Object Journeys: Community co-production of collections knowledge and displays at a national museum
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Leeds
Department Name: Sch of Fine Art History of Art&Cult Stud
Abstract
The wider context of this proposal is to explore how to make museums more co-productive. The closer
focus in my proposal lies in the context of co-production and particularly on the question of what are
the best conditions for co-production and how are they most effectively created?
focus in my proposal lies in the context of co-production and particularly on the question of what are
the best conditions for co-production and how are they most effectively created?
| Description | Public cultural organisations wonder how to best be useful institutions to society. My research shows how the day-to-day practice and the organisational culture and identity of such organisations have a big impact on how they position themselves in and for society. I therefore developed a methodology based on reflective professional practice that enables individuals and departments within such institutions to become aware of how their practice determines the relationships they build with partners and clients, and the impact they have. |
| Exploitation Route | My particular field is participative practice in museums, an area touching on democratic rights of representation, inclusion and participation. The methodology I developed can easily be transferred to other areas that build on those values and practices. |
| Sectors | Communities and Social Services/Policy,Creative Economy,Education,Healthcare,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Description | My research is very practice based, I use action research methodology to have a direct impact on the field I am studying and the sector around me. I have impacted museum practice at the British Museum. Additionally, I have impacted the work of academics and practitioners in the museum and arts sector by disseminating and sharing the approach to reflective professional practice I have developed for organisational and individual development. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal |
| Description | Making Meaning in Museums Research Network |
| Organisation | British Museum |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | I am a part of a team of four people who set up the research network. The aim of the network is to introduce principles from action research to the field of participative practice to the museum sector. We collaboratively design, organise, market and run sector-wide seminars and workshops. I additionally look after the ongoing online communication with the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The network is funded through a grant from the British Museum Research Fund, which was secured by Kayte McSweeney, the British Museum partner in the network. |
| Impact | The network is a cross-disciplinary effort spanning across museum studies, social sciences and ethnography. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Making Meaning in Museums Research Network |
| Organisation | Royal Pavilion and Museums Brighton and Hove |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | I am a part of a team of four people who set up the research network. The aim of the network is to introduce principles from action research to the field of participative practice to the museum sector. We collaboratively design, organise, market and run sector-wide seminars and workshops. I additionally look after the ongoing online communication with the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The network is funded through a grant from the British Museum Research Fund, which was secured by Kayte McSweeney, the British Museum partner in the network. |
| Impact | The network is a cross-disciplinary effort spanning across museum studies, social sciences and ethnography. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Making Meaning in Museums Research Network |
| Organisation | University of Leeds |
| Department | School of Fine Art, History of Art and Cultural Studies (FAHACS) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | I am a part of a team of four people who set up the research network. The aim of the network is to introduce principles from action research to the field of participative practice to the museum sector. We collaboratively design, organise, market and run sector-wide seminars and workshops. I additionally look after the ongoing online communication with the network. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The network is funded through a grant from the British Museum Research Fund, which was secured by Kayte McSweeney, the British Museum partner in the network. |
| Impact | The network is a cross-disciplinary effort spanning across museum studies, social sciences and ethnography. |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Making Meaning in Museums seminars and workshops |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | We had 80 attendants at a seminar we held at the British Museum to explore how action and participatory research principles are a useful framework for community engagement practice in museums. From this initial conversation we developed three national workshops and an online presence to continue the conversation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |