APOLOGIES FOR ANY CROSS-POSTING
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TO BOOK YOUR FREE PLACE CONTACT BARBARA HARGREAVES
[log in to unmask]
01524 592614

PALATINE in partnership with the Museum of Science and Industry Manchester
invites colleagues in higher education and the museum sector to attend this
FREE seminar/workshop

UNLOCKING THE STORIES
Exploring collaboration between the performing and creative arts in higher
education and museums.

8th July
Museum of Science and Industry Manchester
10.00am - 4.30pm

Speakers include:
Ian Griffin, Director of the Museum of Science and Industry.
Tony Jackson, Director of the Performance, Learning and 'Heritage'.
An AHRC-funded research project, Centre for Applied Theatre Research,
University of Manchester.
Carran Waterfield, Director Triangle Theatre,
winner of the of the Best Educational Initiative at the Museums and
Heritage Awards for Excellence 2005.

In recent years there has been a sea change in the way museums view
and interpret their collections. There is now great interest in developing
and applying creative approaches to museum presentation and interpretation,
and in utilising the performing and creative arts to unlock the stories and
to
engage with the knowledge and experiences that lie stored in museum
collections.

Unlocking the Stories explores the ways in which dance, drama and music
courses
and other arts subjects can work with museums to enhance both the learning
experience for students and the work of the museums. The seminar brings
together HE institutions, departments, course leaders, museum directors,
curators and education staff to discuss the issues, share ideas, establish
practical ways forward, and to develop potential and actual projects between
HE performing arts and museums. The aim is to enhance both the learning and
teaching experience for students and the ways in which museums engage with
their public.

We are inviting more contributions - short and informal - particularly from
colleagues with practical experience of work in this field.

Please contact Ralph Brown [log in to unmask]


A number of factors inform this event:
The need for museums to establish a greater, deeper and genuine engagement
with their various audiences, and the recognition that stories, narratives
and performance events provide a powerful means to provide that engagement;
The growth and interest in site-specific work, and the potential to provide
students with opportunities to negotiate, create, produce and perform
in 'real world' situations;
The desire of museums to build long-term, sustainable, and mutually
beneficial relationships with higher education;
The shift from promoting 'public understanding' towards enabling 'public
engagement';
The increasing recognition of performativity as a critical element in the
work of museums, and the concerns around authenticity and role.


Some of the issues and questions Unlocking the Stories intends to address
include:
How can HE performing arts courses and institutions work more closely with
museums?
How might courses in dance, drama, music, music technology and performance
technology etc. contribute to and benefit from collaborations with museums?
What are the challenges, risks and benefits of collaboration?
What work is already taking place? What research is being undertaken?
What are the possible (creative) tensions and conflicting agendas?
What are the possibilities and potential for practical work and research?


PALATINE welcomes suggestions for other questions and issues.
Please e-mail: [log in to unmask] (subject heading 'Unlocking the
Stories')


TO BOOK A FREE PLACE CONTACT:
Barbara Hargreaves
[log in to unmask]
01524 592614


Full details (including directions) can also be found on our web site at:
http://www.lancs.ac.uk/palatine/workshops04-05/#stories