The University of Reading and the British Museum have launched a new annual public lecture series at the British Museum Archaeological Research Collection (BM_ARC) in Shinfield, giving local audiences a rare behind-the-scenes look at some of the world’s most significant ancient collections.
The inaugural Barker Lecture, held at the Thames Valley Science Park facility, brought together academics, curators and members of the public to explore the growing partnership between the two institutions and to experience first-hand the historic objects housed at the site.
BM_ARC is a state-of-the-art storage and research facility that houses a substantial proportion of the British Museum’s ancient world collections, including internationally renowned archaeological material such as ancient sculpture, mosaics and historic cast collections.
The partnership between the University of Reading and the British Museum, which began in 2018, has already created wide-ranging opportunities for research collaboration, student placements, doctoral studentships and public engagement. It has also enabled greater access to collections that were previously stored across multiple museum departments.
During the event, Professor Duncan Garrow from the University of Reading’s Department of Archaeology spoke about ongoing research collaborations and future opportunities for students. Kathryn Godwin, Senior Collection Manager at the British Museum, outlined plans to expand public access to the collections. Guests were also invited on a guided tour of the building, followed by a drinks reception.
The annual lecture series has been made possible thanks to the generous support of Graham and Joanna Barker.
Dr Beth Steiner, Research Facilitation Manager at the University of Reading, who chaired the event, said:
“Our partnership with the British Museum shows how collaboration fuels creativity and ensures that research into the past continues to matter today and in the future. Having these incredible collections here in Shinfield creates exceptional opportunities for students and researchers, and is a real source of pride for our local community.”
The BM_ARC building has been designed with sustainability in mind and operates entirely on electricity, with solar panels providing approximately 30 per cent of its energy needs.
The lecture forms part of a wider programme of events run by the British Museum at the BM_ARC site, which is not generally open to the public. The Museum will also host visits for local secondary schools later in spring 2026.
