Political Mugs
15th April 2009 – 28th November 2010

Critics' choice'- Time Out

This exhibition highlights political intrigue of the past 200 years, as seen through souvenir mugs, jugs, contemporary toys and tins. Politicians are often as ephemeral as the exhibits that depict them. Amongst the pottery is a gladiatorial play thing between Gladstone and Salisbury from 1885, the game of ‘Poll, or forming a cabinet’ from the election of 1906 and Churchill cigar-smoking manikins from the 1950s. Since the Seventies, political pottery caricatures have become increasingly popular, encouraged by the mimicry of the Spitting Image TV series. The Thatcher era saw Maggie squeakers, note pads, Acrobrats, toilet rolls, and even slippers.

The Art of Guinness
to 28th November 2010

To celebrate 250 years of Guinness, this exhibition at the Museum of Brands highlights the very best of Guinness advertising, from posters and TV commercials to drinks trays and beer mats. Guinness commissioned the work of many artists, such as H.M. Bateman and Edward Ardizzone, yet it was the genius of John Gilroy with his menagerie of zoo animals that became the memorable face of Guinness posters.

'Critics' choice'- Time Out

Packaging a Sustainable Future

Packaging has become one of the hottest environmental issues of recent years, increasingly required to justify its existence. The nation's favourite brands have risen to the challenge. This exhibition, sponsored by Tesco, explains the importance of packaging, how it has developed over the years and how manufacturers, retailers and designers are working together to adopt a more sustainable approach.

Waste Not, Want Not

During WWII Britain had to economise on raw materials, save on energy and salvage scarce commodities, encouraged by a powerful propaganda machine. Whether the message was to grow your own vegetables, make do and mend, or recycle paper, uppermost in everyone's mind was the need to be sparing in the use of meagre resources. While few may now remember those years of rationing and blackouts, the lessons from the past can teach us how to make better use of limited resources today. This exhibition is part of the museum's new initiative 'Packaging our Sustainable Future', sponsored by Tesco.