Archive for the ‘Mentorship, Exchange and Fellowship Program’ Category
The Chicago History Museum covers the eclectic story of Chicago in many ways from its fur trade beginnings to its diverse immigrant stories. One thing I am learning here is the many ways these stories can be told. Here history is not just about what happened 50 or 100 years ago but it’s also about what happened yesterday. The Museum embraces the hard to tell story and the celebratory one.
Some of the pioneering story is told through dioramas. I love the exquisite detail in the figures and the expansive vistas inside. Like big doll houses they have a charm that people are really attracted to, if the long lines in front of them are anything to go by.
Another great installation is photography based Read the rest of this entry »
These delightful photos were taken at the Swedish American Museum and they feature the opportunities children have to explore being a pioneering Swedish child about to become an immigrant and resident in America. Children prepare for this big event by dressing up as immigrant children, buying a ticket in a child’s size ticket booth and going up one side of a big boat ready for departure. They leave from Sweden and arrive on the other side of the boat in America. Read the rest of this entry »
Lesley Jenkins blogs from Chicago
Posted on: 29 May 2014
Chicago is a city with a big history and a lot to say. My international Fellowship has provided me with the opportunity of exploring the way the Chicago History Museum tells this story through its exhibitions, education and school and public programs. This takes in tours, talks, food, architecture, games and theatre and I’m sure there are lots of other ways this is done that I am about to learn about in the next little while. Not only am I lucky to be here I’m lucky with the weather – it’s not windy and it’s not cold, in fact it’s humid!
I have been on a walking tour of OLD TOWN and the name gives it away. The city is treated as an artifact with a story to tell. This is told very well because the tour is well researched and the story given life by our volunteer guide, Henry Wykowski . There are gorgeous buildings and quirky aspects to them, bears in wall niches, grand staircases leading to timber homes perched on brick bases, and stories linking them to the introduction of the sewerage system. Our guide knows his city and its stories so well we hung on his every word. Walking tours, tours with strollers, tours with dogs (called pup tours as opposed to pub tours), train tours, just about every kind of tour becomes a part of the public program and this and most of the other outdoor activities are programed for summer as winter here is incredibly bitter. Read the rest of this entry »
Mary Low from the Cairns & District Chinese Association Inc (www.cadcai.org) writes from her M&GSQ internship at the State Library of Queensland:
One of my stated objectives during this internship was to learn more about digital imaging. During week one, I got to spend time with the Digital Imaging and the Microfilm Unit at Cannon Hill. I learnt about the types of photographic equipment used: SLR cameras, overhead camera stands, book cradles and scanners, including a beaut wide-bed scanner which takes oversized images such as architectural plans and maps. I am lucky to receive hands-on training to use the equipment and software to photograph, scan, process, and file images in digital format on both Mac and PC systems. The digital imaging team is currently digitising material for the Q Anzac 100 Project and an on-line exhibition about Qld architecture, Hot Modernism.
The training and conversations I have had with SLQ digitisation staff have given me deeper understanding of the processes involved in digital preservation, and the knowledge to begin to digitise our community’s collection of historical and contemporary photos, news clippings, ephemeral and other objects.
SLQ has developed a number of useful resources which are available on line to encourage and assist groups and individuals to digitise and preserve their collections. See links below:
M&GSQ 2013 Mentorship, Exchange and Fellowship Program is funded by Arts Queensland through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). RADF is a joint Queensland Government and Local Government partnership to support local arts and culture.
Mary Low from the Cairns & District Chinese Association Inc (www.cadcai.org) writes from her M&GSQ internship at the State Library of Queensland:
The State Library is the largest collecting institution in Queensland, with 1.7 millions of books, one million photographic images and millions of ephemera objects, maps, musical scores and works of art. From day one I quickly get an idea of what that looks like and the volume and wealth of material that the SLQ conservation unit processes in order to preserve and make its collections accessible to the public through loans and exhibitions online.
Day one, I meet my mentor, senior conservator Rachel Spano who gives me a tour and overview of the SLQ conservation unit which is located on level five. Rachael takes time to explain the work of the three main teams within the unit: visual media, collection conservation, and digitisation and microfilm (located at Cannon Hill.)
I am shown the labs and dedicated work spaces where various tasks such as digital imaging, photographic copying, box making, book binding, and paper preservation and restoration are carried out. I meet some of the staff. I also accompany Rachel to the quarantine, in the basement where a new significant acquisition, the Rechabite Collection has just been delivered and will proceed to be, surface cleaned, and checked for mould and treated for bug infestation by freezing or placing in the mobigas chamber before being catalogued. I am impressed by the equipment, resources and established systems in place. I feel privileged to have this opportunity to observe best practices in action and learn as much as I can during my time with the conservation unit.
M&GSQ 2013 Mentorship, Exchange and Fellowship Program is funded by Arts Queensland through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). RADF is a joint Queensland Government and Local Government partnership to support local arts and culture.
Newcastle Museum is exciting and innovative- interactive- it is all about activity, activation and change. A museum is not the same for ever; NM is not a ‘crusty’, everyone wants something different and NM tries to give it to them. Different exhibitions for different people- giving them an experience they don’t get anywhere else.
NM has recently opened a shop, the goal of the of the shop is to bring people in to the shop to purchase – it is not just targeting sales at the museum audience. Merchandise is being created with the idea that customers will come and purchase a unique gift that they can’t get elsewhere.
Exhibitions are developed with the community in mind, as a recognition of their identity. Key learning-Labels: wording for labels should be short and sweet, written to be comprehended by a twelve year old. Simple language, clear explanations.
Also an image of the ferry- what a way to go to work each day!
M&GSQ 2013 Mentorship, Exchange and Fellowship Program is funded by Arts Queensland through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). RADF is a joint Queensland Government and Local Government partnership to support local arts and culture.
Arrived at Newcastle Museum on Monday Feb 3rd- what a great place, 3 heritage listed buildings with high ceilings, with heavy industrial beams, arched windows placed in exposed brick walls and joined unashamedly by new modern construction forming the reception foyer and link gallery.
Oriented myself with the exhibition spaces- there are permanent and changing exhibition spaces.
One gallery has Newcastle’s story- uses photos everywhere- no captions. Random photos from across the years narrate the heritage of the city.
Love their photowall – we can do this in Tambo!! Park side of the Carrangarra.
This Museum knows its community and designs its exhibitions to engage and interest them.
Key Idea: Interpreting local stories- objects and their stories need to have a connection to the ‘place’- not a random display of objects.
Tuesday:
Roped into Tuesday Tales- every Tuesday story reading for under 6 year olds, a great public programming initiative. I spoke with a few of the Mothers- they come every week, consider the Museum very welcoming, very child friendly and focused. Exhibitions and activities are often aimed at/interesting/engaging for children. Mothers may stay at Museum longer for children to go to miniova (science activities for small children), play or have a coffee, check out new exhibitions.
Later in the day I went on radio with Julie Baird, the Deputy Director. Julie has a monthly spot on the local ABC- Local Treasures. In this way the Museum connects with the community, puts call outs for assistance with information, engages interest in the exhibitions and maintains a high community profile.
M&GSQ 2013 Mentorship, Exchange and Fellowship Program is funded by Arts Queensland through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF). RADF is a joint Queensland Government and Local Government partnership to support local arts and culture.
Dianne Smith, Cardwell Museum blogs again from internship at Redland Museum
Posted on: 9 December 2013
This 2nd week at Redland Museum it’s been more about the people that make this community not-for-profit museum work.
I’ve had the opportunity to watch more closely the relationships between museum staff, management and volunteers and it is obvious there is a good measure of respect between everyone here at Redland Museum, of course that’s not to say there is always agreement, but healthy discussions do foster informed decision-making!
What I have also observed in my two weeks is that no matter how large or small the museum is the challenges for this largely volunteer sector are very similar, even the challenges Cardwell faces due to distance are no more or less challenging than those experienced by Redland Museum in what we would consider the “city”.
I’ve spent some time this week with staff & volunteers around the collections management data base, including the photographic collection, which will help us in our endeavour to improve our own data base and processes and everyone was more than happy to point out the aspects that do work well, as well as those areas that could be improved upon or done differently.
I have not only expanded my skill and knowledge in the many aspects of Museum & Collections Management from my time at Redland Museum but have also thoroughly enjoyed the experience and would highly recommend other volunteers working in the field of history & museums to think about applying to the Volunteer Mentorship Program offered by Museum & Gallery Services Qld.
I’m half way through my 10 day internship with Redland Museum but already have copious notes, bright ideas and loads more possible ideas that need a little further exploring.
The Redland Museum President, Ross Bower gave me a guided tour of the Museum on my first day (a Museum of a much larger scale than Cardwell) and he’s been so informative, as have the museum staff and all the volunteers – and wow do they have just a few volunteers! I have made the occasional bribe to see if any would like to visit Cardwell Museum, just for the experience of course! Read the rest of this entry »
Anne Keam returns to Dogwood Crossing @ Miles from Logan Art Gallery mentorship
Posted on: 20 November 2013
I have returned home from my mentorship and would like to reflect a little on the exhibitions and public program side of the Logan Art Gallery. Logan has had a recent addition to their gallery, a magnificent purpose built Public Programs Space. The space is decked out with all the necessary materials and equipment for the ‘doing and making’ side of art complimenting so beautifully the range of gallery viewing spaces. In addition to the set-up is the wonderful way that results of previous projects and workshops are displayed on the walls and plinths along with inspirational objects and bookcases housing art reference books and journals, photos of exhibitions and media releases about local artists and their projects. The Space is furnished for use by both children and adults and adjacent is a courtyard where the action can spill out onto or participants can go to eat lunch and relax. It truly is an inspirational space. While I was there the space was used for the Art & Alzheimer’s Workshop, a LANE (Logan Artsworkers Networking Events) Event, a Community printing workshop and an Art Teacher’s and Artwaves debrief meeting. Lesley Nicholson Education Officer develops the Public Programs to support the Gallery exhibitions as well as delivering many of the programs to school and community groups. Artists and curators are also engaged by Lesley to deliver programs. All Public Programs are free and the huge variety on offer to so many different community sectors is indeed impressive. Read the rest of this entry »
Museums & Galleries Qld 