#012 - November 2016
Dorset County Museum Volunteer Newsletter Dates for Your Diary: Thurs 3 Nov LITERARY LIVES: The influence of Hardy on the Cornish Poet by Jack Clemo—7.00 pm for 7.30 pm Fri 4 Nov ARCHAEOLOGY UNEARTHED: Gold from Bronze Age Dorset & Beyond— Neil Wilkin, British Museum—7.00 pm for 7.30 pm Wed 9 Nov GEOLOGY REVEALED: Facts and Fiction of Fracking—Dr Julie Richardson—6.30 pm for 7.00 pm Fri 11 , Sat12, Mon 14 Nov Second-hand Book Sale—10.00am to 4.00pm Thur 17 Nov TRAVELLERS’ TALES: Like a Tramp, Like a Pilgrim—Harry Bucknall—6.30 pm for 7.00 pm Thurs 24 Nov LUNCHTIME CONCERT Dorchester Piano Quartet—1.00pm— 2.00pm
Main Exhibition: ‘Speed to the West: A Nostalgic Journey’ until 7 January 2017
Tea Room Dorchester Camera Club
Welcome to Issue No.12 of DCMVOX… What would you like to see in next month’s issue? Please email your suggestions to Anna and her volunteer team on secretary@dorsetcountymuseum.org by Any suggestions welcome!
Interpreting Dorset... In the last edition of DCM Vox, Peter Down mentioned in passing how the ‘new Museum will take visitors on a compelling journey through 200 million years of history’. Excitingly, we will be able to do this because the Museum is an eclectic organisation reflecting its origins as a Victorian Archaeological and Natural History Society at the heart of Dorset and its county town. In achieving our objectives, we want to retain our special and unique personality while developing new displays that tell an overarching, coherent story about Dorset, its landscape and its people. To do this, we are focussing on what we do best: the strength of our nationally and internationally important collections, our knowledge of them, and our enthusiasm to tell and share these stories. The interpretation that our team of staff, collections volunteers and exhibition designers are developing is therefore being led by our objects (particularly the iconic ones such as Hardy’s Study, the Weymouth Bay Pliosaur, and the Clandon Barrow Finery) and the information they provide about the county of Dorset. With a people-focussed, storytelling style that is accessible for our target audience of families and tourists (many of whom won’t have much prior knowledge of the county) Dorset County Museum will become a “must see” destination - whilst also creating opportunities for subject specialists and academics to delve deeper through layered interpretation and open storage. Jon Murden
Tomorrow’s Museum for Dorset Update ... Where we are…. We are pleased to announce the appointment of Real Studios as our Exhibition Designers. They will be working alongside our Interpretation, Collections and Volunteer Teams to develop the designs for the permanent galleries in the new Museum. We are also delighted to announce that we have successfully passed our HLF Interim Review Assessment and our HLF Mentor, Case Officer and the Head of HLF South West were very supportive and happy with our progress to date. Congratulations to everyone! Please visit www.tomorrowsmuseumfordorset.org and sign up to our regular e-newsletter for the latest developments
Where we’re heading… John Hilton, Ken Mumford and our maintenance volunteer team have been working extremely hard to prepare the Old School building for the arrival of collections which will be temporarily stored there during the redevelopment of the Museum. Collections are beginning to be sorted and transported to the new facility now. We would like to thank everyone who has, and continues to, work so hard on this crucial part of our transformation process. It is very much appreciated.
Dorset County Museum, High West Street, Dorchester, Dorset, DT1 1XA Tel: 01305 262735 - www.dorsetcountymuseum.org
Visitor Quote of the Month: Absolutely outstanding museum; full of fascinating information, but never too dull or academic!
Christmas Drinks
Shop Discount for Volunteers Once again, we are delighted to offer our Volunteers a Christmas discount in the Museum Shop. From Tuesday 1st November to Saturday 24th December 2016, you will be eligible for a 10% discount on goods purchased from the museum shop. The museum’s exclusive Christmas cards along with an exciting selection of books, food and other gifts are available and we hope you are able to support us.
Welcome to our new volunteers….
You are cordially invited to join the President, Board of Trustees, Director, Members and Staff for Christmas drinks on Friday 9th December 2016 6.00pm – 7.30pm in the Victorian Gallery RSVP: secretary@dorsetcountymuseum.org 01305 262735
Susan Day will be joining our Textiles team in October when having moved to the Old School there will be room The Volunteer world has been very for her – those of you who have exbusy over the summer. perienced the Colliton Street cottages Robert Parkinson had so enjoyable an will know exactly what I mean. Curinternship with us that he will be rerently I have several applications turning for about two weeks over the working their way through the sysChristmas holidays. tem and we continue to receive applications for undergraduate placeWe have appointed five new volunments. teers: Nick Gouldstone in Digitisation, Milo to the Fine Arts team and Di Vacancies exist in the Maintenance Wraxall, Shirley Kerslake and Karen team so any handy folk out there du Toit to Visitor Services.
would be very valuable Maintenance volunteers. Any current volunteers who would be interested in also helping in the Tea Room on Saturday mornings would be greeted with open arms. We continue to need volunteers in many Museum departments—you don’t have to be a Member of the Museum to become a volunteer.
Jill Minchin—Volunteer Co-ordinator and Trustee
If you would like to receive this newsletter by email please send your contact details to Anna Butler on secretary@dorsetcountymuseum.org