Museum developments
Students from Weatherhead Media College filming the museum construction, as part of the Youth Champions project
The community engagement programme for the Museum of Liverpool has been working with groups across Merseyside to ensure that the new museum involves and reflects the aspirations of local people.
To date almost 10,000 people have taken part in community engagement events, including workshops, presentations, public update sessions, evening debates and other projects. For example, one aspect of the programme involves opportunities for community groups and interest associations to meet the team who are working on relevant aspects of the new museum, hear about latest developments, contribute ideas, and share concerns.
There are four main stakeholder groups involved in the development of the museum:
Museum demonstrator Dave Brown leading a tour of the museum construction site
The Museum of Liverpool teachers' stakeholder group meets once every six weeks to advise the community engagement team on all aspects of the project's development and ensure that the museum and its programme excites and meets the learning needs of students.
Teachers are able to advise our team, using their own ideas and experience, on a number of factors that will shape what's on offer when the museum opens.
Aspects covered in the group sessions include advising on the 'menu' of learning sessions available to groups, the design of hands-on interatives, the content of text, resources that will be available to supplement learning in class, and the on-site facilities currently being developed to ensure the museum will offer a streamlined and stress-free visit.
Through membership of the group, the museum team sometimes present opportunities for teachers to pilot and review programmes and interactives with pupils in the classroom. These 'test bed' sessions are always thoroughly enjoyed by all concerned!
The Museum of Liverpool team welcome further applications from learning practitioners with responsibility for children aged 0 - 18. If you are interested please email Helen Robinson.
The lastt teachers' stakeholder group session took place on Monday 28 September. The group meet at the waterfront site at 4.30pm with a bite to eat. Sessions always start with a presentation about the latest developments and challenges for the groups to consider, followed by workshops in groups according to ages of children taught. Travel expenses are provided and teachers are welcome to bring their own children should timing present difficulties in respect of childcare. The sessions usually finish by 6.30pm.
Here are just a few quotes about the project.
"Loved the Museum of Liverpool Life and glad this is replacing it with more on Liverpool"
"Everyone here loves their city and wants to know the whole story"
"Great to hear the overhead railway is back"
" This is a wonderful development"
"About time too"
"Is it really going to happen?"
"Will it be in way of the Three Graces?"
"Want to know more of our history and our thirst for knowledge"
"The building looks light and bright"
"We've been waiting for this"
" Looks like a ship, not dwarfing the beautiful waterfront"
"Like the modern look of the museum, looking to the future"
"It's great we have a whole gallery on the docks, got to include the smells too"
"Hate the shape of the building, but will be right there on opening day"
"It's a miracle, usually things like this would fall at the first hurdle - so proud to be a scouser with a place like this"
As part of the consultation process a series of public forums were held in 2007 and 2008 to discuss the themes of the main galleries. You can listen to podcasts of the key speakers from three of these forums, or read a transcript, on this website:
If you would like to get involved you can send Helen Robinson an email or contact her on 0151 478 4003.