Creative ConversationsNick Poole, Collections TrustChair, Europeana Network

These slides online at http://www.slideshare.net/nickpoole

http://exhibitions.europeana.eu/items/show/518

http://exhibitions.europeana.eu/items/show/518

http://exhibitions.europeana.eu/items/show/518

http://www.europeana1914-1918.eu/en/contributions/3948

http://exhibitions.europeana.eu/items/show/518

http://exhibitions.europeana.eu/items/show/518

http://www.europeana1914-1918.eu/en/contributions/3948

http://www.europeana1914-1918.eu/en/contributions/3948

Stories are the way we make sense of the things that happen to us

Museums exist to tell stories.

The definition of a ‘museum’ is contested & vague...

A museum is a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment.

ICOM Definition, 2007

Museums enable people to explore collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. They are institutions that collect, safeguard and make accessible artefacts and specimens, which they hold in trust for society.

UK Museums Association Definition, 1998

Museums enable people to explore

collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. They are institutions that collect,

safeguard and make accessible artefacts

and specimens, which they hold in trust for society.

UK Museums Association Definition, 1998

There are many different types of museum experience...

Some facts about museums in the UK...

•There are c. 2,500 museums in the UK

•More than 53% of the UK adult population visited a museum in 2012

•Museum budgets from Government have reduced by c. 15% in the past 3 years

•Approximately 53,000 people work in UK museums

•80% of incoming tourists in 2011 cited the arts & culture as their main reason for visiting – accounting for a tourism spend of £80-90bn

Some facts about museums in the UK...

•National Museums (state-funded)•Independent Museums•Local Authority Museums•University Museums•Regimental Museums•Company museums & archives

Creative Conversations is about engaging creatively in dialogue with people working in museums

The Horniman Museum, 14.00 today100 London Rd  London SE23 3PQContact: Victoria Pinnington, Director of Communications & FundraisingMeet at: Reception deskwww.horniman.ac.uk

Islington Museum, 13.30 today245 St John Street, EC1V 4NBContact: Cheryl Smith, CuratorMeet at: Main entrance

Natural History Museum, 14.00 todayCromwell Road, South KensingtonContact: Tim Ewin, Earth Sciences DepartmentMeet at: Reception Desk, Side Entrance, Exhibition Road

College of Physicians Museum, 14.00 today11 St Andrews Place, Regents Park, London, NW1 4LEContact: Beth Wilkey, Assistant CuratorMeet at: Reception Deskhttp://www.rcplondon.ac.uk/museum-and-garden

Tate Britain, 14.00 on FridayMillbank  London SW1P 4RG Contact: Sam Jones, Head of DirectorateMeet at: Reception Deskhttp://www.tate.org.uk/visit/tate-britain

Your contact is expecting to meet with you, to talk about the museum and its work. They will set out some specific challenges or issues which the museum is facing, which they would love you to consider and respond to.

Once you have had a chance to reflect on these challenges, we would like to invite you to go back to the museum to talk to them about your work and ideas.