The gift of over three thousand books from the wonderful collection of local benefactor, Mr David Brown, allowed the museum to raise more than £2 000 in a special sale last week. The museum library was also grateful to enhance its own collection with some gems.
Thank you sir. And thank you to the Volunteers who unpacked and displayed the books, manned the stalls all day and welcomed shoppers.
Read more about David Brown and The Salisbury Museum plans here.
One of my cunning plans to survive lockdown, and not be too much of a nuisance to my wife, was to return to the university archaeological environment. It was several years ago when studying for a Master’s degree in archaeological survey that Adrian allowed me access to the Museum’s ceramic stores to assist in my dissertation. In the years following I have been involved in various digs and research projects for Historic England, Cranborne Chase AONB, and Southampton University in addition to volunteering at the Museum, both behind the scenes and on engagement and “Talking Objects”.
Accordingly, last summer I committed myself to another Master’s, this time in bioarchaeology. This was partly inspired by my need to write up a report on a small community dig I had carried out in Grovely Forest. The assemblage produced was particularly heavy in animal bones of which I knew nothing. Hence, before writing my report for the Wilton Estate I thought it would be useful to return to the schoolroom.
In September I returned to the Avenue Campus of the University of Southampton and was quickly immersed in osteo studies, which included analysis of masses of animal bones from medieval Winchester and human skeletons of the Saxon era from Cambridgeshire. It was fascinating – apart from having to undergo two bone recognition tests per week – my brain hurt!
Altogether I studied five different subjects in my first semester, ranging from osteoarchaeology to the Neolithic. Happily, one was concerning museums and the presentation of heritage, and I was able to base one essay on my Salisbury experience and cite the development of the Wessex Gallery as a tale of “how to do it”. Luckily I had called in and taken some photos of covid-protected visitors during the limited opening in September.
Of course by Christmas the university world was turned upside down for a second time and no more laboratory or practical work of any kind was permitted. Much of my second semester choice of subjects was put at risk and changed. I had hoped that one, a professional placement in the heritage world, might be light at the end of the tunnel. I had suggested to the academic powers-that-be that Salisbury Museum should be considered. Inevitably many of the archaeological placement opportunities had disappeared. However, when Bridget and Adrian thought that there might be the possibility of helping with the Past Forward: Salisbury Museum for Future Generations I jumped at the opportunity to gain some practical experience – even socially distanced.
Of the galleries being restructured, the Ceramics Gallery houses an outstanding and extensive ceramics collection, but its 50 year-old display currently omits the pre-historic development of ceramics and interpretation is rather dated.
The Project’s ceramic interpretation will explore chronology, technical development, and individual influence in the context of social change. In support, my primary placement task, I am working under Bridget’s direction and following the guidance of the Guest Curator. The first phase has been reviewing the ceramic and archaeology collections in order to identify potential display items for the Guest Curator’s final decision. Officially my placement is for 18 days spread over the period 4th February to 14th May. The first phase has been to set up operation from home, using the Museum’s Modes database to interrogate the 96,000 artefacts listed, to develop candidate lists for more detailed consideration and physical examination. Getting Modes downloaded and operating efficiently, linked to separate photograph files has certainly been a challenge, but with Megan’s and David Balston’s guidance all worked out.
Using Modes to carry out a multitude of searches has pricked my conscience. Thinking back to all the catalogue entries I made during the Pitt Rivers project, I now realise just how important each individual artefact title turns out to be for the search mechanism to work. All being well I shall be allowed into the Museum’s ceramic and archaeology stores to physically inspect candidates for display. The haunting phrase “partly restored” can mean many things to many people. Should time permit, I shall carry out more detailed research of individual artefacts origins, ownership and cultural significance to develop interpretation potted histories. The one blot on the horizon, at the end of the placement I have to write a 4,000 word report upon the experience.
I was lucky enough to meet a few museum volunteers before lockdown came into effect but it’s definitely high time I introduced myself properly here on the blog.
My name’s Emma and I joined the museum team in January. I’m the Activity Plan Coordinator for the Salisbury Museum for Future Generations development project and my role is funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
So, what is an Activity Plan Coordinator and what do I actually do? Well, to explain that I need to tell you a little bit about how the grant application process to the NLHF works. Bear with me here…
There are two different application rounds: Round 1, which the museum successfully passed in June 2019, which awards a small grant allowing the organisation to start its Development Phase (more on that in a second) and Round 2, which determines whether the organisation receives the full grant to move forward with its plans into the Delivery Phase and can actually start the project.
As part of the Round 2 application the museum must submit an Activity Plan – a document that sets out all of the positive outcomes the project will achieve for the community, visitors, staff and volunteers, along with how outcomes will be evaluated in terms of success. These outcomes include everything from more people engaging with heritage through redisplayed galleries and digitised collections to increasing volunteers’ confidence in their role and developing skills through creation of a training plan.
The purpose of the Development Phase is to refine our proposals, develop more detailed plans and undertake consultation with the museum’s members, volunteers, visitors and local Salisbury residents and community groups to find out what they would like to see as part of the redevelopment and incorporate this into the Activity Plan. We are currently halfway through our Development Phase and will be submitting the Round 2 application in June 2021. If successful, our Delivery Phase would likely begin in January 2022.
Phew! Hopefully, you’re still with me! So, back to the question of what an Activity Plan Coordinator actually does. I’ve been doing lots of audience research and consultation to find out what people think of the museum – both people who already engage with us and those who don’t. A big thank you to everyone who’s taken the time to complete surveys! I’ve also been working with the museum team and local groups to start planning and testing the activities, events and projects that will form part of our Activity Plan.
And what about me? Well, I’m recognisable by my funny accent. I grew up in Canada but have lived in the UK for the past 13 years. Most of that time I spent in Scotland where I studied at the University of St Andrews and worked for both Glasgow Museums and Historic Environment Scotland. When not focussing on all things museum, I like to do yoga, bake and enjoy a good science fiction or fantasy book.
Hopefully, I’ll have the opportunity to meet many more of you over the coming months as (fingers crossed!) it becomes possible for more volunteers to return to the museum. If you would like to find out more about the redevelopment project or have any questions or comments please feel free to email me and we can set up a time for a chat: emmagascoigne@salisburymuseum.org.uk
Not an easy time to take on this particular task! Welcome Emma.
We need YOUR help! We’re starting public consultation on our exciting Salisbury Museum for Future Generations project which aims to make some key transformations at the museum. Feedback from volunteers is critical at this stage on everything from content for the redisplayed History of Salisbury galleries to your thoughts on the museum cafe and shop.
Please complete the survey at the link below and share the survey with others. We’re aiming to get 400 responses so need lots of help in spreading the word! You could win £25 of Amazon vouchers by taking part!
Salisbury Museum awarded National Lottery support for
Future Generations project
Salisbury Museum is delighted to announce
that it has been awarded initial support* from The National Lottery Heritage
Fund for its Salisbury Museum for Future
Generations project.
This £4.4 million project will
enable the museum to transform its displays and facilities – completing the
work started with the National Lottery funded Wessex Gallery of archaeology in
2014. The museum will create new exhibitions dedicated to its outstanding
collections of art, medieval archaeology, costume, ceramics and social history.
There will be an extensive programme of capital works to restore and repurpose the
Grade I listed medieval building. Alongside this the project will introduce a
new and exciting programme of learning and engagement that will embed the
museum in the local community.
Thanks to money raised by
National Lottery players, The National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded
initial support and development funding of £429,400. This will enable the
museum to develop the project plans in more detail and apply for a full grant
of £3.2 million. The museum will have two years to raise £1.2 million in match
funding from private individuals, trusts and foundations. An application for
the full funding amount will be submitted in the summer of 2021.
Adrian
Green, Director of Salisbury Museum said:
‘This
is amazing news not only for the museum, but for the people of Salisbury. The
City deserves an excellent museum for the local community. Its outstanding
culture and heritage also needs to be presented to the wider world in an
exciting and dynamic way’.
Susanna
Denniston, Chair of Trustees for the Museum said:
‘This
support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund offers powerful affirmation of
the relevance of the museum, its collections and its heritage. It also affirms
the importance of Salisbury’s regeneration as its cultural institutions work
together to create a positive and inclusive reimagining of the city’s history
and future.’
The museum is hugely grateful to The National Lottery Heritage Fund, National Lottery players and our local partners for their support.’
* The National Lottery Heritage Fund grant applications over £250,000 are assessed in two rounds. Salisbury Museum for Future Generations has initially been granted round one development funding of £429,400 by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, allowing it to progress with its plans. Detailed proposals are then considered by The National Lottery Heritage Fund at second round, where a final decision is made on the full funding award of £3.2m