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Tain Silver – The Collection
Why is this case study relevant?
The museum is developing a core part of its collection whilst building capacity and strengthening collections care skills.
What were the aims of the project?
Curator Morag Bremner identified several key aims in her HLF application:
• develop the silver collection by acquisition, research and publication
• build closer relationships with other museums
• display and interpret the collection
• train volunteers in its care and interpretation
The project is staged in three phases:
• acquisition and research
• developing resources and interpretation
• public access
What happened?
At this point we are still in the purchasing phase and research is progressing well with much new information coming to light. New contacts are being developed and old ones strengthened with auction houses, silver experts and scholars. So far we have purchased at auction: a Richard Wilkie salt spoon; 2 Hugh Ross table spoons; 5 Alexander Stewart teaspoons with various inscriptions and 1 mashing or masking spoon; 2 John Sellar teaspoons; William Innes sugar tongs and an Alexander Stewart wine label. Research is being carried out by Estelle Quick, our Curatorial Advisor and expert on Tain Silver.
Some training on evaluation has been undertaken by a volunteer with Evaluation Support Scotland and more is planned to ensure the proper evaluation of this project. The added benefit is that we can then apply this skill to other projects and activities within the museum. Volunteers will also undertake training on care of the silver and on how they can present the collection to the public using facts, anecdotes and different methods of interacting with the visitors in a museum context.
The next phase will involve:
• making a film about the silver
• redesigning the silver exhibition space
• photographing the silver collection and publishing a catalogue
• preparing an education pack
• developing two talks about the collection.
Finally, the public phase of the project will progress during 2011/12 with demonstrations on silver making, a public talk by a silver expert, presentations of the prepared talks to local community groups, the education pack made available to schools, new purchases added to the museum website and research published. The project will be brought to a close in June 2013.
What was learned?
Although still guided by our Curatorial Advisor more of our volunteers have a better understanding of the practical aspects of acquisition and thereafter in the documentation process in recording, analysing and cataloguing. We are early into the project but I suspect I will find out what I haven’t allowed for in the next year!
What is the wider relevance?
The research value and potential of the collection will be developed and this project will enable future partnerships and greater public access to a very important part of Tain’s heritage. Several aspects of business development are being realised in terms of capitalising on what the museum has to offer to new and existing audiences and the volunteer training is developing skills and building capacity.
How was this project promoted?
Public launch by HLF at start of project, local press and ongoing opportunities.
What type of evaluation was done?
Training has been undertaken – work in progress. Throughout the project evaluation will be ongoing and the results will be made available to all interested parties and published on our website.
For Further Information
Contact Morag Bremner at e-mail: mrossbremner@aol.com or tel: 01862 894089
Associated Images
Categories
Collections
Workforce Development
Access
Project Start
1st Jun 2008
Project End
Ongoing
Published
25th Aug 2010
Who Led?
Tain and District Museum Trust
Who else took part?
Evaluation Support Scotland.
Who Paid?
Heritage Lottery Fund - Collecting Cultures
How Much?
£98,400.00