PALATINE, in partnership with the Museum of Science and Industry
Manchester (MSIM), invites colleagues to this free seminar/workshop:
UNLOCKING THE STORIES:
exploring collaboration between HE performing arts and museums
Friday 8th July
Museum of Science and Industry Manchester (MSIM)
Castlefield
Manchester
10.00- 4.00
Photos © MSIM (with permission)
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 in higher education 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.
Presenters/Contributors currently include:
Ian Griffin, Director, Museum of Science and Industry Manchester
Tony Jackson, Director of the AHRC-funded Performance, Learning and
‘Heritage’ research project, Centre for Applied Theatre Research,
University of Manchester,
Carran Waterfield, Director, Triangle Theatre, winner of the Best
Educational Initiative at the Museums and Heritage Awards for
Excellence 2005
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.
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
Details of travel information and accommodation for delegates attending
this event are available here: How to get to the MSIM
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