#worldcollection

At the start of the project we travelled over to the conservation course at Lincoln University.

We’d offered student placements for the coproduced ‘notice nature feel joy’ gallery and wondered if any of the current team might wish to explore opportunities with us. Working on a live project is a great way  to put theoretical skills into practice, build a supportive network of people and experience the kind of fast paced problem solving that happens in a real museum setting.

The day we spent with the team was incredibly inspiring, we presented the aims and approach of the World Cultures project to 25 students, ten of whom have offered amazing support and picked up some solid experience here in the gallery. Some joined a playful music ideation session, others have offered expert advice and contacts connected to Maori objects, supporting the repatriation process of a human skull.

Nine months on we have 25 objects being expertly cared for in the university laboratory by some super smart students.

Here is one of the objects that will be arriving back in grater shape than when it left the museum stores

“I’m currently working with Derby Museums in conjunction with their new World Cultures exhibition opening later this year, I have had the luxury of working with this extraordinary Indian Figurine. In need of a little TLC, this plaster figure is likely to date to the 18/19th century from the Pune region and is 1 of 6 figures in the collection.” Kelly Grimshaw, student conservator