A Family of Artists is a showcase of art treasures on loan from the De Morgan Foundation in four former Georgian bedrooms in the east wing of Cannon Hall Museum, in Cawthorne, near Barnsley.

The building is closed, due to coronavirus lockdown measures, but the show goes on digitally thanks to the state-of-the-art virtual experience created by Barnsley Museums allowing everyone staying safe at home to explore every inch of the exhibition on their computer, tablet or smart phone.

And we have teamed up with them and the De Morgan Foundation to take the experience to a whole new dimension this weekend when we live stream a guided tour and Q&A with De Morgan curator Sarah Hardy.

In what may be a world first she will take viewers on a live tour of the virtual experience and answer questions from her home more than 200 miles away in Kent, on Sunday, May 3, at 7.30pm. Full details how to watch below.

TAKE THE FREE 360º TOUR: The immersive, interactive virtual tour, with hotspots revealing videos, photos and words can be viewed now. Check it out ahead of the live stream - CLICK HERE.

E-MAG: The exhibition's official interactive free guide is packed with information and web links, including a direct link on page three to the 360 degree tour - CLICK HERE.

WATCH LIVE GUIDED TOUR: To celebrate the official launch and, in what may be a 'world first', join us for curator Sarah Hardy’s live tour and Q&A on Sunday, May 3, at 7.30pm. It will be streamed on De Morgan Foundation, Barnsley Museums and several JPI Media Facebook Pages including The Star - CLICK HERE.

A Family of Artists exhibition has been turned into a virtual tour at Cannon Hall Museum near Barnsley

JIGSAW PUZZLE: Barnsley Museums are also celebrating the 360º tour with an online digital jigsaw image of one of the art works. Find out which and compete against others to complete it in the fastest time – CLICK HERE.

CRACKING CERAMICS 360º TOUR: Barnsley Museums’ Cracking Ceramics exhibition at Cannon Hall has also been turned into 360º tour. It celebrates its collection of plates, vases and other objects by famous names including William De Morgan, Bernad Leach and factories, Wedgwood and Doulton. Check it out - CLICK HERE.

A Family of Artists, the De Morgan collection, features paintings, drawings, ceramics and sculptures by artists closely linked to the Spencer-Stanhope former owners of Cannon Hall - including Victorian ceramicist William De Morgan and his painter wife Evelyn, John Roddam Spencer-Stanhope and Gertrude Spencer-Stanhope.

The virtual tour includes a walk-through view and another to see and spin the art space, in so-called Dollhouse mode. Measurements can even be taken of the art and anything else on screen.

De Morgan Foundation curator Sarah Hardy to give a live virtual guided tour

Look out of the windows at Cannon Hall and you see the parkland landscape.

Curator Sarah said: "This amazing technology will allow me to take you on a guided tour even though we're all in lockdown!

"I really can't believe how fantastic the 360 is, I am beyond impressed. I have been really missing giving tours of the exhibition and this will almost be as good as us being there together.”

Coun Tim Cheetham, Cabinet Spokesperson for Place (Regeneration and Culture) said: “Barnsley Museums are pushing the boundaries in terms of creativity and technology to ensure they continue to reach and engage with people during these unprecedented times.

Pop up hotspots bring the interactive virtual tour to life

“Although people can’t currently visit the galleries physically they will instead bring their stunning displays to them. These mind blowing 360 tours will allow people to explore, study and discover more about the De Morgan artwork as well as take part in a live curatorial tour – something we think maybe a world first!”

Shortly before the venue temporarily closed, due to the Covid-19 crisis, the galleries were transformed with mythological paintings and ceramics, including Evelyn De Morgan’s 1894 masterpiece, Flora, the Roman Goddess of Flowers.

Painted on gold leaf it literally shines in the gallery.

The live stream tour has been scheduled to coincide with Flora's annual Floralia festival, celebrated April 28 to May 3, which climaxed with gladiatorial games.

Cannon Hall Museum, bought by the then Barnsley Corporation in 1951, also houses collections of fine furniture, paintings and glassware.

It is one of five free entry museums - along with Experience Barnsley, Cooper Gallery, Elsecar Heritage Centre and Worsbrough Mill - operated by Barnsley Museums, run by Barnsley Council with support from Barnsley Museums and Heritage Trust.

Flora, the masterpiece by Evelyn De Morgan, is on display

Despite its museums and galleries being closed due to the coronavirus lockdown, it has taken its museums online with art and culture activities promoting its collections, exhibitions, photographs, blogs, podcasts, films and more, with digital jigsaws, Facebook watch parties and a Poet In Lockdown project, as part of it's Hear My Voice campaign, featuring the town's TV and radio poet Ian McMillan.

Donations are encouraged to its registered charity, Barnsley Museums Heritage Trust at www.bmht.org/supportus and to the De Morgan Foundation at www.demorgan.org.uk/support/donate.

LINKS

Cannon Hall:

Web: www.cannon-hall.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/CannonHallMuseum

Twitter: @CannonHall1760

De Morgan Foundation

Web: www.demorgan.org.uk

Facebook: www.facebook.com/demorganfoundation

Twitter: @demorganf

Barnsley Museums

Web: www.barnsley-museums.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/BarnsleyMuseums