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Dear Liz
The Museum in Docklands is currently working on a new gallery for 2007,
to mark the abolition of the Slave Trade in British territories.  The
gallery has the working title of 'London and the West Indies' though in
fact it's aim is to explore the relationship between London, West Africa
and the West Indies, from the 16th through to the present day.
Obviously the key to this tripartite relationship is the slave trade
however, we feel that it is important that we tell the story of that
relationship post-Abolition, as its consequences have very much shaped
the world we live in today.

Obviously, we want the gallery to be inclusive and we want people of
African-Caribbean  origin to feel they are stakeholders in the story
that is told.  We have, therefore established a Consultative Group to
help us work on the gallery.  The group consists of academics,
representatives of community and Black History/Cultural organisations,
and one person who has worked as both actor and film maker.  The group
consists of about nine people, eight of whom are of Afro-Caribbean
origin.  We have also co-opted a joint Lead curator who is of
Afro-Caribbean origin and is an academic.

We began by making as clear as possible to the group the extent of their
involvement so that there would be no confusion about expectations.  We
have also been clear that their views will be taken seriously, and so
far we are working well together.

We began by presenting a suggested structure for the new gallery, with
lists of themes and subject headings for different 'zones'.  The group
then commented on where themes should be 're-ordered' and where
different emphases should be placed.  They were also able to tell us
where they thought key issues were missing.  
We have found this an extremely valuable exercise as, although I have
been to a number of Cross-Community Forums on the Slave Trade etc, these
tend to throw up a wide range of issues, and sometimes send conflicting
messages.  Working with the smaller consultative group has made it
easier, because they are able to explain to us where, for example, our
Interpretation might be mis-interpreted by visitors or (at worse) might
cause offence.  I think the fact that they are able to be frank with us
is an indication that the group feel confident about the working
relationship we have. 

We have now had three meetings and are beginning to get a better idea of
what the gallery themes will be and what each zone will deal with.  We
have yet to move to the design stage.

Sorry if this is a bit of a ramble, but please get back to me if you
think I can help.
Best wishes
Tom Wareham 




Dr. Tom Wareham
Curator of Maritime and Community Histories
Museum in Docklands
West India Quay
London. E14 4AL
Tel: 020 7001 9823
Fax: 0870 444 3858
Email: [log in to unmask]
www.museumindocklands.org.uk

Rum, Rations, Riots - discover how the world came to the East End at Museum in Docklands

-----Original Message-----
From: Social History Curators Group email list
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Liz Braby
Sent: 25 July 2006 14:49
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: SPAM:[SHCG-LIST] Have you determined an exhibition theme
through community consultation?

This is an email sent via the SHCG List. If you reply to this message,
your message will be sent to all the people on the list, not just the
author of this message.
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Hi all

I was just wondering if you, or a fellow museum colleague, have either
determined 1) the overall theme of an exhibition or 2) content,
interpretation, design etc of an exhibition through consultation with
community groups or community organisations.

Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery are soon to be working on an
exhibition which will focus heavily on community consultation and I am
interested to hear how other museum colleagues have gone about the
consultation process, what sort of exhibitions you have produced and at
what stages in the process you have involved community groups (or if
they have helped manage the whole process)

I am particularly interested in history exhibitions though would welcome
information about other exhibitions too!

Any help you can give would be much appreciated.

Best wishes
Liz

Audience Development Officer
Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery
0121 303 0321


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The SHCG list is provided for members of Social History Curators Group to discuss subjects relevant to social history in museums. To join SHCG visit www.shcg.org.uk . Opinions expressed in this email are the responsibility of the author and are not necessarily shared by SHCG.
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