Birmingham Rep to stage Wuthering Heights Good news for theatregoers...a brand new adaption of Wuthering Heights, to be staged by Birmingham Repertory Theatre from Friday 26th September to Saturday 18th October 2008...Written by April de Angelis, whose previous successes include A Laughing Matter at the National Theatre and The Warwickshire Testimony for the RSC...For further details visit the Rep's website: http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk. If you are visiting the Parsonage, details will be on display in our shop area.

Emily Portrait "comes home" to Haworth As part of the Bronte Parsonage Museum's 2008 exhibition focussing on Emily Bronte, the Museum is delighted to be able to display a rare portrait of Emily painted by her brother Branwell. This iconic portrait was once part of a larger painting called "The Gun Group" portrait. It was cut out by Arthur Bell Nicholls on the death of Patrick Bronte in 1861 and was later found on top of a wardrobe along with "The Bronte Sisters" portrait (also by Branwell). It is now owned by the National Portrait Gallery.

This is a very rare opportunity for visitors to see the portrait away from its usual London location.

Annelies Strba at the Parsonage Museum An exhibition of new work by Swiss Artist Annelies Strba went on show at the Bronte Parsonage Museum on Friday 1st August, being opened by Christoph Gruneberg, Director of Tate Liverpool.

"My Life Dreams" is a series of digitally-manipulated images in response to the Brontes and the Parsonage, displayed through the period rooms of the Museum. The exhibition is funded by Arts Council England and forms part of the Museum's Contemporary Arts Programme.

The exhibition takes inspiration from Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights and the illustrations for the 1935 edition of the novel by the artist Balthus. Annelies Strba portrays a magical and entirely feminine world in which her daughters and granddaughters (always central to Strba's work) appear as ethereal figures in dream-like landscapes.

The exhibition ends on 31st October.

Summer special - arts events in August The Bronte Parsonage Museum is celebrating its 80th anniversary by offering visitors aged 80 years or over free admission to the Museum throughout August.

In addition, there are a number of special events throughout the month:

Tuesday 12th August: photographer Kate Potter will be artist in residence at the Museum as part of a special project photographing 21st century visitors as Charlotte, Emily or Anne Bronte using traditional collodion photographic techniques

Friday 22nd August: chainsaw artist Dominic Clare will be creating a sculpture from the tree felled in the Parsonage garden earlier this year. The tree was believed to have been planted by Charlotte Bronte as part of her wedding celebrations

Wednesday 27th and Friday 28th August: the puppetry theatre company Frolicked will be performing a specially-commissioned piece based on the Brontes, in and arounf the Museum.

The above events are part of the Museum's Contemporary Arts Programme and are free on admission to the Museum.

Fusion of Brontë Heritage and Art Receives Cash Boost The launch of the 2007/08 Contemporary Arts Programme at the Brontë Parsonage Museum has been given a significant boost with the announcement of support and funding from the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, to enable it to continue its ground-breaking work to establish the Parsonage not just as a heritage museum, but as a place of excellence for contemporary arts. For more information see the Media Release (pdf)

Brontë Letters Come Home On the 3rd July 2007, the Brontë Parsonage Museum purchased two letters written by Charlotte and Patrick Bontë at Christie's auction house in London. The two letters were amongst those from The Albin Schram Collection of Autographed Letters which were discovered in a laundry room in Lausanne, Switzerland. For more information see the Media Release (pdf)

Brontë Myths Tackled Head-on in New Exhibition A new exhibition at the Brontë Parsonage Museum hopes to tackle some of the commonly held myths and perceptions about the lives of the Brontë family head-on when it launches on 27 April 2007 for 2 years. For more information see the Media Release (pdf)

Peoples Poet Laureate to perform in Haworth Wendy Cope was Radio 4's 'Poetry Please' listener's first choice for Poet Laureate folliwing the death of Ted Hughes in 1998.  She is on of the UK's most popular poets and will be visiting Haworth on Saturday 10 November 2007 at 7.30 pm at West Lane Baptist Centre, and reading from, and discussing, a selection of her hilariously wry, ironic poetry for one night only. For more information see the Media Release (pdf)

Unique manuscript goes on display at Brontë Parsonage Museum A rarely seen manuscript of the first ever biography of Charlotte Brontë is currently on display at the Brontë Parsonage Museum. The Life of Charlotte Brontë, published 150 years ago by novelist Elizabeth Gaskell, was an immediate success with both the critics and the book-buying public. However it got Mrs Gaskell into hot water – after several threats of legal action she vowed never to write another biography, complaining that the book had landed her “in the hornet’s nest”. see the Media Release (pdf)

"That Unlucky Book": The Life of Charlotte Brontë A new exhibition at the Brontë Parsonage Museum which uncovers the scandal that surrounded the first ever biography of Charlotte Brontë, published 150 years ago in 1857 by Elizabeth Gaskell. Exhibition is on now until 1 January 2008 see the Media Release (pdf)

Bronte Parsonage Museum Feature on BBC's Country File The Brontë Parsonage and Haworth are to feature on this Sunday's edition of Country File. Juliet Morris and her colleagues visit Bronte Country to explore the landscape and the connection with the Brontë family.

Home of Brontës Hosts Launch of 'Radical Brontës' Festival The Brontë Parsonage Museum are making final preparations prior to the launch of UK artist Cornelia Parker's new exhibition 'Brontëan Abstracts' on Friday 15 September 2006 at 7.00 pm. The exhibition will be officially opened by Andrew Graham-Dixon, art historian and presenter of BBC2's Culture Show. See Media Release (pdf)

7 Millionth Visitor Day Saturday 29 July The Brontë Parsonage Museum has welcomed 7 million visitors since it opened in August 1928. To celebrate on 29 July there will be a day of free events and admission to the museum is free to local residents (BD20, BD21 and BD22 post codes) on production of proof of residence. For more information see the Media Release (pdf)

Cornelia Parker Exhibition Launches Brontë Contemporary Arts Programme An ambitious project to establish the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth as a vibrant centre for the creative arts will be officially launched with a stunning new exhibition by one of Britain’s most famous artists, and Turner Prize nominee, Cornelia Parker. Cornelia Parker’s ‘Brontëan Abstracts’ exhibition will run from Saturday 16 September to Sunday 31 December 2006 and will, most unusually, be displayed within period rooms of the Parsonage. Cornelia has been working with the Museum over the past year developing new work which will offer visitors a unique opportunity to see the Brontës interpreted through the work of a major contemporary British artist. See the Media Release (pdf)

Charlotte Brontë's earliest manuscript competes for votes on BBC2 'People's Museum' One of the earliest known books written by one of the famous Brontë sisters will feature in a BBC2 programme which has gathered together some of the most quirky and unusual museum items from across the UK to create an on-line “People’s Museum” voted for by the general public. The programme, designed to coincide with Museums & Galleries Month, will feature Charlotte Brontë’s ‘little book’ of writings which makes up part of the Museum collection at the Brontë Parsonage Museum Haworth . The People’s Museum programme will invite viewers to vote on their favourite museum artefact featured in the 20-part series which will go out on BBC2 at 3.30 p.m. five days a week commencing on 15 May 2006. The Charlotte Brontë tiny book will be featured on 30 May 2006 at 3.30 p.m. on BBC2. The object with the most votes will be proclaimed the winner on 9 June 2006, although featured objects will have a place in a virtual on-line Museum hosted on the BBC’s history website. For more information see the Media Release (pdf). You can see larger versions of the photos by clicking the following links - Photo 1 or Photo 2

Shared Experience present Jane Eyre - Adapted and directed by Polly Teale- From May 9 2006, Trafalgar Studios - London The award winning Shared Experience has pioneered a distinctive performance style that unites text based and physical theatre.Shared Experience create theatre which goes beyond our everyday lives, exploring the inner world of emotion, imagination and memory. Further information (pdf)

Brontë Society member's investigations culminate in BBC Radio 4's Saturday Play A member of the Brontë Society who researched and wrote several papers on the life of Emily Brontë will have her work broadcast on Radio 4’s Saturday Play on Saturday 11 March 2006 at 2.30 p.m. until 3.30 p.m. Media Release (pdf)

Chinese visitors can now “Read all about it” at home of the Brontë Family Chinese visitors to the famous Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth can now “read all about it” quite literally with the publication of a Museum guide translated into Chinese by University of Leeds linguistic students. Media Release (pdf)

Face to Face with Charlotte Brontë A new exhibition which invites visitors to come ‘face to face’ with Charlotte Brontë, one of the famous Brontë sisters, is now on display at the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth. The exhibition, which runs from 1st February 2006 to 31st December 2006, lets visitors enter ‘Charlotte’s Bedroom’ where she slept and ultimately died in 1855. Her white kid leather gloves with brass studs and pretty dress with tiny waist are testament to her slight physical appearance. Media Release (.pdf)

Appeal to find lost 1920’s ‘Wuthering Heights’ film The Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth are appealing to the general public to help trace the first ever film made of Emily Brontë’s classic novel ‘Wuthering Heights’.The Museum would like to hear from anyone who has any information about the film. Were you there? Did your grandparents talk about the fascinating events in the village which must have caused quite a stir? And ultimately, has anyone got a copy of the film? Please contact the Museum on 01535 642323. Media Release (pdf)

‘Inspired Brontë education programme wins Sandford Award Judges had ‘no hesitation’ in awarding the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth with the Sandford Award for Heritage Education recently. The award, which will be presented at a national ceremony on Tuesday 22 November 2005 by the Heritage Education Trust, assesses the educational provision of historical properties and looks for high levels of service, quality, integrity and delivery of inspirational educational programmes. For more information please see the the Media Release (.pdf format)

‘Brontë Meadow’ brings the Haworth Moors to visitors Grazing land to the rear of the Brontë Parsonage Museum has been turned into a haven of natural beauty, taking visitors back to a time when the famous Brontë family experienced the magnificent meadows and moorland surrounding Haworth in the 1800’s. For more information please see the the Media Release (.pdf format)

How the Bruntys became the Brontës - Brontë Family believed to have been named in honour of Nelson Patrick Brontë, father to the famous Brontë sisters, is believed to have changed his name from ‘Brunty’ to ‘Brontë’ in honour of the great Horatio Nelson who was bestowed the title of Duke of Bronte by the King of Naples as a thank you for Nelson restoring him to his throne in 1799. Brontë is the name of an Italian estate in eastern Sicily, close to Mount Etna which was granted to Nelson by the King - read more in the Media Release (.pdf format).

New partnership offers visitors the chance to take a scenic one-hour boat canal trip for an all-inclusive price Tourists visiting the famous Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth can now take advantage of some of Yorkshire’s most breathtaking waterways thanks to a new initiative between the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth and Brontë Boats based at the newly refurbished Hebden Bridge Marina.

The partnership will offer visitors the chance to take a scenic one-hour boat canal trip with an all-inclusive ticket of £12.00. The price includes return canal cruise and entry to the famous Brontë Parsonage Museum, home to one of the most famous literary families in the world. Visitors can also take the optional extra of partaking of the many varied walks and talks provided by the Museum in and around the Haworth area. Fore more information see the Media Release (pdf)

Keighley College Students in ‘A Brush with the Brontës’  Keighley College students contributed their time and effort to an exciting exhibition at the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth entitled ‘A Brush with the Brontë’s” which runs until 2007. The students have undertaken the assignment as part of their BTEC National Diploma in Graphic Design and the museum, which has extensive links with educational partners across the region, was delighted to offer the students the opportunity to work with prints and drawings dating back to the 19th century to modern day interpretations of classic novels. Media Release (.pdf format).

A ‘Light Quartet’ brings the home of Charlotte Brontë to life! Over 130 guests attended a visual spectacular which saw the home of Charlotte Brontë, the author of Jane Eyre, brought to life by a series of digitally linked video images and projections at the launch of the ‘Leaving Home’ exhibition held on Friday 11 March 2005 at the Brontë Parsonage Museum in Haworth. Media Release - Launch of Leaving Home. (pdf) Click on the photo to view a larger version.