The Friends of the Egypt Centre support the Egypt Centre and organise an exciting programme of ten monthly lectures per year (September to June). These events run separately from the Egypt Centre’s other online events such as fundraising lectures and courses, and are arranged to cater for all levels of understanding. You can choose to be a member of the Friends for an annual fee of as little as £10, or pay £3 per lecture (booking via Eventbrite).
2025–26 Programme
01 October 2025 (Hybrid lecture)
Made by the Market? An alternative history of Egyptology
By Tom Hardwick
Histories and displays of Pharaonic Egyptian objects still tend to focus on their discovery in Egypt, generally by ‘explorers’ or ‘archaeologists’, and elide their unearthing with their safe arrival in a museum, usually outside Egypt. Once in a museum, they are almost invariably called ‘priceless’, in spite of the fact that money – spent on purchasing, packing, shipping, publishing, and displaying the objects – has been an essential part of every aspect of their journey.
The market for ancient Egyptian objects was – and still remains – a rich ecosystem which merits serious attention. It encompasses individuals, rich and poor, businesses, large and small, and even governments. This lecture will explore the way the market for Egyptian antiquities has developed and demonstrate the changing roles it has played in creating a taste for ancient Egypt.
Tickets are available here.
Membership
Membership includes free entry into all Friends lectures. To become a member, please complete and return an application form.
Full Membership = £16.50 per year
Full family membership (2 adults and 2 children) = £26 per year
Concessionary individual = £10 per year
Concessionary family = £16 per year
Life membership (individual) = £150
Life membership (family) = £250
Non-members are also welcome and can pay £3 per lecture.
Membership application form (Word)
Membership application form (PDF)
Inscriptions
The Friends produce a newsletter called Inscriptions. We welcome contributions, whether interesting chatty snippets, or scholarly. If you would like to write an article or have any news or information you want to contribute, please contact the Editor Mike MacDonagh (Mike_Mac_Donagh@msn.com).
View back issues of Inscriptions.
Friends Committee Members
Chair: Ken Griffin
Vice Chair: Gareth Lucas
Treasurer: Wendy Goodridge / Donna Thomas
Secretary: Carolyn Graves-Brown
Membership Secretary: Wendy Goodridge (w.r.goodridge@swansea.ac.uk)
Marketing: John Rogers
Events Officer: Ken Griffin
Other committee members: Sam Powell, Mollie Beck, Meg Gundlach, Christian Knoblauch
The committee is made up of people with an interest in ancient Egypt and museums. If you are interested in joining the committee, please speak to any committee member, send us a Facebook message, or email the museum at egyptcentre@swansea.ac.uk.