Heritage Herald Welcome I never thought museums were for me! I enjoy volunteering here Retired volunteer Welcome to the first newsletter for volunteers working at Hull Museums and the History Centre. Whether you have been volunteering for a long time or just interested in learning about opportunities within the museum this newsletter is for you! Within this monthly newsletter, you can see the wide-ranging volunteering opportunities that we have for people of all ages and interests. Diverse projects such as working on exhibitions; gardening, and helping at children's activities are only a few of the many activities on offer. Contact Kevin our Heritage Volunteer Coordinator, if you want a chat to discuss how you can help us - just phone him on 01482 613940. Hurrah for Hockney Bigger Trees Near Warter A prestigious exhibition featuring the work of the world-famous artist, David Hockney has arrived at Ferens Art Gallery. The exhibition is titled, Bigger Trees Near Warter. It opened on 25th June and is on until 18th September 2011. The exhibition focuses on one large canvas that Hockney painted of a local scene near Warter, East Yorkshire. Over 8,000 people have visited this exhibition so far! Are you interested in art, want to develop and learn new skills? Then please get involved with our special Hockney Volunteer project. Research the artist, learn about the painting, and help us protect this huge artwork whilst delivering tours to visitors as one of our Hockney Volunteer specialists. To express your interest in getting involved please contact James McGuire e- mail: james.mcguire@hullcc.gov.uk Tel: 01482 616441 1
F.S. Smith s Hull Then and Now Hull s New Exhibition! A collection of 35 pen and ink drawings which show a unique side of Hull are to go on display at the Maritime Museum between May and September. The exhibition, which has involved local volunteers in taking photographs and compiling research, also features written memories from local people. The drawings, created around 100 years ago by artist Frederick Shultz Smith, offer a unique snapshot of city streets in the Victorian era before street photography became more common. The exhibition will also feature modern photographs of the same views today so visitors can compare how much Hull has changed as a result of suburban expansion, bombing in the Second World War and urban regeneration. Local historian Paul Gibson has compiled a book of the drawings entitled Images of Victorian Hull: F. S. Smith s Drawings (Volume 3), which compliments two popular previous volumes published in the 1980s. The book will be on sale at Hull Maritime Museum. Volunteer Profile: Malcolm Giles How did you get involved in Heritage? I attended a reminiscence session at Ings library in Hull held by Hull Museums. My mum worked at Reckitts during the 1930s and I ended up talking about Black lead and Brasso with the person next to me! I am really interested in reminiscence as it can trigger so many memories so I thought museums sounded interesting. I love the museums; to see how life was like for my parents and grandparents. I am also going to volunteer for the Hockney exhibition as I have time on my hands and want to help in any way I can. 2
What have you been involved in lately? I attended a reminiscence session related to the F.S. Smith s Hull Then and Now exhibition which is currently on at the Hull Maritime Museum. A group of us chatted to the Assistant Curator, Susan Capes on our memories of Hull. My quotes were used in the exhibition and I was quite embarrassed about it (but he was laughing when he said this!) I volunteer a couple of hours a week and have made some friends. There are so many things to do! Getting to Know You Who s Who in the Museum Service Each month we shall be interviewing people who work within the Heritage Service to find out a little bit more of what they do and why. This month sees the turn of Susan Capes whose is an Assistant Curator (Projects). When did you joined the museum and why? I first joined in 2005 as a Documentation Assistant because I had a love of history and wanted to make it accessible to the public. I m from Hull so it made it all the more special that I could work with objects from my home city. That s when I found out what amazing and wide ranging collections we have at Hull Museums. Can you tell us a little bit about your particular role? I work with the collections in various ways, from documenting and packing them in a way that keeps them safe, to interpreting them for display in exhibitions. In particular I look after the social history and costume collections at Hands on History, which means caring for anything from a rare 17 th century shoe to a 1990s Christmas card! And finally please describe in no more than 5 words what the museum means to you Somewhere you ll never be bored! 3
Volunteering Full List There are various projects and venues that you can volunteer within the heritage sector. Just contact Kevin Delaney. Kevin Delaney Heritage Volunteer Co-coordinator Kevin.delaney@hullcc.gov.uk 01482 613940 Marketing & Events Opportunity Hull History Centre General office duties including stewarding for event as and when they take place. Distribution of flyers Friendly and someone who enjoys meeting the public. An interest in history is desirable Flexible Administration assistance. Museum Heritage (35 High Street) To check and input data into Outlook and transfer this information onto spreadsheets Previous data input experience;t experience,knowledge of spreadsheets and databases. Used to handling data & an interest in Museums & education Essential Requirements: Able to input data accurately/reliable & trustworthy/positive attitude/patient/good basic literacy and numeracy skills. 3-4 hours a week 4
Exhibition Invigilation Hull Maritime Museum Invigilation of exhibitions at Maritime Museum. There is a chance of visitor engagement Interest in History, particularly Second World War and Free Polish Army's involvement (for future exhibition), Good customer skills. Take enquiries (to be answered by curatorial staff) Ability to stand/sit for an hour Need to be committed to regular slots of your own choosing over a period of 3 months Administration opportunity Museum Heritage (35 High Street) Copying and transferring of files between different media. Competent user of basic computer operations. Familiar with Microsoft office applications including Outlook. Hours to suit IT Opportunity Museum Heritage (35 High Street) Copying and transferring of files between different media. Competent user of basic computer operations. Familiar with Microsoft office applications including Outlook. Hours to suit Helping to trace ancestry? Hull History Centre 5
To help at the monthly Family History Helpdesk Interest in Family History, experience of Ancestry, Microfiche, or willingness to learn. Thursdays 10-12am every month Green fingers? Ferens Art gallery Garden Maintenance of Sculpture Court at Ferens Art Gallery. The area is constantly covered with weeds and plant growth.duties required are general weeding and trimming back of plant growth. General gardening/maintenance skills Weekly/Monthly hours to suit Museum family activities All over the museum sites Helping with family workshops over the school holidays throughout the year. Volunteers are wanted to help create activities, get material together and assist curatorial staff on the day. Likes working with children, creative and is friendly 2 hours per event plus an hour for preparing and cleaning up. Supporting Seasonal events? All over the museum sites Helping special events such as the Christmas Event, Remembrance Day and Summerthemed events. 6
Likes working with children, friendly and willing to dress up for the themed events (this is optional!) 1 day per event, up to 4 days a year Supporting History Centre events and activities Hull History Centre To research, develop and help deliver informal activities for families and adults over the summer. Experience with working with children, creative and looking for musical ability (this is optional) 2 hours per week Green fingers required? Large Museum Store Garden Maintenance around the store.the area is constantly covered with weeds and plant growth. Duties required are general weeding and trimming back of plant growth. General gardening/maintenance skills. Volunteers need to supply equipment Weekly/Monthly hours to suit Ship Shape for the Shanty Festival? Spurn Light Ship To clean and prepare the Spurn Light Ship ready to open to the public ready for 21 st July or around that time. Cleaning skills. Ability to work in confined spaces and be able to access and move 7
around ships quarters and ladders. Flexible to suit Hockney Bigger Trees Exhibition Opportunities Ferens Art Gallery To invigilate the exciting Hockney exhibition which attracts thousands of visitors each week! Invigilators for this popular exhibition. Engagement with the visitor. Rota 10am-1.30pm & 1.30pm- 5.00pm (Sun. 1.30-4.30pm) Current Exhibitions and Events Ferens Art Gallery Bigger Trees Near Warter 25 June 18 September 2011 Artist Rooms: Francesca Woodman (1958-1981) 11 June 23 October 2011 Streetlife Museum Precious Cargo 3 September December 2011 Hull Maritime Museum F.S. Smith s Hull Then and Now 9 th May 11 th September 2011 Events and Activities Saturday 23 rd July, 11-3pm @ Museums Quarter Victorious Vikings People needed to help with workshops, guides and dressing up! 8
Saturday 3 rd September, 10-3pm @ Museums Quarter Big Bus Day Family Fun day run in partnership with East Yorkshire Motor Services with crafts, tours and more. We need people for the workshops and assisting the public. Children s Summer Activities Volunteers are needed for the following children s workshops to help set the workshop up and help families when needed. You would need to get there half an hour before the workshop starts and be expected to help afterwards to clean up. Please wear suitable clothing! Please see below for full list: Monday 25 th July, 11-1pm Title: Mix it up Create your own beautiful landscape jigsaw puzzle inspired by the display in Gallery 8. Where Ferens Wednesday 27 th July, 11-3pm Summer Picnic Bring your own picnic to enjoy on our beautiful lawn accompanied by live music, games and craft activities. Where - Hull History Centre Thursday 28 th July, 11-1pm Treasure quest Race the other pirates and be the first to the treasure! Create your own treasure map game. Where - Maritime Museum Thurs 28 th July, 1-3pm Creative Celts Build your own Celtic round house and learn about what life was like in Iron Age Yorkshire. Where - Hull and East Riding Museum 9
Friday 29 th July 11-1pm Behind the Mask Get inspired by African masks, design and make your own colourful mask to take home. Where Wilberforce House Friday 29 th July 1-3pm Tear it up! Taking inspiration from some of Ferens modern art, cut, rip and tear different materials to create your own textured artwork. Where Ferens Art Gallery Monday 1 st August, 11-1pm Paper Pyramids Design your own paper pyramid and decorate it with secret ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Where - Hands on History Monday 1 st August, 1-3pm Out on the Tiles Make your own painted tile inspired by Medieval and Victorian designs. Where - Hull and East Riding Museum Tuesday 2 nd August, 1.00pm -3.00pm Treasure Quest Race the other pirates and be the first to the treasure! Create your own treasure map game. Where - Maritime Museum Wednesday 3 rd August, 11-3pm Summer Picnic Bring your own picnic to enjoy on our beautiful lawn accompanied by live music, games and craft activities. Where - Hull History Centre Thursday, 4 th August, 1-3pm Jousting! Create your own medieval tournament and joust your noble knights. Where - Hull & East Riding Museum 10
Friday 5 th August, 11-1pm Punch and Judy Puppets Recreate the Victorian seaside spectacle and make your favourite Punch and Judy character. Where - Hands on History Museums Friday 5 th August, 1-3pm Not what your eyes think! Using some of Ferens mysterious paintings as inspiration design your own cryptic image or trick picture! Where - Ferens Art Gallery Saturday 6 th August, 1-3pm Not what your eyes think! Using some of Ferens mysterious paintings as inspiration design your own cryptic image or trick picture! Where Ferens Art Gallery Monday 8 th August, 1-3pm Game on! Create your own fun board game to play at home with your friends and family! Where Hands on History Tuesday 9 th August, 1-3pm Here fishy-fishy Make a colourful fishing game using our galleries as inspiration. Where Maritime Museum Wednesday 10 th August, 11-3pm Summer Picnic Bring your own picnic to enjoy on our beautiful lawn accompanied by live music, games and craft activities. Where - Hull History Centre Wednesday 10 th August. 1-3pm Make-A-Mummy! Come face to face with our 2,600 year old mummy! Find out about the mummification process and have a go at making your very own mummy! 11
Where - Hands on History Thursday 11 th August, 1-3pm Jousting! Create your own medieval tournament and joust your noble knights. Where - Hull & East Riding Museum Friday 12 th August, 1-3pm Tear it up! Taking inspiration from some of Ferens modern art, cut, rip and tear different materials to create your own textured artwork. Where - Ferens Art Gallery Monday 15 th August, 11-1pm Mix it up Create your own beautiful landscape jigsaw puzzle inspired by the display in Gallery 8. Where Ferens Art Gallery Monday 15 th August, 1-3pm Design-A- Shield! In battle Knights used shields with colours and symbols to let everyone know who they were. Create your own personalised shield to take away. Where Hull and East Riding Museum Tuesday 16 th August, 1-3pm He s Behind You! Get inspired by our puppet theatre to create your own miniature version and peg people characters. Where- Hands on History Museum Wednesday 17 th August, 11-1pm Be Seen at Sea Design a colourful flag and transfer it on to a fridge magnet! Where Maritime Museum Wednesday 17 th August, 11-3pm Summer Picnic Bring your own picnic to enjoy on our beautiful lawn accompanied by live music, games and craft activities. Where - Hull History Centre 12
Thursday 18 th August, 1-3pm Medieval marvels Create your own fabulous medieval stained glass window Where Hull and East Riding Museum Friday 19 th August, 1-3pm Not what your eyes think! Using some of Ferens mysterious paintings as inspiration design your own cryptic image or trick picture! Where Ferens Art Gallery Saturday 20 th August, 11-1pm Time Troopers: Tree s a crowd! Take inspiration from David Hockney s Bigger Trees Near Warter and create your own tree sculpture. Where - Ferens Art Gallery Monday 22 nd August, 11-1pm Here fishy-fishy Make a colourful fishing game using our galleries as inspiration. Where- Maritime Museum Monday 22 nd August, 1-3pm Out on the Tiles Make your own painted tile inspired by Medieval and Victorian designs. Where- Hull and East Riding Museum Tuesday 23 rd August, 1-3pm Game On! Create your own fun board game to play at home with your friends and family Where: Hands on History Wednesday 24 th August, 11-3pm Summer Picnic Bring your own picnic to enjoy on our beautiful lawn accompanied by live music, games and craft activities. Where - Hull History Centre 13
Wednesday 24th August, 11-1pm Animal magic Create your own animal masks Where Wilberforce Museum Wednesday 24th August, 12-2pm Streetscene collage Create your own streetscene collage, inspired by Streetlife s cars, buses and trams. Where Streetlife Museum Wednesday 24th August, 1-3pm Make-A-Mummy! Come face to face with our 2,600 year old mummy! Find out about the mummification process and have a go at making your very own mummy! Where- Hands on History Museum Thursday 25th August, 1-3pm He s Behind You! Get inspired by our puppet theatre to create your own miniature version and make your characters from pegs. Where- Hands on History Saturday 26 th August, 1-3pm Poster Art Celebrate the arrival of our new locomotive and make your own poster inspired by the golden age of railway travel. Where - Streetlife Saturday 27 th August, 1-3pm Sun flag Summer s Here! Make your own sunny Sun flag Where Wilberforce House Monday 29 th August, 1-3pm Jungle roll craft Make a jungle animal of your choice using roll craft Where Wilberforce House 14
Wednesday 31 st August, 11-1pm Design-A- Shield! In battle Knights used shields with colours and symbols to let everyone know who they were. Create your own personalised shield to take away. Where Hull and East Riding Museum Thursday 1 st September, 1-3pm Paper Pyramids Design your own paper pyramid and decorate it with secret ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs. Where Hands on History Friday 2 nd September, 11-1pm Fantasy Landscapes Collage your own fantasy landscape inspired by David Hockney s Bigger Trees Near Warter and the display in Gallery 8. Where Ferens Art Gallery Friday 2 nd September, 1-3pm Streetscene collage Create your own streetscene collage, inspired by Streetlife s cars, buses and trams Where Streetlife Interested in Volunteering in Hockney? Please read below: Briefing note for staff and volunteers: Thanks to you all for your help so far with the Hockney. We have had over 10,000 visitors to see the exhibition plus lots of positive media coverage; radio, tv and press. We have reviewed volunteer needs for Gallery 7 and from Saturday 2 July propose to revise the current arrangement with a single volunteer. We will double up on weekends (which are often busier) with two volunteers. The good news is that volunteers will now support a member of the front of house team permanently situated in Gallery 7, as today we have had official confirmation of provision of paid staffing/ permanent invigilation for the duration of the Hockney exhibition. 15
A new fortnightly volunteer rota has been set up the first one runs from Sat 2 July to Friday 15 July and your help is needed please in covering the halfday shift patterns mornings 10am 1.30pm and afternoons 1.30pm 5pm (Sundays 1.30pm 4.30pm)- which will replace existing arrangements from 2 July. Copies of the updated volunteer rota will be made available to you and the front of house team every two weeks. Unless visitor volumes increase significantly you will probably not require twoway radios but we will have them on hand in case of crowds. Please note that we have relaxed the no prams rule as so far there has been plenty of space to accommodate them without problems. We do however still need to reinforce no food or drink and no photography. I d be grateful if you can report to the front of house team on arrival 5 minutes before your shift starts so that you are ready to begin invigilation at 10am or at 1.30pm to relieve the colleague ending their shift. Coats, bags and any valuables can be stored in the control room (a secure area) at the main entrance and access provided by the front of house team. If you are unable to come in please call front of house as soon as possible to let them know so that alternative arrangements can be made if necessary. If you have any queries or difficulties- no matter how large or small- please let me know as the use of volunteers on this scale is new to us all and I will be reviewing and responding to the feedback from visitors, volunteers and staff as we go. Thanks again for your support. Kirsten Simister Curator of Art 16
EXAMPLE: please contact James regarding your availability. Ferens Art Gallery, Hockney Volunteer Invigilator Fortnightly Rota DATE WEEK ONE 10am - 1 30pm 1 30pm - 5pm (Sun 4 30pm) 2.7.2011 Saturday 3.7.2011 Sunday 4.7.2011 Monday 5.7.2011 Tuesday 6.7.2011 Wednesday 7.7.2011 Thursday 8.7.2011 Friday DATE WEEK TWO 10am - 1 30pm 1 30 pm - 5pm (Sun 4 30pm) 9.7.2011 Saturday 10.7.2011 Sunday 11.7.2011 Monday 12.7.2011 Tuesday 13.7.2011 Wednesday 14.7.2011 Thursday 15.7.2011 Friday Please arrive 5 minutes before your shift is due to start and report to the front desk. If for any reason you are unable to attend please call 01482 613933 as soon as possible. Thank you for your support. For volunteering for the Hockney exhibition, please contact: James McGuire Audience Development Officer James.mcguire@hullcc.gov.uk 01482 316441 17
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