Sample schedule of events for a takeover workshop session – Bristol Museums
Topic Title: Museum Treasures – curating our favourite museum objects
Create a list of: materials /refreshments /staff & volunteers required
Aims:
• Make museums easy to reach for young people
• Provide a framework to put young people at the heart
• Raise young people’s aspirations through meaningful, powerful participation
• Encourage diversity in the sector, audience and workforce
• Promote long term youth engagement
• Create a community of best practice
9.00 University volunteers arrive at museum. Name of person/project
University students will act as peer mentors for the children manager leading/supervising
participating in the project, helping them to explore the objects the session
9.30 - 9.45 Students/children arrive. Put coats in cloakroom. Name of person/project
manager leading the session
9.45 – 10am Introductions and overview of the day Name of person/project
Children pick their favourite object (from pre-selected group)and manager leading the session
explain to the group
Museum staff film to make a film of introducing favourite things
in the museum to visitors
10am – 10.30am Split into 3 groups: 12 + 12 + 8 Name of person/project
manager leading the session
Tour of objects (define number- following different
routes)
Object selection activity – children select two objects to
display in front hall in afternoon
Other activities might include ‘speed interviewing’
members of staff (digital, exhibitions, film office,
exhibition designer, curator) – then swap
Museum staff film to make a film of introducing favourite things
in the museum to visitors
10.30am - 10.45am Working in small groups of X with University volunteers Name of person/project
Object-related tasks. Children take on different task/ manager leading the session
roles related to objects selected:
- poster design for one object (using Mac)
- master class on curating
- label research and writing for the 2 objects
- Conservation of painted wooden objects (one
object was painted wood)
- front of house (welcoming public)
- Social media (tweeting and wrote a blog).
Reading about the object with University volunteers
Discussion about context with University volunteers
Museum staff film to make a film of introducing favourite things
in the museum to visitors
10.45am – 11am Introduction to interpretation + participation Museum Staff tbc
11am - 11.15am Break in lunch room -
11.15am – 12.45pm Working on interpretation University students
(includes 30 minute tour of store/archive in 4 groups) Museum Staff tbc
12.45pm -1.15pm Lunch in lunch room -
1.15pm – 1.30pm Working on interpretation University students
1.30pm – 2.15pm - Presentation of object interpretation in two groups: Name of person leading the
Define numbers (each group sees 5 session
reinterpretations)
- Objects go on display in front hall (in display case)
- Children take turns in groups of 5 to explain to
public
- (Other groups look round museum).
2.15pm – 2.30pm Plenary session in Schools room (including feedback) Name of person/project
manager leading the session
2.30pm Leave the museum Name of person/project
manager leading the session
Museum staff edit film and update onto the website to show film
of favourite things in the museum
Here is a blog that inspired this project and gives a picture of what they did:
https://www.bristolmuseums.org.uk/blog/terrific-takeover-day/
