May 2, 2025 at 12:40 PM
We’re looking for new trustees at @oldoptheatre.bsky.social! Particularly if you can bring expertise in medical, commercial, fundraising or social inclusion, get in touch!
oldoperatingtheatre.com/vacancies/
oldoperatingtheatre.com/vacancies/
Well this is exciting post! Congratulations @atinybitwaring.bsky.social @rhiggitt.bsky.social Richard Dunn, Simon Schaffer, Alexi Baker.
The #BoardofLongitude mark 2!
The #BoardofLongitude mark 2!
May 1, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Well this is exciting post! Congratulations @atinybitwaring.bsky.social @rhiggitt.bsky.social Richard Dunn, Simon Schaffer, Alexi Baker.
The #BoardofLongitude mark 2!
The #BoardofLongitude mark 2!
Gorgeous marbled papers by #TirzahGarwood at #DulwichPictureGallery. Really want to do a marbling course now!
March 23, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Gorgeous marbled papers by #TirzahGarwood at #DulwichPictureGallery. Really want to do a marbling course now!
Artist commission now open for proposals at Science Museum Group! I was excited to consult on this project for an artist to contribute to the new 'Tomorrow: The Bennett Gallery', which will explore how today's scientific discoveries are shaping our future.
March 6, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Artist commission now open for proposals at Science Museum Group! I was excited to consult on this project for an artist to contribute to the new 'Tomorrow: The Bennett Gallery', which will explore how today's scientific discoveries are shaping our future.
#LuxMuralis at @stpaulscathedral.bsky.social Spectacle threaded with history, art and ideas. An inspiring way to spend an evening
February 26, 2025 at 9:10 PM
#LuxMuralis at @stpaulscathedral.bsky.social Spectacle threaded with history, art and ideas. An inspiring way to spend an evening
Great job for somebody at Clockworks
Curator - London (Greater) job with THE CLOCKWORKS CIO | 9460739
We’re seeking an experienced curator to run a unique London museum, with world-class objects, wonderful premises, stable funding & great people.
jobs.theguardian.com
February 19, 2025 at 7:43 AM
Great job for somebody at Clockworks
Fab expanded materials library and stories from #instituteofmaking
www.instituteofmaking.org.uk/materials-li...
www.instituteofmaking.org.uk/materials-li...
Library - Institute of Making
www.instituteofmaking.org.uk
January 17, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Fab expanded materials library and stories from #instituteofmaking
www.instituteofmaking.org.uk/materials-li...
www.instituteofmaking.org.uk/materials-li...
UK Parliament has announced the six artists commissioned to record the Lying-in-State of Queen Elizabeth II. This has been a long but so fulfilling project to lead
Artists commissioned to record the Lying-in-State of Queen Elizabeth II - Heritage Collections UK Parliament
During the historic Lying-in-State of Queen Elizabeth II, we invited six UK artists to record activities around the Palace of Westminster.
heritagecollections.parliament.uk
January 17, 2025 at 8:06 AM
UK Parliament has announced the six artists commissioned to record the Lying-in-State of Queen Elizabeth II. This has been a long but so fulfilling project to lead
Had some blog thoughts on collage after visits to #PeterKennard and #AnneDesmet shows
A coincidence of collage: Peter Kennard and Anne Desmet — Spoons on Trays | Katy Barrett
Anne Desmet, Out of this World and Peter Kennard, The Climate © The artists.
www.spoonsontrays.com
January 11, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Had some blog thoughts on collage after visits to #PeterKennard and #AnneDesmet shows
Best of 2024 blog is now up www.spoonsontrays.com/blog/best-of...
January 1, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Best of 2024 blog is now up www.spoonsontrays.com/blog/best-of...