#006 - May 2016
Dorset County Museum Volunteer Newsletter Dates for Your Diary: ARCHAEOLOGY FIELD TRIP Fri 3 June 6.00pm Guided Walk Cerne Abbas by Chris Copson (please see website for details) LUNCHTIME CONCERTS Thurs 19 May 1-2pm Thurs 9 June 1-2pn HISTORY EXPLORED Thurs 5 May 7.30pm ‘Finding Pitt-Rivers’ by Jane Ellis-Schön LITERARY LIVES Thurs 19 May and Sat 21 May 7.30pm ‘Lawrence of Wessex: Conservations with T.E. Lawrence and Thomas Hardy Thurs 26 May 7.30pm ‘Emma Lavinia: The First Mrs Hardy with Helen Gibson and Marilyn Leah CRAFT ACADEMY Wed 1 June 10.30am-12.30pm Craft Academy VOLUNTEERS EVENT Wed 20 July 5.30-7pm Victorian Hall
Look out for Dorset County Museum’s new Events Leaflet available from the shop now.
Welcome to Issue no.6 of DCMVOX… In celebration of our fantastic volunteer team and all your hard work and dedication over the last year, we would like to invite you all to join the staff and Board members on Wednesday 20 July 2016 from 5.30pm-7.00pm, in the Victorian Hall. There will be a light supper provided, along with entertainment and a chance to chat with your fellow volunteers. RSVP to Anna on secetary@dorsetcountymuseum.org, or by phone on 01305 262735 by Wed 13th July. Jon Update– Jon is continuing to recover well at home and would like to thank you all for your continued well-wishes and all your hard work in his absence. As expected, he is weak and extremely tired and therefore, is understandably not taking visitors at this time but we are continuing to pass on your messages in the cards which can be found at the Front Desk. All the Trustees and Staff would like to echo Jon’s thanks for all your continued support during this time. What would you like to see in next month’s issue? Please email your suggestions to Gabriella Crouch on development@dorsetcountymuseum.org by Mon 16th May 2016. Any suggestions welcome!
Museum Tours for Volunteers Terry will be offering tours of the Museum galleries for any new or existing volunteers who would like a refresher of the treasures of the Museum. Tours will be held on: Thurs 12, Mon 16 and Tues 24 May at 1.30pm. Please save your preferred date using the sign up sheets at the front desk. If you would prefer an alternative time, please leave your contact details with the front desk and we will do our best to accommodate you. INTERNATIONAL MUSEUMS DAY– 18 MAY 2016 We are dong a new display every month in the case at the bottom of the stairs. May 18th is International Museums Day. Do you have any interesting objects you have bought from a museum abroad that you would be willing to lend for a fortnight or so? If so, please leave a message for me or email felicity@hebditch.org. Thank you.
Notice from the Library- Film and Audio Recordings The DCM Library old catalogue contains records of a number of films and audio-recordings which form part of the Museum’s collections. However, not all of these recordings are in the Library, (lots, for example, we know are in Social History). So that we can make a definitive list of where everything is and what the Museum does actually have, could you have a look through your collections in the Museum and, if you do find any films or audio tapes, let the Library know (please leave a note in the Library, email library@dorsetcountymuseum.org or drop in to the Library on Tuesday) either what you’ve got or just the fact you have something. Formats are most likely to be old VHS and audio cassettes. Thank you in advance.
Collections Discovery Centre Update– Tomorrow’s Museum for Dorset Where we are...
Design Team workshops and Project Team meetings have been regularly held at the Museum, PGP offices and in London.
The measured survey drawings for basement, ground, first and second floors have now been received.
The archaeology and sewer and underground services surveys are currently ongoing and we are expected to have the reported findings back soon.
Historic England and a Conservation Officer from West Dorset District Council have visited the Museum to assess the site and have had positive feedback so far, in support of our plans.
A meeting was held with our HLF mentor and case officer and they were extremely encouraged by the development of the project and commended the Trustees, staff and volunteers on how efficiently everyone has handled their project work in Jon’s absence
Where we’re heading... Reports from the archaeology and sewer and underground services surveys should be received. This will enable the Design Team to continue to develop their designs with the most accurate information on the complexities of the site. Design Team, Project Team and Project Board meetings will continue to be held Liz Selby, our Exhibitions Development Manager, will start later this month
MANY THANKS to all our volunteers – without you our Museum would not function as effectively as it does. Dorset County Museum, High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XA Tel: 01305 262735 - www.dorsetcountymuseum.org
Visitor Quote of the Month: ‘An awe inspiring collection, beautifully presented across the many features of Dorset.’
Calling all our Wonderful DCM Volunteers… We need you!
Terry – you’re famous! On the TIC’s Twitter, no less!
Volunteer Survey for Crucial HLF Activity Plan
One day last month, Terry Riggs kindly volunteered his time at the Dorchester Tourist Information Centre, talking to their visitors about all the wonders the Museum has to offer. We would like to thank Terry for being such a ‘Big thank you to Terry from passionate and inspiring @DorsetMuseum for chatting to our advocate for the Museum visitors today about the delights of and taking the time to the museum....’ share his love of the collections and encourage people to visit the Museum.
As you all know, we are currently developing a £10M bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop the Museum. It is vitally important that we hear what you think as volunteers to ensure that the project is going to meet your needs. Volunteering is an important part of this museum and a crucial element of the project which both the Heritage Lottery Fund and ourselves wish to see expanded and adequately resourced. We would therefore be very grateful if you would complete the online questionnaire (the link can be found below) or alternatively contact Gabriella Crouch on development@dorsetcountymuseum.org for any assistance or for access to a hard copy. The deadline for completing the survey is the end of May 2016. Thank you for your help.
Update from DCM’s Marketing Team
http://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/dcmvolunteers Other Exhibitions at DCM In the Tea Room until 5 June 2016 ‘Unknown Photographs of Dorset’ by Val Dicker In the Victorian Gallery until 3 June 2016 ‘Commemoration of the Dorset Yeomanry’ Don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter @DorsetMuseum for all the latest DCM News
Museum Makers Group celebrate £6,000 Heritage Lottery Fund Grant The grant will fund an exciting Museum Makers project which will provide educational and inspirational opportunities for adults with learning disabilities as they engage with the collections at the Museum. Andy Worth, Museum Makers Volunteer, said “We’re thrilled to have been awarded this grant and we can’t wait to get started on the project. The Museum Makers group will feel a stronger sense of belonging to their community through engaging with Dorset’s past, and at the same time they will be developing their own self-confidence through learning new skills, performing and film-making.
It’s a really exciting time for marketing at the Museum right now and there are lots of changes going on, but one of our main aims remains to bring in customers through the front door, and I’m keen to make full use of all the marketing tools available to us. One of these, and a very crucial one, is the front window. The window display needs to be carefully planned and co-ordinated on an ongoing basis to reinforce and underpin marketing activity. It needs to provide potential customers with the information they need to make a decision on whether to part with their hard earned cash and come into the Museum. It needs to answer their questions, and persuade them that Dorset County Museum is a great place to visit! So, to enable this to happen there will be a programme of window displays, and a new film is being commissioned that will play on a loop in the window to showcase what we have to offer. I am aware that from time to time volunteers have ideas and suggestions for the front window display. Bearing in mind that plans are being put in place for the management of this space, please do come and talk to either myself or Mark to discuss any ideas and how they might fit within the overall marketing plan. And in the meantime, watch this space! Carmel Mallinson, Head of Marketing and PR
Welcome to our new volunteers…. Sarah Mearns and Lesli Menzel have
By Jill Minchin, Volunteer Co-ordinator & Trustee joined Anna as her admin assistants giving her much-needed support during Jon’s sick We are delighted that volunteers continue leave, Jan Hebditch has added to arrive offering a wide variety of talents accreditation as a volunteer to her existing and experience. responsibilities as our Geology Lecture ‘fixer’, and Linda Roberts is helping David This month we have welcomed Nathan Aldridge into Ken’s Maintenance team (and James and his Fine Art team where she is every time I turn a corner in the Museum I giving IT support. seem to find Nathan working away, Vacancies for Volunteers: We need two currently on the William Barnes redisplay), volunteers for Visitor Services, to cover
Front of House duties on Saturdays, and if there is anyone with relevant photographic experience it would be good to offer some support in this valuable work for the Museum. Whilst there are currently no vacancies in the Library team, Brenda Turnock would be willing to discuss their future needs with anyone who can offer relevant experience and interest. JMM 28.4.2016
If you would like to receive this newsletter by email please send your contact details to Gabriella Crouch on development@dorsetcountymuseum.org