As well as a store, the centre is a learning hub; a workshop for technical and conservation teams; a research facility; and is where collections management is seen in action and becomes a source of inspiration.
The building is used by staff and contractors, and has about 1,500 visitors every year.
This multifunctional store is not a place that remains dormant for the objects to be forgotten. It is a working site.
To achieve and maintain the current level of access, the team has worked hard to attain a balance between site maintenance, access and the long-term preservation of the collection.
In order to achieve this balance and create a museum store where creativity, engagement and platforms for interpretation of the collection can transpire, we had to address the practicalities that can come from a working store.
The site requires the management of:
- facilities and routine maintenance on the building;
- health and safety, site inductions and building checklists;
- people, to ensure there are sufficient members of staff on site to cover planned activities;
- bookings and contractors, so we know who is on site and what areas they are working in;
- hazards in collections and restricted areas.
Unless daily activities are co-ordinated and planned, barriers can occur that make access difficult.
Through effective site management we are able to provide a safe and
accessible environment for public engagement.
We have developed a number of interpretative and interactive activities that appeal to a wide range of people, including: the general public; schools, colleges and universities; researchers (academics and enthusiasts); people working in the arts, films and TV; special interest groups; and museum professionals.
Over the years these events have highlighted to us what different groups expect from a museum store environment.
For example, during a pilot of study tours we discovered that, although a tour guide was appreciated, the public did not think they were necessary. When you walk into an Aladdin’s cave like the museum collections centre, the last thing you want is to be told to focus on one object out of the thousands that are catching your eye.
With this in mind, we created open afternoons on the last Friday of every month. This is a facilitated tour, rather than a guided tour, where the public can explore for an hour and half with a guide available for questions.
These monthly tours allow the collections to be accessed on a regular basis, and provides a different type of visitor experience to one of the trust’s museum or heritage sites.
Tours of storage facilities allow for closer interaction with the objects and provide an insight into what goes on behind the scene to preserve the city’s heritage.
Once a year we hold an open day. We’ve found that the general public prefer to explore at their leisure, rather than have an organised tour.
The open day, which has a different theme each year from natural history to circus activities and bus rallies, has proved popular and attracts visitors from all over the region.
But we do find that visitor figures can fluctuate. The key to maintaining the figures hinges on targeted advertising and a pick and mix offer of activities.
In 2015 we promoted the open day as an opportunity to come and explore Birmingham Museums stored collections and see how and why we care for them.
Different teams from across the museum service contributed. The conservation team discussed “what’s eating our collection”, while curators spoke about what we collect and why.
Our visitor figures increased by 70% compared to the previous year, and 100% of visitors said they had enjoyed their visit.
We also offer opportunities for people to work with the site and the collections.
For educational groups we have activities conducted by staff from
across the museum service, and self-led workshops.
Our collections cover an extensive range of subject areas, which opens up a multitude of creative projects. For example, students created natural history-inspired costume creations after an insect sketch day. We have also had museum studies students from Leicester University visit for collections handling, management and storage.
Being open to new ideas has helped us think outside the box. Working with a variety of groups with different perspectives has opened up the environment and the collection for new opportunities and a sense of possibility; something we aim to achieve with our collection, whether it’s on display or in storage.
Tips on providing open access to stores:
Emily Locke is the collections support officer at Birmingham Museums Trust. She will discuss open access storage at the forthcoming MP seminar, Off The Shelf: Making Storage Work For You, at the British Museum on 17 March
