Collections and Identity Conference - call for papers

Collections and Identity

Egham Museum & Royal Holloway University Centre for Public History

Friday 2^nd May 2014

Egham Museum is hosting a one-day conference on ‘Collections and Identity’ at the Proctor & Gamble Innovation Centre, Egham.  The conference is aimed at Postgraduate Museum Studies Students, and will explore questions surrounding museum collections, their function, value, and future.

Key Note Speakers include: Maurice Davies, Head of Policy and Communications, The Museums Association; and Ellie Miles, Interpretation Officer at the British Museum.

Deadline for Abstracts is 31^st January 2014

Paper deadline is 28^th February 2014.

Submissions: curator@eghammuseum.org

Exhibition project: interpreting collections

When I moved here from Canberra, Australia this past September, I was a bit nervous about how intensive and challenging the MA program in Art Gallery and Museum Studies would be at the University of Leeds. So far, I have been proven right about the rigorous program, but this intensity has been softened by its fun and interesting intellectual engagement. The challenges the program presents me with simply make the completion of each step more rewarding.

The first day of the program included an introduction to our exhibition project for the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery. Imagine my concern when I learned the details:

• 12 brand new masters students 
• 5 weeks 
• 2 display cabinets 
• 141 pieces of Yorkshire pottery 
• ￡50 

The organisation of our exhibition was formed around deadlines for our ‘client’ (the gallery), formal learning sessions and informal group planning meetings.

The formal learning sessions with University Research Fellow extraordinaire Helen Graham got us thinking about how to bridge the gap between the objects and our audience. This informed the interpretation strategies we used in our exhibition.

The main interpretation tool which we found invaluable in our process was the development of a ‘Big Idea’. We used several of the strategies suggested in Beverley Serrell’s Behind It All: A Big Idea in Exhibit Labels: An Interpretative Approach. The ‘Big Idea’ can be summed up as a clear and concise idea that we are delivering to the audience, an idea that the visitor can easily recognise in the exhibition and something that they can take away with them. Basically, an exhibition isn’t successful if you can’t recognise the message that the curator is trying to deliver! The ongoing dialogue of a successful exhibition has the following elements:

• Big Idea or Theme (objects) 
• Interpretation strategies 
• Audience 

Taking all of this into account, we began thinking about the collection of objects we had to work with and conducted preliminary research on Yorkshire pottery. We made our first selection of 25 objects for our handling session with Curator Layla Bloom and the gallery staff.

Collection handling session

Brainstorming for our ‘Big Idea’ began, and we discovered a common thread of interest amongst our group members was the function and use of the quirky ceramics. We have all seen plates, teacups, teapots and bowls, but what about the jelly moulds, pickle dishes, spice castors and knife rests? Today, we can scarcely even recognise these objects, let alone consider putting them on our tables.

We divided our group into different teams responsible for research, writing, marketing and display with myself as the group organiser. The research group began the contextual research, in which they made informative excursions to the Doncaster Museum, Leeds City Museum, Leeds Central Library Special Collections and the Leeds University Library Special Collections.

The contextual research that our team conducted allowed us to compose our title and confirm our ‘Big Idea’, tag line and audience.

Title 
From Pantry to Table: The Preparation and Presentation of Food in 18th and 19th Century Yorkshire

Big Idea
Ceramics were essential for fine dining in Yorkshire during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Tag Line
The exhibition showcases ceramics essential for the ideal fine dining experience in Yorkshire during the 18th and 19th centuries. The collection highlights objects significant in the creation and storage of food, as well as those used for display and table decoration.

Audience
We determined our target audience for the exhibition based on consideration of the existing audience research conducted by the gallery. We decided the display did not have enough scope to attract a new audience, so we targeted the over-55 age group and those with an interest in cooking, dining and tableware. We hoped to evoke nostalgia by presenting familiar objects and to encourage engagement with the unfamiliar. 

 
Once we had established the foundations of our exhibition, we began to structure our interpretation hierarchy. We had a great session with Michael Terwey, Head of Collections and Exhibitions at the National Media Museum, during which we learned how to develop and implement an interpretation plan. 

Our final interpretation plan, with the Big Idea featured along the top of the board

Interpretation Strategies
Each of our groups implemented the use of interpretation strategies to reach our audience. Our main strategies were:

• conducting research about the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery's principle audience 
• composing clear, concise text to accompany our display, including an introductory panel, laminated page, and individual labels 
• creating icons to establish visual links between our texts and displays 
• developing consistent 'branding' used on all printed materials (both on marketing materials (leaflets, advertisements, and emails) and in the exhibition itself
• distributing promotional leaflets to locations frequented by our prospective audience 
• contacting and liaising with local cultural organizations 
• raising curiosity through the 'mystery object' postings on our Facebook page 

Preparation icon

Presentation icon

This opportunity to practically apply the theory we have been learning in our modules has been an extremely valuable experience. Our exhibition, ‘From Pantry to Table’, opened on the 29 October with a private viewing and will be open at the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery, Parkinson Building, University of Leeds until 7 December, so please do take a look. 

We are now moving on to the visitor feedback stage of the project so any feedback you have would be greatly appreciated and prove very valuable to our learning experience. Also, Like us on Facebook!

From Pantry to Table marketing leaflet

Our exhibition shares the Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery's education space with 'Through the Keyhole: The Camden Town Group Re-interpreted’, a display of works on paper presented by our fellow classmates. Their exhibition offers a thought-provoking look at how this group of Edwardian male artists portrayed working class women in the domestic space. 

Ji Hyung, Rosie and Danielle on exhibition installation day

Beverley Serrell (1996) Exhibit Labels: An Interpretative Approach. AltaMira Press, California.

More on MA Museum Studies field trip to London

Thanks again to Dr Km Sloan, curator of prints and drawings, and curator of the Enlightenment Galleries at the British Museum for talking to the MA students about the development of the Enlightenment Galleries at the BM.

Here's the group, with Kim explaining the interpretation in the Enlightenment Galleries - we all very much appreciated having such an expert on hand at the BM!
Mark

MA London Trip

This is just a quick post, on behalf of everyone who came, to say thank you to Mark, Abigail and Helen for all the museums you took us to, the fascinating talks you gave/arranged for us and the conversations they inspired. We've had a great time (despite the sore feet!) We'll be blogging more about our thoughts on the trip soon.

Experience History!...MA Museum Studies Heritage Entreprenuer

Hi All,
Alex Peters, one of MA Museum Studies students (the Class of 2012), has developed a fantastic new heriatge website called ' Experience History'
Here's a link:
http://experiencehistory.co.uk/

Well done Alex...we always knew you were a heritage entrepreneur!

Watch out for developments from all our other graduates!
mark

MA Museum Studies Work Placements

 Hello All,
we are starting the New Year with news of some exciting Museum Studies Student work placements - our current cohort have a fabulous range of museum and heritage work placements to choose from, including work experience at Leeds Museums Discovery Centre (also affectionately known as the 'Disco'!)

Leeds Museums Discovery Centre

We also have students on placement at many of the other museums in Leeds,(Lotherton Hall,Leeds Museum, Abbey House Museum, Leeds Art Gallery), and at several other organisations such as East Street Arts and Project Space Leeds, and in York (at the Yorkshire Museum and at Fairfax House...)

Fairfax House, York

and at Bradford, Skipton and Harrogate....thanks to all our museum placement providers!...we couldn't do it without you all!
Mark

MA Museum Studies Students London Trip

Hello All,

our current MA Museum Studies students took advantage of our Reading Week field trip to London last week.

MA museum studies students with Dr Kim Sloan at the Enlightenment gallery at the British Museum.

We had our usual exhausting time...starting at the Natural History Museum, then the V&A, the Wallace Collection, and the National Gallery (in day 1)...then off to the British Museum and Museum of London (in day 2). Pictured are the students talking to Dr Kim Sloan, Curator of Prints and Drawings (up to 1880) at the British Museum, and also curator of the Enlightenment Gallery at the museum.  We all had a fascinating time!
Mark

Preparing for London trip!

Twin Peaks

20th Anniversary

Tuesday 30 October - Saturday 3 November

Lower Gallery

This exhibition is a homage to David Lynch and Twin Peaks (1990-1991). Twin Peaks remains one of the most important television series ever made.  Its distinctive combination of humour, sadness and tension still reverberates throughout our culture, influencing fashion, music and photography, as well as film and television.  Europe's first ever official art exhibition inspired by Twin Peaks; thirteen artists from nine countries; new works.

Also available, commemorative official limited edition Twin Peaks merchandise, all approved by David Lynch.

Friday Lates until 8pm

suetminglau@yahoo.co.uk

Exhibitions

http://www.meniergallery.co.uk/Menier_Gallery/Exhibitions.html

here is a link from the Guardian 

The 'double jobbers' making a living while working in the arts | Culture | The Observer

http://www.guardian.co.uk/culture/2012/jul/29/living-working-in-the-arts?intcmp=239

We will have an exiting trip in London for the British Museum ,V&A,National Gallery and so on, I do believe it wil be an amazing art trip!

 All results in London - Art Fund

http://www.artfund.org/search//in/13

National Art Pass - Art Fund

http://www.artfund.org/buynationalartpass/ 

I have used the National Art Pass  to many museums,I think 18.75 pounds  for 12 months is fine.

 2nd Nov is Friday,there are also a lot of museums open until 9.00 even 9.30 as the British Museum.

Courtauld Gallery - 

http://www.artfund.org/what-to-see/museums-and-galleries/courtauld-gallery 

OPENING HOURS
Daily 10am – 6pm (last admission 5.30pm)

Late Night Openings

Thursdays: 25 October and 29 November 2012, until 9pm

Adults	£6
Concessions (over 60s, part-time and international students)	£4.50
Children under 18, full-time UK students, Friends of The Courtauld, registered unwaged	FREE
Visitors with disabilities can bring an escort free of charge

Free Mondays until 2pm

Admission is free on Mondays from 10am until 2pm  

 London is full of art and exhibitions,here is another link for Art tours in South London.

South London Art Map
http://www.southlondonartmap.com/

MA Art Gallery Students Exhibition Projects

The current cohort of postgraduate museum studies students completed installation of their exhibition projects at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Art Gallery last week.  They were very busy in the planning processes...and with almost 30 students, and just two groups, the management of responsibilities was quite a challenge...one that they all overcame brilliantly I may add!

Both Exhibitions Opened on 17th October, and you can see their excellent efforts until 10th December 2011....do pop along!

Exhibition Title Panel

Group A, decided to work with the Gallery ceramics collections, and produced a fabulous exhibition theme - 'Fancy a Brew'? 18th century drinking cultures'.....

MA Students preparing their exhibition

They worked hard of selecting the objects and working up a theme...as you can see....

Don't drop it!

       

    

                                         

The other Student Group also produced a fabulous exhibition - this time using paintings, prints, books and associated ephemera from the Bloomsbury Group...both from the Art Gallery holdings, and material from the University Brotherton Library Special Collections.... Their exhibition is entitled: 'Connecting Lives: Intimate Artworks of the Bloomsbury Group'......and they were equally animated in their preparations...

Preparing Exhibitions

Group Discussions

 .........and the project meetings were very professional....as you can see!

Well Done to all the Students!...Fantastic Work!
.......Mark






                                                    

Congratulations!...Student Volunteer Awards

Congratulations to our MA Art Gallery & Museum Studies student, Elizabeth Stainforth - she has won the prestigious 'Volunteers for Museum Learning Award' for the Yorkshire Region, as part of the Marsh Volunteer Awards 2010, for her outstanding work at the University Stanley & Audrey Burton Art Gallery.....The Awards are run by the British Museum and the Marsh Christian Trust.....WELL DONE Liz!....
See you (and all the other 2010-11 cohort of students) at Graduation in December!

Mark

6th December - Talk at the Stanley & Audrey Burton Gallery

The Quakers Tea Table Overturn'd: Moral Dangers of the 18th Century Tea Party
Talk by Oliver Pickering and Liz Stainforth. Free, no booking necessary

Monday, 6 December 2010, 5.15pm Stanley and Audrey Burton Gallery,University of Leeds

Come and find out about the origins of the great British institution of tea drinking. Believe it or not, the tea party was a controversial and highly debated topic throughout the 18th century, regarded by some as a sign of weakening moral standards and by others as the height of refined social intercourse. The talk includes a discussion of the unpublished 1717 poem The Quakers Tea Table Overturn'd, from a manuscript held in Special Collections at Leeds University Library. It highlights a contemporary concern that young people in Quaker families may be tempted to partake of 'worldly pleasures' through indulging in the fashion for tea parties.

The development of tea drinking is traced through observations made by such eminent contemporaries as Jane Austen, William Cobbett and Samuel Johnson. The talk is held in association with the Gallery's temporary exhibition of late 18th century tea equipage, Vanity Ware: Affordable Luxury in the Late Georgian Period.