The Alternative Guide to Glasgow

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This project was aimed at audience development within the prison service and how arts organisations can effectively work in partnership with educational providers within this challenging environment. The challenges of working within the Criminal Justice service as an external facilitator are huge – barriers to engagement include the logistical difficulties of working within this environment in addition to economic, social and intellectual obstacles to learning, and this project provided insight into the challenges and some solutions around how to work successfully with the prison service.

The project aimed to increase the skill-base of the participants, to encourage them to continue to work on and improve their creativity and literacy, and to raise their self-esteem and social awareness. It was also hoped that offenders would forge stronger links with their communities, enabling them to feel more emotionally and physically involved in that community’s success. Both of these elements are seen at the heart of rehabilitation.

The Open Museum was asked to contribute to the wider ‘Pure Dead Brilliant’ project, lead by Gowan Calder, Writer-in-Residence at HMP Glenochil. The original group had been interested in reminiscing about Glasgow, and the initial idea had been to for The Open Museum to facilitate a straightforward series of object handling sessions over a period of 12 weeks.

By the third Open Museum session however, there was a noticeable shift in the group dynamics. Due to the nature of the prison service, most of the original group had moved on, and new people had joined. The group was now demographically younger, with little interest in reminiscing about an ‘old’ Glasgow they had never known.

We took stock and discussed ideas with the Gowan and the group. Inspiration came from works of art in our collection and the idea of the mapping the city emerged. We enlarged a basic map of Glasgow and pinned it to the wall of their learning room. Using objects to prompt different ideas and conversations, each person was invited to contribute creative writing and artwork to places on the map that were relevant to them.

The nature of the map idea allowed an eclectic mix, so that the work produced by the original group could also feature, and could be easily added to as the project grew.

The work was collated into a fold out leaflet, similar in design to a tourist style map of the city, and distributed to leaflet stands across Glasgow.

The idea was that they should have a feeling of responsibility for, and connection with, their community again. The mapping idea was relevant to the participants on a personal level, whilst contributing to the wider theme and collaboration; and informal enough to get individuals involved quickly and enthusiastically, and drew in everyone, regardless of literacy ability or confidence. This project has already inspired other projects within the Scottish Prison Service.

The importance of the partnership has increased our awareness of how each organisation works, and how these links can be strengthened. The Open Museum has a much firmer grasp of how education providers work within the SPS, and the complex challenges that have to be negotiated. The education providers within the SPS have a precedent of how museums can contribute and enhance their programmes, and are keen to work with the Open Museum on future projects.

At a wider level, we hope to create sustainable partnerships between Scottish Museums and the Scottish Prison Service and to give support to educators wishing to develop their experience in the ‘Learning and Access’ arena. A strategic partnership will provide the Scottish Prison Service with invaluable access to the museum’s collections and inspiration for further learning opportunities and future projects.
This project has already led to other partnerships. Most recently, Museums Galleries Scotland funded a digital storytelling project, lead by Stretch and supported by the Open Museum, using museum objects with Offenders at HMP Addiewell in Scotland (MGS Main Grants 2012-13). The project will act as a pivotal starting point to build an EU funded project between Leeds Museums, Norwegian Arts Council, The Open Museum, and the respective prison services in each of the three countries.
The research gathered will form a key part of a PhD entitled ‘Taking Museum Collections into Prisons’ which would be of immense value to museums and arts organisations, and inform the work that The Open Museum is currently undertaking in creating a strategic approach to object based learning in prisons.

3000 copies of the map were distributed to leaflet stands in Glasgow libraries and museums; targeted community venues in the East End of Glasgow; and to HMP Glenochil.

Formal evaluation for each session
End of project evaluation
Evaluation collated for the Scottish Book Trust
Body of work produced

For further information or a copy of the Alternative Guide to Glasgow, email: OpenMuseumEnquiries@glasgowlife.org.uk

Open Museum website: www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums

Case Study in ‘How Museums Can help You: MGS Government Survey’: www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/publications

Article in MGS Quarterly (MG:Q) Issue 18: www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/publications

Categories
Partnership
Evaluation
Research
Collections
Workforce Development
Learning
Access
Marketing
Grants

Project Start
1st Jan 2008

Project End
Ongoing

Published
20th Dec 2011

Who Led?
The Open Museum (Glasgow Museums, Glasgow Life)

Who else took part?

Gowan Calder, Writer-in-Residence at HMP Glenochil

Who Paid?
The Scottish Book Trust funded the Writer-in-Residence post at HMP Glenochil, and map publication

How Much?
Open Museum provided Curatorial and Design time. Publication of 3,000 copies of the Guide: £1,595