Bringing in an external heritage consultant to help on a project can sometimes be daunting. But by taking time out of your regular schedule to work collaboratively and harness shared experiences, together we can shed new light on existing issues. This might be a one-to-one coaching session or a wider a group workshop for your staff.
Group workshops
I lead online and in-person heritage training workshops for staff in museums, libraries, galleries, archives and other sites on a range of topics - interpretation planning; writing for exhibitions; audience research; exhibitions on a shoestring and others.
Interpreting with care
2023
I faciliated a workshop for curators dealing with so-called ‘difficult’ subjects. While planning the training session, I realised what all the topics required was care, as did the curators themselves, and also our visitors. We ended up having a meaningful, personal and at times moving workshop day.
Inspiring Science Fund
2019–22
I was a project monitor for this fund, assisting with the redevelopment of Xplore! (Wrexham) and Eureka Science + Discovert (Merseyside). I acted as the point of contact between The Wellcome Trust and the individual centres, offering interpretive insight as part of the support process.
Group for Education in Museums
2021 – present
I mentor early- and mid-career professionals who want to explore how interpretation and audience research play a part in museum learning.
National Science and Media Museum, Bradford
2019-20
Working with a team of museum curatorial staff, I coached the curators towards an interpretive vision for two new galleries about Sound and Vision. The process involves taking time out of the regular working schedule, lots of questions and lots of sticky notes. Snacks help too.
Other clients commissioning speaking, teaching, coaching and workshops include…
National Galleries of Scotland – critical friend to the development of an interpretive strategy (2024)
Children’s Museum Jordan – training seminar in Amman and professional development tour of UK museums and science centres (2024)
Aberdeen Art Gallery Archives and Museum – interpretive text writing workshops (2024)
North East Scotland Heritage Forum – Writing great interpretive text and Exhibits on a shoestring training (2024)
University of Birmingham – developing public programming themes for public exhibitions and events (2022-25)
National Galleries of Scotland – facilitating audio guide planning workshops for the Scottish National Gallery (2022)
Association for Heritage Interpretation – conference presentation about behavioural change in museum exhibitions (2021)
Cultural Outreach Group, Buckinghamshire – presentation about interpretation during lockdown (2021)
Manchester Metropolitan University – talk to second year students Art Theory and Practice (2021)
Photographic Collections Network – webinar about interpreting archive photographs (2020)
Association for Heritage Interpretation – webinar about audience research as part of the interpretive process (2020)
ATS Heritage – webinar about planning for digital and analogue interpretation (2020)
University of Manchester – an undergraduate lecture on evaluation in the arts (2019)
East Cowes Classic Boat Museum, Isle of Wight – museum and interpretation text workshop (2018)
The Portico Library, Manchester – coaching a member of staff in public engagement techniques (2018)
Photographic Collections Network – archive photography interpretation workshop for PCN members (2018)
Preston Park Museum and Grounds, Stockon-on-Tees – museum interpretive voice workshops (2018)
University of Manchester – a workshop on freelancing after academia (2018)
The Auckland Project, Bishop Auckland – coaching a team towards a written interpretive style guide (2016-18)
Royal Horticultural Society – workshop on interpreting display stands for Chelsea Flower Show exhibitors (2016)
The National Archives – planning workshops for developing the public programme (2016)
Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, Derbyshire – team workshops exploring written text, in advance of preparing a new gallery (2015)
Czech Geological Survey – interpretation training for delegates on a visit to London (2015)
Greenwich Dance Agency, London – a development workshop on cross-over projects between dance and family engagement in the heritage sector (2015)
ATS Heritage – a workshop and toolkit for developing written brand and house style (2015)
Making the Most of Your Displays – interpretation skills development coaching for five museums in the south east (2014)
Chichester District Museum – text writing workshop in advance of their reinterpretation project (2011)
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery – presentation on combining oral history and narration in museum audio guides (2010)
Museum of Bristol – text writing workshop for the MShed project (2010)
HMS Belfast, London – formal learning sessions (2010)
Dulwich Picture Gallery, London – formal learning sessions (2009–10)
Croydon Museums Service – formal learning sessions (2007)
Imperial War Museum – formal learning sessions (2005)