News / 28 Aug 2026
Graduates curate exhibition at Thackray Museum of Medicine
BA (Hons) Fine Art
BA (Hons) Illustration
BA (Hons) Fine Art graduate Holly Tomlinson and BA (Hons) Illustration graduates Hollie Backhouse and Michael Geary worked on the team of young curators for ‘Where Magic Grows’, a new exhibition at the Thackray Museum of Medicine.
‘Where Magic Grows’ is an immersive and interactive exhibition made in partnership with the Royal Horticultural Society. The exhibition explores the healing power of nature and folklore of plants, drawing from the Thackray’s extensive collection.
Holly, Hollie and Michael were three of five young curators selected to work on the project, and were involved across all stages of creating the exhibition alongside curator Jack Gann. After a period of research and planning, they worked to develop a brief to commission an artist for the exhibition. The team selected experiential artist Helen Brook, working collaboratively to curate the exhibition, as well as developing, making, and installing many of the exhibits themselves. Designed as a hands-on experience for all ages, the exhibition includes a forest of giant flowers, storytelling plant-pots, potion-making stations, terrariums, and illustrated zines. 'Where Magic Grows' launched with an opening event on Saturday 18 July, featuring spotlight talks from the young curators, workshops and activities.
“It was an honour to be involved as one of the young curators working on helping Where Magic Grows bloom. Working with the Thackray team, the RHS, the young curators, and artist Helen Brook to bring this project to life was as magic as the plants we feature in the exhibition! It was staggering to work with a collection deeply rooted in the stories of old wives, women who originated many cures that are used to this day despite old wives tales being synonymous with myth and fiction, and to use this exhibition as a way to honour the history of sharing these recipes between generations.”
Holly Tomlinson, BA (Hons) Fine Art graduate
“Working on the exhibition was a very rewarding experience. Through community interactions, RHS information and access to the Thackray’s collections, myself and the other Young Curators were able to learn more about the intersecting history of plants and medicine … I now know more about how artists are able to work collaboratively with museums and collections to create varied and interactive learning spaces that work for a range of ages.”
Hollie Backhouse, BA (Hons) Illustration graduate
"Working on Where Magic Grows has been such an incredible experience. We were involved throughout the whole project - from the initial community event that shaped our focus, right the way through to installation. I've learned so much about how exhibitions work, and how to make objects come to life through the stories you tell about them. Finally getting to see children playing and exploring in space after almost a full year of development has been so rewarding."
Michael Geary, BA (Hons) Illustration graduate
‘Where Magic Grows’ is open at the Thackray Museum of Medicine until Sunday 3 January 2027.