June 2015: Town Museum Outcomes

Over two weeks, the town of Berkeley was transformed into a museum where the community became temporary curators of their own past. The Town Museum project proved to be an effective way to bring archaeology into community life at Berkeley. The community were pleased to be so actively included within our research efforts and applauded the project vocally. Local businesses also saw the project and associated media coverage as a means to promote their business and support the local economy. The community also improved their knowledge of history, archaeology of their local area, and artefact analysis.

Students chat with local business owners about the project (Photo credit: Graham & Julie Harris)

All stakeholders benefited from the project. Berkeley Castle were delighted to be able to share their history within the community, so as to enhance community relations, which is a priority for them. They also welcomed the possibility of increased publicity of their heritage site.The research efforts of the Department were showcased to great effect in a public venue.

2nd year student Alice setting up window display

Students developed an extensive range of transferable engagement-related skills, from communication to time management, and also enjoyed the experience. They valued the trust placed in them to lead the project and invested much personal time. Likewise, the community valued the trust given to them to become temporary curators of the artefacts.

1st year student Catalina places a poster on display (Photo credit: Graham & Julie Harris)

The project outcomes and impacts are sustainable as they directly relate to the ongoing engagement efforts tied to the BCP. The BCP will continue for years to come, and students have a three year track record of electing to volunteer their own time to the Engagement Team efforts that sit alongside this, setting a precedent that is likely to continue. Talks are in place to identify funding streams to support her coordinator post for future years.Outcomes and impacts were publically shared via the BCP social media channels the University even covered the story in a press release: http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2015/may/town-museum-project.html. Interest poured in from multiple directions online, and the Museums Association and Culture 24 also got in contact to cover the project.

Clay pipe tray

The project serves as an adaptable example of good engagement practice that can be shared widely across the University and the wider HE sector, including subject areas beyond archaeology (e.g. Engineering, Geography).

Contact: Aisling Tierney a.tierney@bristol.ac.uk

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June 2015: Designing the Town Museum Project

Recap

The Berkeley Castle Project (BCP) began in 2005 and set out to excavate and explore the archaeology of Berkeley Town, Gloucestershire.The annual excavations are tied to the formal curriculum. Within the BCP sits the “Engagement Team”, which students can elect to join, and which I manage in parallel to excavations. Engagement is fundamentally embedded within research, and teaching and learning efforts of the Department. Over the past three years, engagement efforts have placed students at the heart of community and public engagement, through free tours, artefact handling sessions, social media, etc.Students take their knowledge of archaeological research and hands-on fieldwork experience at Berkeley Castle, combined with their classroom learning, and transform it into a tangible engagement output. This is an excellent example of research-led teaching taken into engagement activity. The Town Museum Project is one of the many ‘mini projects’ co-run by students.

The project aims to take artefacts out of storage and into the public sphere

The Town Museum project

The aims of the project were:

• to identify an effective way to bring archaeology to the community of Berkeley
• to provide opportunities for students to enhance their engagement skills
• to showcase the archaeological research undertaken by the Department of Archaeology & Anthropology

The objectives were:

• to design a temporary exhibition of artefacts, (ensuring that each piece is properly labelled, catalogued, and photographed) for public display around the town of Berkeley
• to invite the community to participate in hosting a temporary display of excavated artefacts
• to place students at the heart of all activities (choosing artefacts, labelling and designing trays, creating poster content, one-to-one engagement directly with the community participants)
• to evaluate all aspects of the project, including student, stakeholders and participant reflections and feedback
• to work with our heritage stakeholder (owner of the artefacts), Berkeley Castle, and consider what activities could support their efforts and concerns
• to share the project model, outcomes and impacts as widely as possible

Regarding the stakeholders:

• Berkeley Castle, have facilitated and supported the project since its inception, giving permission for artefacts to go on public display and printing information materials as requested by the Engagement Team
• Twenty community participants include both private residences and commercial businesses throughout the town. They have signed an agreement to place display trays in their window and take care of them for up to two weeks
• The Department of Archaeology & Anthropology, through Dr. Stuart Prior, ensures the accuracy of the archaeological information shared by the project
• Our students, working electively on the project, volunteer their own time to ensure delivery

All students are welcome to join the Engagement Team!

Students are drawn from all levels, including first, second, and third year, and masters students. This provides an excellent opportunity for students to learn from each others, regardless of academic level. Of great importance is the chance for students at all levels to develop practical real-world skills.

Contact: Aisling Tierney a.tierney@bristol.ac.uk

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