To support the use and maintenance of natural science collections throughout the UK a series of workshops were held between March 2014 – February 2015 on the following subjects:
- Handling objects: research and learning
- Risk
- Encouraging clinical access
- Using collections strategically
- The value of social media
- New ways of engagement with mass audiences
The outcome of these workshops is a series of toolkit blogs authored by a variety of natural science professionals who have attended the workshops (e.g from collections managers, curators, learning, digital, research) for UK non-science and generalist curators. These blogs will be published throughout the year on the blog space on Collections for All.
The aims of the workshops are to:
- Retain and share knowledge and expertise in the sector
- Share toolkit blogs on appropriate subjects to a UK wide audience
- Create an informal support network
- Create a cross-discipline model where UK museums have come together to share knowledge and expertise (science, art, social media, curatorial, administration, students, collections, learning and research)
- Strengthen peer links throughout UK museums
- Provide a space through collaboration for qualitative informal learning
- Foster long lasting mentoring relationships
The workshops are funded and supported by: the Natural History Museum; Arts Council England; Grant Museum of Zoology, UCL; Hunterian Museum at Royal College of Surgeons, London; Manchester Museum; Oxford University Museum of Natural History. They are also supported by the active engagement of the participants from Birmingham Museums Trust, Collections Trust, Kings College, Leeds Museum and Galleries, London, Museum of London, National Museum Wales, National Museum Directors’ Council, Tate, London, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, and Queen Mary’s College, London.
If you would like to know more please contact Julie Reynolds at collectionsforall@nhm.ac.uk