{"id":29842,"date":"2024-08-27T09:00:51","date_gmt":"2024-08-27T08:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/research-blog\/?p=29842"},"modified":"2025-08-14T10:48:44","modified_gmt":"2025-08-14T09:48:44","slug":"company-of-monsters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/research.reading.ac.uk\/research-blog\/2024\/08\/27\/company-of-monsters\/","title":{"rendered":"Monsters and myths inspire young audiences"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Emma Aston (Classics) and Andrew Mangham (English Literature) won the 2024 Research Award in the category Public Engagement for Research for their months-long exhibition which was co-curated by Reading Museum. <\/strong><\/p>\n

Read more about their project \u2018In the Company of Monsters: New visions, ancient myths\u2019.<\/span><\/strong>[\/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”29838″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n

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The \u2018In the Company of Monsters\u2019 exhibition, co-curated by University of Reading researchers,\u00a0 engaged young audiences in museum experiences, using mythology and modern reinterpretations to challenge perceptions of difference. Its legacy has inspired plans for future museum visits, educational and digital resources and more challenging contemporary issue-based exhibitions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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\u201cIn the Company of Monsters: New Visions, Ancient Myths\u201d was a major exhibition held in Reading Museum from September 2023 to February 2024. Co-curated by Reading professors Emma Aston and Andrew Mangham with Reading Museum\u2019s Elaine Blake, the exhibition showcased the works of local artist Eleanor Crook and Scottish artist Paul Reid, complemented by artifacts from the University\u2019s Special Collections and the Ure Museum.<\/p>\n

The exhibition aimed to engage younger audiences (aged 14-25), identified as the \u2018lost generation\u2019 of GLAM (galleries, libraries, archives, and museums), in museum experiences, promote the arts and humanities, and challenge perceptions of difference through ancient mythology and modern reinterpretations.<\/p>\n

The exhibition was a collaborative effort involving the University\u2019s Centre for Health Humanities (CHH), undergraduate students, and various University departments. It included a creative programme of activities, including drawing and writing workshops, an artist-in-residence day, gaming events, school visits, a school competition and a \u201cdeep dive\u201d area for visitors to explore the themes of monster studies and monster theory.<\/p>\n

The exhibition attracted 18,000 visitors and proved popular with younger and family audiences, with 37.6% of visitors aged 14-25. Feedback revealed that the exhibition changed perceptions, fostered empathy, and inspired visitors, particularly younger ones, to visit museums and art galleries in the future. Of those that had never visited the Museum before, 42% aged 14-24 and 100% of secondary school visitors, said they would make a return visit, suggesting a lasting impact on cultural participation and appreciation for the arts.<\/p>\n

The project\u2019s reach has extended beyond the exhibition with collaborations with local educational organisations to create bespoke lesson plans and digital resources. The partnership between CHH and Reading Museum will explore more challenging contemporary issues in future exhibitions.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis has given us the confidence to expand the theme of exhibitions from things like history of local football or railways to more challenging contemporary issue-based subjects.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Elaine Blake, Exhibitions and Partnerships Curator, Reading Museum<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=mhtr9elABn4&t=10s”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Partners<\/strong><\/p>\n