An ICP graduate on how her placement gave her a direct path into museum work

Hi I’m Jane and I graduated from the AGMS MA programme last

Jane at work on exhibition opening night (3rd from right)

September. For my work placement I went to Gallery Oldham and carried out a review of the social history collection. This was a great placement – it allowed me to learn crucial collections management skills that are essential for anyone looking to start a museum career.

When my placement ended in June I carried on going every week. I really enjoyed my time there and wanted to see the review reach some sort of conclusion. This meant that when the opportunity for paid work came up I was the obvious choice – I knew the museum well and had proved I was committed. Initially, I was employed to work on an exhibition about local democracy in Oldham. As well as being loads of fun, this freelance curatorial work looks great on my C.V. More recently I have been employed to work with the Social History Curator to critically review the collection.

As a result of all the excellent experience I have been able to gain at Oldham (both paid and unpaid) I have just been offered a part time Collections Assistant role at Staffordshire County Council. This is a perfect fit for me at the moment as it allows me to keep up with my freelance work at Oldham (which means I can keep adding to my C.V!).

I am so grateful to all the staff at Gallery Oldham for all the support and advice that they have given me and to the Institute for Cultural Practises for arranging such a brilliant placement. With cultural jobs being so scarce at the moment it is important to take full advantage of every opportunity, which is just what I intend to do!

Studying the carbon cost of theatre

Hi everyone, I’m Ji Lu from China. I’m currently studying for an MA in Arts Management, Policy and Practice in School of Arts, Histories and Cultures. I did my BA in International Chinese Teaching back in China, but I guess I was always more interested in working in arts and cultural sector than teaching language. So after working in an arts agency in China for one year, I decided to come to the UK for further education in Arts Management.

My placement was with the Manchester Library Theatre Company on the project of Theatre and Sustainability. Yes, you might react the same way as I heard it for the first time – what have theatres to do with sustainability? But you’ll be surprised to know how much carbon dioxide could be generated from the large amount of materials used to build the sets, the extensive use of spot lights and sound equipments on stage and the back-and-forth travel of the audience coming to watch the performance, which could all add to the already serious global warming problem. So the objective of my placement was to measure the carbon footprint of one of Library Theatre’s productions, A Doll’s House, down to every possible aspect. In order to achieve that, I needed to design effective data collecting forms to send out to different departments of the company, to measure how many materials were used to make the sets, props and costumes and how many trips were made to prepare for the show. And after gathering the data, I needed to use effective methodologies to turn the figures into CO2 emissions figures. I chose some new calculating tools for the project such as The Green Theatre Tool. They were by no means flawless but enabled us to get a more accurate measurement. Sounds a bit geeky doesn’t it? I think it is always important to work creatively in the cultural sector, no matter whether you’re working on the artistic side or the administrative side.

I think other than the desk research and data processing part, the most rewarding side of the placement was that it allowed me to work closely with  different sectors of a theatre production company and to observe their work at different stages of a production. And since it was a project-based placement, I had to demonstrate skills in project management such as time control, self-discipline and group motivating. As an international student, I think the placement also gave me an insight of how UK based arts organizations work and how they situate themselves among fellow organizations. And my English communication skills have also improved through constantly bargaining with some not-so-cooperative colleagues to ask them to turn in the data I needed! Anyway, I’m glad to have worked with such an energetic company and this placement has been a good complement to my academic learning and will certainly benefit my future career.

Water’s Edge Arts – “This is Chorlton Calling”

My name is Lois Entwistle. I’m a postgraduate student studying for an MA in Post 1900 Literatures Theories and Cultures. I decided to apply for an ICP placement because I thought it would add some variety to my studies and I like a challenge. Obviously, one of the major advantages of undertaking an ICP placement is that it enables you to step out of your role as a student and utilise your research skills in a work environment. Whilst I take my academics seriously, I can imagine there is considerable advantage in being able to demonstrate your ability to apply what you’ve learned in the world of work and it is my wish that I should be able to do that in the future. So off I went, filled in the form and within a few weeks I’d been offered a placement as an Historian with Waters Edge Arts in Chorlton.

One of the most established participatory theatre companies in the North West, Waters Edge Arts are a registered charity, run by a family of established performance practitioners and facilitators. Having just moved into a new space within the grounds of Chorlton Methodist Church on Manchester Road, the company were looking to build bridges with the community. Their new location was previously the church’s Sunday School and contained well over a hundred years worth of history within its walls, not to mention roughly 80 years in the living memory of the residents of Chorlton. The company had moved into the building with a vision for regenerating this community focal point into an Arts Centre. After re-naming it The Edge, they decided to celebrate the future by saluting the past. They would do this by undertaking their first ever Oral History project. Enter the ambitious English postgraduate with a performing arts background and no previous academic knowledge of Oral History. Her mission? To meet with older residents of Chorlton, oversee an interview process, record the results, and compile a body of research for a piece of devised theatre based on the information she has collected.

The process itself was relatively simple. Between 2 and 4pm on Mondays and Wednesdays, I met with the Artistic Director, we would interview a few residents at a time, compare notes and leave. All was relatively ordinary until the interest in what was going on at the old Sunday School began to grow. Suddenly the Chorlton Wives, a group of ladies who met every Tuesday afternoon, were given two meetings and supplied bundles of photographs as well as an introduction to the church’s senior ladies’ group, the Bright Hour, where I met our oldest interviewee, who was 101. Chorlton’s local historian came for three separate meetings and gave me a full tour of the Waters Edge Arts building. The Manchester Local Image Collection, featured extensively in my research as I attempted to bring back to life the old picture houses, shops, schools and dance halls of the 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. Some of them still stand. Some don’t. Each has its own story. I was trying to help create a narrative so I decided to try and construct a visual setting as well as a verbal one.

Below are some of the pictures I took. Click on the links to view some of these Chorlton sites as they used to be via the Manchester Local Image Collection.

The Gaumont Cinema - an upmarket cinema where one would go to see a big film.

Chorlton Green: Original burial place of a young police officer, killed by infamous murderer, Charles Peace. Articles on Peace are available online via the Guardian and Observer digital archives at City Library, Manchester.

The site of the Princess Ballroom: A weekend haunt.

The Essoldo Cinema, whose red carpet was stolen in 1954 on opening night.

As rehearsal time grew near and potential candidates for interview continued to roll in, we finally called a halt to the research process and contacted participants for a photoshoot. The final piece, entitled This is Chorlton Calling, opened at The Edge on May 19^th and was a great success. In a sense, our lack of acquaintance with oral history had served us well. It enabled us, I believe, to enter into the process on the same level as our interviewees without some of the necessary artifice of tried and tested interview techniques. They wanted to tell their stories. We wanted to hear. None of us knew what would come out of it and all of us were just as excited to find out. The gasps, laughter and occasional tears on the performance night were the sign that our mission was accomplished. Theatre and community, young and old, past, present and future were celebrated in the new space that once was an old one… and my name was third on the programme… under the title of “researcher.” It’s now a title I’d like for my career.

Gallery Oldham – Collections Review

My name is Jane Brown and I have been studying this year for an MA in Art Gallery and Museum Studies. For my work placement I went to Gallery Oldham, a local authority museum, where I worked on a full scale collections review of the Social History Collection. I was attracted to the role since I am interested in working in Social History and also because, although I’d had lots of experience in exhibitions and museum education, I hadn’t yet worked in collections management and I knew that this left quite a big hole on my CV. I also knew from previous placements that I was likely to get a much broader knowledge working at a local authority museum, than I would at some of the ‘big’ institutions, where I think you can sometimes find it hard to stray beyond the lines of your specific task. This placement really opened my eyes to the challenges faced by local authority museums handling large, particularly social history, collections. Massive over-collecting in the past at Gallery Oldham has led to a fair amount of duplication, some poor documentation and objects lacking a local link. The aim of the game in this collections review was therefore to rationalise the collection by revealing previously unaccessioned objects that could enhance the collections, and by carrying out responsible disposal where it was needed. To do this I went through the stores, box-by-box in order to identify what was there, if it was accessioned and how useful it might be for the museum in terms of display potential. A collections review might not sound like the most glamorous or exciting job in the world, and yes, although it certainly wasn’t glamorous, (I had to contend with my fair share of wood worm and mould) it was simply fascinating. I got to work with the collection almost every week where I improved documentation, identified unknown objects and ultimately used the museum’s collection policy to recommend some objects for disposal. Museum disposal is obviously a very controversial topic which only made my placement all the more interesting.

I have gained a wide range of useful skills for the future including a working knowledge of disposal and collections management procedures. I am also very competent in using an electronic collections database – a frequent requirement for a whole range of museum jobs. I found that my role at Gallery Oldham went way beyond what it said on the tin. In fact, thanks to the enthusiasm and support of my brilliant supervisor I have done more than I have space to write about, including working on exhibitions, handling loans and meeting local community groups to discuss future projects. Most importantly right from the start I was made to feel part of the team. My placement officially finished weeks ago but I am still going every week, picking away at my collections review, learning new skills, being offered fantastic opportunities and enjoying every minute. I had the best time at Gallery Oldham and I hope I might have gone someway to convincing prospective placement students to look beyond the big institutions in Manchester as there are loads of brilliant ‘smaller’ museums and galleries that can provide a more varied placement experience. To find out more about Gallery Oldham visit their website .

Life Behind the Lens

My name is Eleanor Ridley, and I’m in the second year of part time study for an MA in Art Gallery and Museum Studies. I did my placement at The Hardmans’ House in Liverpool.

 

The Hardmans’ House is the preserved home and photographic studio of 20^th century photographer Edward Chambré Hardman. All the paraphernalia of his career was left intact on this site upon Hardman’s death in 1988, leaving a record of his life, his artistic photography and his business. My placement role at this property was as ‘Custodian Assistant, Winter Projects’, but my project was to work on the changing exhibition space where Hardman’s photographs are displayed in the house. The theme for this exhibition space changes every year, and this year the title was Life Behind the Lens. This thematically explored different parts of Hardman’s life in relation to his changing style, and I was to be involved in the selection, production and interpretation of the exhibition.

 

It’s my ambition to work in historic houses, but in my opinion, there aren’t enough different types of houses (and their respective social histories) represented yet, with National Trust or elsewhere. So although there were placements available at more traditional historic houses, I was immediately attracted by this one. The Hardmans’ House is an unusual National Trust acquisition, as it is in an urban environment, and it is filled with objects from the 1950s, so it’s one of the most recent eras represented in a National Trust property. I was keen to work with a property which looked like it might fulfil some of my ideas about what a historic house experience could be.

 

I wasn’t disappointed; The Hardmans’ House combines a strong narrative about its inhabitants with a unique collection of photographic equipment and photographic prints developed by Hardman. I feel very privileged to have worked behind the scenes here, and to have worked with an institution which represents a very individual story. I have no history of art background, but I like visiting art galleries and photographic art in particular, so it was very interesting and rewarding to see the other side of the coin. I was given a free rein in writing the interpretive booklet, so it was a very useful experience to test my own skills in providing interpretation that would be relevant for visitors. It also gave me an insider’s perspective on the problems of working in a historic house environment as well as the pleasures – firstly, because I’ll need to be aware of these problems if I fulfil my ambition of working with historic houses, and secondly, because I now know that I definitely want to work in a historic house or with social history.

 

I like to think that I was helpful in creating this exhibition; because of the knowledge I gained about the house and the photography during my placement, I was able to help them by working as Visitor Services Assistant whenever they’ve been short staffed (one of the problems of working in historic houses – lack of budget and therefore sufficient staff!). This has helped the rest of the staff at The Hardmans’ House, and also been my first paid work for a historic house, so overall I have had a really successful placement experience.

 

If you fancy visiting The Hardmans’ House, or finding out more about it, then visit the National Trust website and have a look at the opening times.

ICP working with cultural organisations

Interviewing Chorlton residents in the development of a community play for The Edge Theatre and Arts Centre, conducting a sustainability audit for the Library theatre company, curating a unique exhibition of photography at a National Trust house and editing a booklet of stories by war veterans for the Imperial War Museum North…are just a few of the wide range of activities carried out by postgraduate students from University of Manchester on placements run by the Institute for Cultural Practices.

Students on the popular MA programmes in Art Gallery and Museum Studies and Arts Management, Policy and Practice all do these placements as part of their programmes but this year for the first time the opportunity has been offered to students on other arts programmes. These placements offer students a great chance to use their academic skills in a practical setting as well as giving local cultural organisations a taste of the creative potential coming out of the university’s courses. Several students have already been offered further work placements or even employment as a result of their placements.

To give a flavour of the type of work being done by our students, this blog will feature an ongoing series of profiles written by students about their experiences. We hope this might be of interest to current students who are interested in taking a placement, prospective students considering our programmes or cultural institutions or organisations who might want to offer a placement position. If you would like to find out more please contact Maria Calderhead or Simon Parry via icpplacements@manchester.ac.uk

Forthcoming research methods and social responsibility workshop

Wednesday 8 June 2011, 10.30 – 4.00

Lecture Theatre, The Manchester Dental Education Centre (MANDEC), Bridgeford Street, University of Manchester

This workshop is the first of a series of one-day meetings that we are organising on ‘research methods and social responsibility’. The overarching aim of the meetings will be to explore cross-disciplinary perspectives on the methodological and ethical issues that arise in all research encounters. Our first meeting sets out to provoke a conversation between researchers either based at the University of Manchester or with strong connections to Manchester. Each of our speakers will give a short, ten minute presentation setting out the challenges presented by their particular research activities, and the ways in which they respond to these challenges. The day is divided into two broad themes; the first four talks discuss research that engages with conflict, disasters, suffering and advocacy; the second four address the question of how research is valued and evaluated more generally, raising questions about the links between social responsibility and wider issues concerning the ethics and politics of research more generally. Each set of four short talks will be followed by wider discussion and debate. In a final session we aim to take stock of the issues that have arisen during the day and identify questions that people would like to take forward in future events.

To view the programme and book a place please go to www.methods.manchester.ac.uk/events/2011-06-08/

Dramatic Recollections

Performance Lecture & Book Launch by Dr Gilli Bush-Bailey

Thursday 12th May  5.30pm
The John Thaw Studio Theatre, The Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama,

Look out for this free event in the Martin Harris Centre. This performance moves between an exploration of the extraordinary one-woman shows by the 19th century performer Fanny Kelly and Gilli’s own work as an actress and academic in an examination of subjectivity, historiography and the professional lives of actresses and autobiographical performance.

Further details: Invitation_Dramatic Recollections_Dr Gilli Bush Bailey

ICP in Singapore

ICP in the persons of Helen Rees-Leahy and Simon Parry are currently on the way – at Paris airport to be precise – back from a hectic and successful visit to Singapore. It has been a stimulating trip giving a taste of some of the exciting developments going in in this dynamic and cosmopolitan city state.

Singapore has a burgeoning arts and cultural scene. There are some great museums, from the imaginative portal into the history of a diverse culture provided by the Peranakan Museum to the insightful investigation of the archive in the museum of the National University of Singapore. It also has some fascinating arts venues presenting practices from an array of different traditions. The Esplanade Arts Centre shows local companies as well as international touring performance, traditional art forms and work from international repertoires. Singapore Arts Festival engages with audiences from the very young to the very old in venues across the country. Countless other venues large and small present a full programme to locals and the many visitors to the country.

Cultural practitioners and educators in Singapore are currently balancing the way they continue to grow and develop their cultural resources with a desire to expand their audiences for their existing assets. Joining in these debates,  we delivered workshops on 21st and 22d of February for representatives of  many of the major museums and arts organisations as well as staff of the National Heritage Board and the National Arts Council. Entitled “From Audiences to Stakeholders” presentations examined a rationale for and  benefits of different modes of engagement as well as introducing case studies to provoke further thought and debate. Discussion ranged from the need for arts and cultural organisations to compete with the 24 hour shopping culture  to the particular demands of education and outreach workers trying to reach youth or other community audiences.

A flavour of our presentation can be found here:

http://prezi.com/bin/preziloader.swfAudience to Stakeholders on Prezi

Earlier on in the visit, Simon delivered a lecture on “Arts Education and Cultural Citizenship” to a group of Arts Management staff and students at the Lasalle College of the Arts. Students there who organise their own festival as part of their course and almost all of whom go on to work in the cultural sector commented on the need for arts education and cultural citizenship to be seen as a lifelong process. They also discussed the tensions often present between formal education structures and creative arts education.

A glimpse of the presentation can be found here:

http://prezi.com/bin/preziloader.swf

Arts Education on Prezi

 

Whilst there are distinct cultural differences between Manchester and Singapore (not to mention the weather) there are clearly many overlapping interests and a desire from both sides for greater collaboration. This visit has therefore provided an excellent taste of what partnerships for reciprocal learning might be possible in future.

Postgraduate programmes in Arts Management

It’s not too late to register for one of our Postgraduate Programmes, beginning Autumn 2010.

The Centre for Arts Management & Cultural Policy at the University of Manchester has been up and running for one year (Happy Birthday to us!). We now have four postgraduate taught and research programmes for cultural professionals to choose from:

• MA Arts Management, Policy & Practice
• MEnt in Arts & Cultural Management
• PhD Arts Management & Cultural Policy
• Professional Doctorate Arts & Cultural Management

 Taught programmes offer a range of optional courses and flexible modes of delivery; all work closely with the research culture, staff and programmes at the Institute for Cultural Practices and benefit from our strong ties to cultural partners in Manchester and the North West.

There’s more at our web-pages – or for further enquiries contact Abi Abigail.Gilmore@manchester.ac.uk & Simon Simon.Parry@manchester.ac.uk for an informal chat. If you have networks or friends who might also want to hear about this – please pass this on.