15 December 2011 to 30 June 2012.
New digital art by award-winning Blast Theory Ghostwriter is an interactive phone call that subtly hovers between the present and the past, between the here and the elsewhere. Ghostwriter has echoes of a museum guide, of a radio heard late at night. Its ghostly tenor and rich atmosphere act as a mysterious lure into the reinvented RAMM. A woman’s voice gently draws visitors into the museum. Describing her surroundings, she talks about an object and its role in her life. The line between her surroundings and theirs is unstable. They can interact with her, jump in time and space or leave a recording of their own about an object that resonates in their life. Blast Theory is renowned internationally as one of the most adventurous artists’ groups using interactive media. Winners of the Prix Ars Electronica among many awards, Blast Theory’s work has been shown at the Venice Biennale, the Sundance Film Festival and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Sydney. For more information visit www.blasttheory.co.uk. This is a New Expressions commission funded by MLA Renaissance South West and the National Lottery through Grants for the Arts. It coincides with a survey exhibition at Spacex in Exeter (10 December 2011 to 18 February 2012) which marks the 20-year anniversary of Blast Theory and reveals details of works never before presented in a gallery environment. The exhibition features video footage, photo documentation and design from early performance pieces through to current work, often focusing on aspects of identity, trust and espionage with strong political undertones and social commentary. Access Ghostwriter on your mobile phone during your visit to RAMM. Calls are charged at standard rates.

15 December 2011 to 12 August 2012.
In the 19th century when collector Richard E Dennett went to work in a trading centre on the Congo coast little was understood about the religious belief of Central Africa. On his travels Dennett came into regular contact with BaKongo people and made key observations about their way of life. These observations were later published and they provided the western world with a glimpse into this little-known culture. Dennett donated to RAMM a group of African items that were frequently used to connect with an invisible world of spirits. This display provides a window onto both Dennett’s life and the world of those invisible powers.

23 March 2012 to 10 June 2012.
This glorious exhibition of garden photography has come straight to RAMM from touring to the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew and the Botanic Garden in New York. International Garden Photographer of the Year is considered the world’s best competition for garden, plant, flower and botanical photography. The wonderful array of images would inspire anyone with an interest in photography or who simply loves their garden. It’s the chance to pause for thought and open the eyes. Gardens are a haven not only for plants and wildlife but for people too. Philip Smith’s book Better Plant and Garden Photography is available from reception at the special price of £10 (usually £14.99). There is more information about the competition at www.igpoty.com RAMM 2012: A year of photography Accompanying events Monday 16 to Sunday 22 April - RHS National Gardening Week  at Poltimore House Tuesday 1 May, 1 to 2pm, £4.50 (£3) - Gallery Walk and Talk: International Garden Photographer of the Year Wednesday 9 May, 6.30 to 8pm, £7 (£5) - Evening lecture: Better Plant and Garden Photography Tuesday 22 May, 10am to 4pm, £75 (£55) - Workshop: Better Plant and Garden Photography Saturday 28 July, 2 to 5pm, £5 - Garden Photography for Beginners Workshop  at Poltimore House

31 March 2012 to 24 June 2012.
HOME Dartmoor is an exhibition of works by the internationally-acclaimed artist Garry Fabian Miller, one of the most highly-regarded figures in camera-less photography. This exhibition of his luminous artworks is a moving tribute to Dartmoor, which has been the artist’s home and inspiration for over 23 years. Fabian Miller has had major exhibitions in New York, London, Paris and Tokyo, amongst others, so this exhibition is a homecoming. Dr Tom Greeves, an expert on the history of Dartmoor contributes to the exhibition. Flints from RAMM’s own archive are on show, which were collected by Captain Oscar Grieg (1889-1969), from north Dartmoor, and represent the earliest-known moorland people from up to 10,000 years ago. This exhibition is a truly fascinating portrait of Dartmoor and a world-class contemporary photography show. It includes Fabian Miller’s first new prints made from leaves since the 1990s. A new publication HOME Dartmoor, Garry Fabian Miller, is available from the Garden reception at the special price £12.95 for the duration of the exhibition; the normal price is £16. It is a casebound, 160 page book with 76 colour plates, published by Filtow, Newton Abbot. RAMM 2012: A year of photography Publications Other Garry Fabian Miller publications available at the Garden reception: Tracing Light, £15 That I Might See, £8 Year One, £25 The Colour of Time, £25 Exposure, £8 Illumine, £30 Thoughts of a Night Sea, £15 Blue Gold, £8 Accompanying events Thursday 19 April, 7 to 8pm, £7 (£5) - Gallery talk: A Human Nature: Tom Greeves and Garry Fabian Miller in conversation Saturday 21 April, 2 to 5pm, 3.5 miles, ticketed but free - Dartmoor walks: Encircling homes for the living and the dead Thursday 26 April, 1 to 2pm £4.50 (£3) - Lunchtime lecture: The Devon Landscape: a Flint Collector’s Viewpoint Thursday 3 May, 7 to 8pm, £7 (£5) - Evening lecture: Unseen Giving: The Art of Garry Fabian Miller Saturday 5 May, 10.30am to 5pm, 10 miles, ticketed but free - Dartmoor walks: A journey to a sacred prehistoric place Thursday 10 May, 10am to 4.45pm, £40 (£35) - Study Day: Home and Place: Nature and Landscape

03 April 2012 to 30 June 2012.
Finders Keepers? is a gallery devoted to collectors and collecting. A special display case in this gallery features the passions of contemporary local collectors. This changing programme continues with an extraordinary display of irons, both domestic and industrial, including gas, charcoal, petrol and electric irons. What do you collect? Do you have a collection you would like to exhibit? Email robert.mackenzie@exeter.gov.uk.

25 May 2012 to 25 May 2012.
Meeting Room A and gallery walk, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Queen Street, Exeter EX4 3RX Michelle McKinney created the fine woven metal bird sculptures that fly across RAMM’s In Fine Feather gallery. She talks about what inspired her in this gallery walk and talk. Please obtain a free ticket in advance from reception, phone 01392 265858 - book early to avoid disappointment.

30 May 2012 to 30 May 2012.
Gallery number 22, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Queen Street, Exeter EX4 3RX An illustrated talk by exhibition curators Liz Nicol and Martyn Warren, discussing their contemporary approach to James Ravilious’ work for the Beaford Archive and considering his unique contribution and legacy as both photographer and documenter of rural life in north Devon. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Free tickets are available from reception, phone 01392 265858.

31 May 2012 to 31 May 2012.
Helen Rappaport, author and historian, examines Prince Albert’s failing health and the circumstances leading up to his death. Queen Victoria unwittingly inspired a cult of mourning in her concerted memorialisation of Prince Albert. The creation of artistic and cultural monuments transformed the British landscape, one of which is RAMM. Please obtain a ticket in advance from reception, phone 01392 265858 - book early to avoid disappointment.

06 June 2012 to 06 June 2012.
Talk to experts from the RSPB about the birds in our gallery and beyond.

06 June 2012 to 06 June 2012.
Meeting Room A Make and use your own pinhole camera out of found materials, take a negative picture with your camera then watch it develop like magic in front of your eyes. Your camera will then be adapted to make a 6 month exposure camera to take home for installation. Workshop suitable for children over 8. Bring a couple of tall empty beer cans to make into cameras (the height is important). Accompanying adults can supervise for free. If an activity is busy there may be short wait.