The MERL Café has gradually transformed itself since our reopening in 2016 from a coffee machine in the corner to a popular spot for refreshments during a visit. The current layout, with furniture and equipment cobbled together to create display and serving areas has developed ‘organically’ in response to COVID requirements and increasing demand.
We are now are starting a project to develop the café further into a destination of choice for light lunches, coffee, tea & cake and a chance for visitors, local residents, University staff and students to meet and socialise! We will be working with a consultant to look at effective ways of creating a flexible layout which is much more fit for purpose, and developing our offer further.
One of the ways we’re hoping to increase the awareness and popularity of the café is to give it a name and a visual identity.
I have been speaking to local artist Emily Gillmor whose father artist Robert Gillmor studied at the University. Emily knows The MERL well, having worked with us on several occasions and has a very good understanding of our collections and activities, and she has expressed enthusiasm for taking on this design project. Emily’s style and local connections would be a perfect fit with The MERL. She would create artwork inspired by the MERL collections that we could use to create a brand for the café, but also to create an exclusive range of print-on-demand products to sell in the MERL gift shop and online (via Art UK/Heritage Label), thus contributing to our income generation potential. I think this would be a lovely way of linking the MERL and a local artist, and is in keeping with our general ethos of creativity and community.
I would like to ask the Friends for £1500 to cover the costs of Emily’s work. The MERL would then contribute the rest of the budget required to turn the artwork into designs for the café signage and menus and products, as well as print production costs, as well as the wider investment in the café development project.
I do hope that this request meets with the Friends’ approval.
Many thanks
Alison
Alison HiltonMarketing ManagerThe Museum of English Rural Life0118 378 5626