Modelling the social inclusion values that Open to All is grounded within, the training venues were within contemporary museums, which were open to the public. This allowed the training to be on-site and also provided us with the perfect opportunity to explore some of the museums during breaks!
The Manchester Museum
At the end of March, Jenny Pope, Lorraine Nicholson and myself (Jim Campbell) spent 2 days delivering the Two Day Workshop of Open to All Training to staff and volunteers at the Manchester Museum. Participants came from different organisations including Renaissance North West, The Manchester Museum and Salford City College, with a range of roles from Volunteering to Learning & Education, Conservation & Curator and Equality.
The Manchester Museum, which is part of the University of Manchester, is set in a group of neo-Gothic buildings situated on the Oxford Road at the heart of Manchester and the University. The museum houses almost four and a half million specimens and objects in archaeology, natural history and anthropology from across the world for research, teaching and public display.
The training was well received and evaluated, in particular learning on recovery, mental health, people's experiences of museums/galleries and how art can help people with mental health issues. The group of volunteers and staff were a good mix of people. With the training providing a good environment for people to work together, learn from each other, connect and understand how they can support each other.
Jenny, Lorraine and myself all enjoyed delivering the training in such a great place, getting to know the participants and working with them. During the lunch break on the 2nd day, we were given a brief and interesting tour of some of the store rooms, seeing conservation and preparation work of objects.
It sounded like they were embarking on some interesting projects. We wish them well for the future.
Wollaton Hall - Nottingham
In April, Jenny, Deborah Harvey and myself (Jim) delivered the Two Day Workshop to staff from across Nottingham at Wollaton Hall (see above). Set in 500 acres of gardens and parkland, Wollaton Hall is a spectacular 16th Century Elizabethan Country House standing on a prominent hill on the outskirts of Nottingham. Housing Nottingham's Natural History Museum, Industrial Museum and Gallery Yard, Wollaton Hall is within a deer park for Red and Fallow deer.
Arriving a bit early on the 1st day, we found ourselves banging on the huge front door in an attempt to make ourselves known. Although we could hear people inside, the door was too thick for them to hear us! It was all a bit surreal, feeling like we were in the middle of nowhere, trying to get in. However, it wasn't long before the big door was opened.
Like the whole building, the training was in a listed room, with a grand portrait of cattle on the far wall. You could feel the history in the building as we walked around. Directly outside the room where we delivered the training was a full size stuffed tiger...! It all felt a little unreal compared to other training venues, but we soon adapted and settled in, finding alternative ways to display things that could not be stuck on the listed wall paper!!
The training was to people involved in a range of new projects called 'Museums of the Mind', which focuses on similar ideas to Open to All training, which aims to make museums more inclusive and accessible to people with mental health issues as therapeutic and healing 'sanctuaries'. Most participants came from some of the 4 areas involved in the project - Mansfield Museums, Wirksworth Heritage Centre, Chersterfield Museum & Art Gallery and Bassetlaw Museum. Their working roles included Curator, Museum Officers, Education and Outreach, Development Officers, Coordinators and Managers.
The 2 days training gave participants an opportunity to come together, learn and plan for the future. Developing an understanding of some of the issues around mental health, access and society in the first day, which acted as a foundation as they began to develop skills and confidence on the second day. Although, the majority of the participants came into contact with people every day as part of their work, Open to All training began to help them extend their practical skills and understanding on working directly with people with mental health issues, for the Museums of the Mind project.
Jenny, Debs and myself had a great time in Nottingham, both delivering the training, working with all involved and exploring some of Nottingham, especially the canal walks and the highly recommended Le Mistral restaurant.
We are looking forward to hearing how the Museums of the Mind projects develop.
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