The Caretakers

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Episode 1: Reimagine

20220405

In every museum and gallery, cleaning and conservation teams look after our cultural treasures. They have an intimate knowledge of the buildings and collections they care for, yet their opinions are rarely heard.

Artist Eloise Moody has been working closely with nine people across the United Kingdom tasked with keeping their respective museums, galleries and collections clean. Every sound you hear in this programme - from brushes sweeping to each word and sigh - was collected and recorded by the Caretakers themselves. This series offers a rare chance to perch invisibly on the shoulders of these exceptional guides, noticing what they stop to consider as they go about their work.

Doreen is the cleaner in the Glasgow Women's Library. At the end of her shift, she sits in what was once an exclusively male reading room, thinking about its change in identity. As she imagines, she reveals potential - in people, objects and places.

Art gallery Compton Verney is set in a historic mansion. In its impressive halls we meet Michael who left a career in the Chinese army before settling in Warwickshire. Having completely rethought his lifestyle, he explores the collections while considering the role of destiny in his life.

Philippa works in conservation at The Hardmans' House, a National Trust property. The specialist cleaning she does brings her in close contact with the contents of the house and its former inhabitants. What were once belongings are now 'a collection'. As the house has its annual deep clean, we re-examine the objects through Philippa's eyes.

Producer: Eloise Moody
Producer and Editor: Emma Barnaby
Executive Producer: Anishka Sharma

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Fresh perspectives on cultural treasures from the cleaners who look after them.

Episode 1: Reimagine

20220405

20220622 (R4)

Producer: Eloise Moody
Producer and Editor: Emma Barnaby
Executive Producer: Anishka Sharma

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Fresh perspectives on cultural treasures from the cleaners who look after them.

Episode 2: Rebuild

20220412

20220629 (R4)

In every museum and gallery, behind the scenes teams look after our national collections. They have an intimate knowledge of the buildings and collections they look after, yet their opinions are rarely sought.

In renowned sculptor Barbara Hepworth's former house and garden in St Ives, now cared for and run by Tate, we join Deborah Cane, Conservation Manager. Having dedicated herself to the restoration of Hepworth's summer house, she reflects on the balance between representing and preserving what was once a home and workshop.

Working as a cleaner at the William Morris Gallery- a museum dedicated to the Arts and Crafts designer and socialist - we meet Liliana. Having rebuilt her life in London after fleeing Columbia twenty years ago, she finds her mind traveling back to her native country as she considers the artefacts that surround her. Haunted by a past exhibit, she considers what makes a home.

Lisa cleans at St.Fagans, a living museum in Wales where historical buildings are relocated and re-constructed brick by brick. As she goes about her shift, she shares some of the more unusual tasks that connect her to past generations.

Producer: Eloise Moody

Producer and Editor: Emma Barnaby

Executive Producer: Anishka Sharma

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Fresh perspectives on cultural treasures from the cleaners who look after them.

Producer: Eloise Moody

Producer and Editor: Emma Barnaby

Executive Producer: Anishka Sharma

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Fresh perspectives on cultural treasures from the cleaners who look after them.

Episode 3: Relive

20220419

Keeping Titanic Belfast shipshape is Jackie, a native of the city. Whilst cleaning the cabins, she considers extraordinary moments in the life of the ship - and the city that created it.

Andy was a traffic warden who found a new life working in outdoor maintenance at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. In between cleaning the sculptures, mowing the lawns, and emptying the bins, he finds quiet moments to reflect on the previous lives of the park.

June, is a cleaner at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA). Whilst buffing the floors, she takes a closer look at a series of photographs that transport her back to her teenage self.

Producer: Eloise Moody
Producer and Editor: Emma Barnaby
Executive Producer: Anishka Sharma

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Fresh perspectives on cultural treasures from the cleaners who look after them.

Episode 3: Relive

20220419

20220706 (R4)

Keeping Titanic Belfast shipshape is Jackie, a native of the city. Whilst cleaning the cabins, she considers extraordinary moments in the life of the ship - and the city that created it.

June, is a cleaner at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA). Whilst buffing the floors, she takes a closer look at a series of photographs that transport her back to her teenage self.

Producer: Eloise Moody
Producer and Editor: Emma Barnaby
Executive Producer: Anishka Sharma

A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4

Fresh perspectives on cultural treasures from the cleaners who look after them.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
Episode 1: Reimagine	20220405		In every museum and gallery, cleaning and conservation teams look after our cultural treasures. They have an intimate knowledge of the buildings and collections they care for, yet their opinions are rarely heard. Artist Eloise Moody has been working closely with nine people across the United Kingdom tasked with keeping their respective museums, galleries and collections clean. Every sound you hear in this programme - from brushes sweeping to each word and sigh - was collected and recorded by the Caretakers themselves. This series offers a rare chance to perch invisibly on the shoulders of these exceptional guides, noticing what they stop to consider as they go about their work. Doreen is the cleaner in the Glasgow Women's Library. At the end of her shift, she sits in what was once an exclusively male reading room, thinking about its change in identity. As she imagines, she reveals potential - in people, objects and places. Art gallery Compton Verney is set in a historic mansion. In its impressive halls we meet Michael who left a career in the Chinese army before settling in Warwickshire. Having completely rethought his lifestyle, he explores the collections while considering the role of destiny in his life. Philippa works in conservation at The Hardmans' House, a National Trust property. The specialist cleaning she does brings her in close contact with the contents of the house and its former inhabitants. What were once belongings are now 'a collection'. As the house has its annual deep clean, we re-examine the objects through Philippa's eyes. Producer: Eloise Moody Producer and Editor: Emma Barnaby Executive Producer: Anishka Sharma A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4 Fresh perspectives on cultural treasures from the cleaners who look after them.
Episode 1: Reimagine	20220405	20220622 (R4)	In every museum and gallery, cleaning and conservation teams look after our cultural treasures. They have an intimate knowledge of the buildings and collections they care for, yet their opinions are rarely heard. Artist Eloise Moody has been working closely with nine people across the United Kingdom tasked with keeping their respective museums, galleries and collections clean. Every sound you hear in this programme - from brushes sweeping to each word and sigh - was collected and recorded by the Caretakers themselves. This series offers a rare chance to perch invisibly on the shoulders of these exceptional guides, noticing what they stop to consider as they go about their work. Doreen is the cleaner in the Glasgow Women's Library. At the end of her shift, she sits in what was once an exclusively male reading room, thinking about its change in identity. As she imagines, she reveals potential - in people, objects and places. Art gallery Compton Verney is set in a historic mansion. In its impressive halls we meet Michael who left a career in the Chinese army before settling in Warwickshire. Having completely rethought his lifestyle, he explores the collections while considering the role of destiny in his life. Philippa works in conservation at The Hardmans' House, a National Trust property. The specialist cleaning she does brings her in close contact with the contents of the house and its former inhabitants. What were once belongings are now 'a collection'. As the house has its annual deep clean, we re-examine the objects through Philippa's eyes. Producer: Eloise Moody Producer and Editor: Emma Barnaby Executive Producer: Anishka Sharma A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4 Fresh perspectives on cultural treasures from the cleaners who look after them.
Episode 2: Rebuild	20220412	20220629 (R4)	In every museum and gallery, behind the scenes teams look after our national collections. They have an intimate knowledge of the buildings and collections they look after, yet their opinions are rarely sought. Artist Eloise Moody has been working closely with nine people across the United Kingdom tasked with keeping their respective museums, galleries and collections clean. Every sound you hear in this programme - from brushes sweeping to each word and sigh - was collected and recorded by the Caretakers themselves. This series offers a rare chance to perch invisibly on the shoulders of these exceptional guides, noticing what they stop to consider as they go about their work. In renowned sculptor Barbara Hepworth's former house and garden in St Ives, now cared for and run by Tate, we join Deborah Cane, Conservation Manager. Having dedicated herself to the restoration of Hepworth's summer house, she reflects on the balance between representing and preserving what was once a home and workshop. Working as a cleaner at the William Morris Gallery- a museum dedicated to the Arts and Crafts designer and socialist - we meet Liliana. Having rebuilt her life in London after fleeing Columbia twenty years ago, she finds her mind traveling back to her native country as she considers the artefacts that surround her. Haunted by a past exhibit, she considers what makes a home. Lisa cleans at St.Fagans, a living museum in Wales where historical buildings are relocated and re-constructed brick by brick. As she goes about her shift, she shares some of the more unusual tasks that connect her to past generations. Producer: Eloise Moody Producer and Editor: Emma Barnaby Executive Producer: Anishka Sharma A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4 Fresh perspectives on cultural treasures from the cleaners who look after them. In every museum and gallery, behind the scenes teams look after our national collections. They have an intimate knowledge of the buildings and collections they look after, yet their opinions are rarely sought. Artist Eloise Moody has been working closely with nine people across the United Kingdom tasked with keeping their respective museums, galleries and collections clean. Every sound you hear in this programme - from brushes sweeping to each word and sigh - was collected and recorded by the Caretakers themselves. This series offers a rare chance to perch invisibly on the shoulders of these exceptional guides, noticing what they stop to consider as they go about their work. In renowned sculptor Barbara Hepworth's former house and garden in St Ives, now cared for and run by Tate, we join Deborah Cane, Conservation Manager. Having dedicated herself to the restoration of Hepworth's summer house, she reflects on the balance between representing and preserving what was once a home and workshop. Working as a cleaner at the William Morris Gallery- a museum dedicated to the Arts and Crafts designer and socialist - we meet Liliana. Having rebuilt her life in London after fleeing Columbia twenty years ago, she finds her mind traveling back to her native country as she considers the artefacts that surround her. Haunted by a past exhibit, she considers what makes a home. Lisa cleans at St.Fagans, a living museum in Wales where historical buildings are relocated and re-constructed brick by brick. As she goes about her shift, she shares some of the more unusual tasks that connect her to past generations. Producer: Eloise Moody Producer and Editor: Emma Barnaby Executive Producer: Anishka Sharma A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4 Fresh perspectives on cultural treasures from the cleaners who look after them.
Episode 3: Relive	20220419		In every museum and gallery, behind the scenes teams look after our national collections. They have an intimate knowledge of the buildings and collections they look after, yet their opinions are rarely sought. Artist Eloise Moody has been working closely with nine people across the United Kingdom tasked with keeping their respective museums, galleries and collections clean. Every sound you hear in this programme - from brushes sweeping to each word and sigh - was collected and recorded by the Caretakers themselves. This series offers a rare chance to perch invisibly on the shoulders of these exceptional guides, noticing what they stop to consider as they go about their work. Keeping Titanic Belfast shipshape is Jackie, a native of the city. Whilst cleaning the cabins, she considers extraordinary moments in the life of the ship - and the city that created it. Andy was a traffic warden who found a new life working in outdoor maintenance at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. In between cleaning the sculptures, mowing the lawns, and emptying the bins, he finds quiet moments to reflect on the previous lives of the park. June, is a cleaner at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA). Whilst buffing the floors, she takes a closer look at a series of photographs that transport her back to her teenage self. Producer: Eloise Moody Producer and Editor: Emma Barnaby Executive Producer: Anishka Sharma A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4 Fresh perspectives on cultural treasures from the cleaners who look after them.
Episode 3: Relive	20220419	20220706 (R4)	In every museum and gallery, behind the scenes teams look after our national collections. They have an intimate knowledge of the buildings and collections they look after, yet their opinions are rarely sought. Artist Eloise Moody has been working closely with nine people across the United Kingdom tasked with keeping their respective museums, galleries and collections clean. Every sound you hear in this programme - from brushes sweeping to each word and sigh - was collected and recorded by the Caretakers themselves. This series offers a rare chance to perch invisibly on the shoulders of these exceptional guides, noticing what they stop to consider as they go about their work. Keeping Titanic Belfast shipshape is Jackie, a native of the city. Whilst cleaning the cabins, she considers extraordinary moments in the life of the ship - and the city that created it. Andy was a traffic warden who found a new life working in outdoor maintenance at Yorkshire Sculpture Park. In between cleaning the sculptures, mowing the lawns, and emptying the bins, he finds quiet moments to reflect on the previous lives of the park. June, is a cleaner at the Middlesbrough Institute of Modern Art (MIMA). Whilst buffing the floors, she takes a closer look at a series of photographs that transport her back to her teenage self. Producer: Eloise Moody Producer and Editor: Emma Barnaby Executive Producer: Anishka Sharma A Whistledown production for BBC Radio 4 Fresh perspectives on cultural treasures from the cleaners who look after them.