M&G NSW are counting down the weeks (1.5 weeks!) until the winners are announced on Friday 23 November at White Rabbit Gallery, Chippendale. Register now to be part of the excitement. Each fortnight we will be introducing you to the nominees and their exciting stories.
CATEGORY 1: COLLECTION MANAGEMENT
Port Macquarie undertook a Preservation Needs Assessment as recommended by a Collection Significance Assessment, both funded by Community Heritage Grants.
Spending time with the consultant during the assessment was a great learning experience for volunteers. They discussed best practices for pest control, object handling, adjusting lighting and reducing dust, implementing them before receiving the report.
Recommendations have been incorporated into the Strategic Plan and Exhibition & Display Program Plan. They have modified the way they handle objects and have implemented a regular display and cleaning schedule. Information from the report has assisted the Museum by supporting grant applications, budgeting for storage materials and completing a Disaster Preparedness Plan.
Queanbeyan and District Historical Museum Society
The Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery collection was housed in less than ideal conditions with outmoded climate control and poor protection from the elements. The previous off-site arrangements made it hard to fully utilise the collection and extreme weather made it difficult to plan the transportation of works.
By building an extension to the existing building that included environmental controls, loading dock, crate store, office area, an area dedicated to the storage of works on paper, and sliding racks for paintings the new storage space now meets the Gallery’s requirements. Staff have daily access to the collection, are able to research its history, manage conservation issues, develop new curated exhibitions and make it available to researchers and educators.
Corrective Services NSW
Corrective Services Museum, Cooma
The Museum is the guardian of many significant documents, images and recordings, including execution warrants for well-known bushrangers and personal letters by the last woman hanged in NSW.
In August 2011 the need for an immense digitisation project gained momentum. After extensive research, installation of the necessary technology and staff training, the State-wide Manager and assistant undertook the mammoth task of digitising the Museum’s collection. The intense process demanded a “non-stop” approach of unbroken operation.
Whilst the digitisation project remains an ongoing commitment, the bulk of items were digitised in the first half of 2012. Much of the collection is delicate and fragile and may eventually perish. Through digitising they will survive for generations, at the touch of a button.
In 2004 the Cullen family gifted 37 photographs by John William Lindt (1845 - 1926), including 34 of Aboriginal people. The question of their identity was pursued by the Lindt Research Group, with the support of Aboriginal Elders whose lands lie within the Clarence Valley.
The Gallery employed historian Nola Mackey to research and her report launched the Search for Identity project alongside an exhibition of the photographs.
A call to the community resulted in identifying three of the Aboriginal people and the descendants of one. This motivated Dreaming the Past: the Lindt Story, a 70 page full colour catalogue.
This project developed the significance of the photographs, provided exhibition development, community involvement and created the outline for a future publication.
Orange City Council
Sustainable Collections Project
The Sustainable Collections Project (SCP) is an annual regional museum program spanning the Central West Region of NSW, involving 16 museums. SCP supports volunteers conserving their heritage through museums, collections, exhibitions, and programs by delivering training, resource materials, marketing products, a web presence and assistance with collection management and curatorial work.
The drivers of the project emanate from the museum plan which describes the community driven need for a range of local projects.
Outcomes have included three major regional exhibitions researched, developed and showcased in Orange Regional Gallery; interpretative panels researched, designed, fabricated and installed for six museums; development of the migration heritage trail, a partnership project with The NSW Migration Heritage Centre and interpretation of the Wentworth Mine site at Lucknow.
Newcastle Maritime Museum
Beginning in 2007, this project involved moving and cataloguing the Newcastle Maritime Museum collection. Many objects had no accession number or documentation and faulty records indicated there were only 2,000 objects in the collection. With the project close to completion, 6,500 items are now recorded and all objects have an accession number and their location recorded.
Ten people were trained in cataloguing including preventative conservation, photography and numbering objects. Two volunteers have become proficient at dealing with rust and caring for organic materials.
Newcastle Maritime Museum wishes to recognise the work and passion of their volunteers, in particular three who have died in the past six months.
Shoalhaven City Arts Centre constructed an industry standard, climate controlled art storage facility. This was vital for valuable historic items including photographs and watercolours by both Samual Elyard and Jon Edward.
Because of this new facility, collection items can now be condition assessed, reviewed for exhibitions and easily accessed by researching educators. There also is now room to process and store safely incoming and outgoing exhibitions. Items are consistently photographed, updated in the database, digitised and made available on the Art Centre’s website.
The new facility was operational when a valuation of the collection was undertaken, assisting in a positive report from the valuer.
Any person working in a regional cultural facility has to wear many hats. As demanding as this is, the team at Albury LibraryMuseum have adopted a strategy for exhibition development and collection management. These are not exclusive; in fact, the more they tie together the greater the benefits for the collection and community.
An example is the Bonegilla Collection, which is of national significance. The process of the collection's exhibition development provided many collection benefits, including increased documentation, better care, digitisation advancements, new acquisitions, greater understanding of staff and improved access.
This process is not new, however this project demonstrates that cataloguing collections through to curating exhibitions are intrinsically interlinked.
In 2010 Neil Balnaves AO pledged to donate a million dollars worth of paintings from his private collection to the Gallery. This has been realised through a donation of 16 Australian Impressionist and early twentieth century works significant to the Mosman area.
The Balnaves Gift includes works by Arthur Streeton, Conrad Martens, Will Ashton, Henry Fullwood, Elioth Gruner, George Halstead, James Ranalph Jackson, Matthew Charles Meere, Adelaide Elizabeth Perry, Sydney Long, Ethel Carrick Fox and Margaret Preston. They form a substantial historical addition to the collection and have particular value for education.
In preparation for the launch, all works were assessed and received conservation treatment by specialist conservators. To adequately house these works, a new gallery space was created.
As part of the project WPCC created a new collection policy which allowed deaccessioning, offered objects to donors and other museums, identified objects for programs and conducted an auction, selling all but two of the objects that providing proceeds that went to collection care.
LEVEL A: VOLUNTEER RUN
Canowindra Historical Society & Museum
Canowindra Historical Society & Museum
This project assessed the significance and of the Museum’s lucerne farming collection. Lucerne is an important crop to Canowindra’s development. Although farmed in many locations, its history is not well documented.
Before embarking on the project, objects were scattered through the Museum in order of acquisition and generally the only recorded information was the donor’s name. Volunteers conducted research, oral histories, significance assessments, cataloguing, relocating objects and creating descriptive labels revealing many significant objects and information. For example, members traced a farmer who used a Mudgee press (horse powered baler), who provided an oral history, photographs and other related objects.
The collection is now accessible to the public and object conditions can be monitored.
Old Courthouse Museum
Before embarking on the project, objects were scattered through the Museum in order of acquisition and generally the only recorded information was the donor’s name. Volunteers conducted research, oral histories, significance assessments, cataloguing, relocating objects and creating descriptive labels revealing many significant objects and information. For example, members traced a farmer who used a Mudgee press (horse powered baler), who provided an oral history, photographs and other related objects.
The collection is now accessible to the public and object conditions can be monitored.
Old Courthouse Museum
Appreciating the need to adopt new standards in museum practice, the Historical Society participated in the 2011 M&G NSW Standards Program. As a result, they adopted the collection management system, MOSAiC.
With thousands of uncatalogued objects, the database team donated their time to learn the system and visit other museums with MOSAiC to gain experience. Based on this research, the team designed new object forms based on the screen layout and implemented an object photographing process. The team has become familiar with website research tools, enhancing exhibitions as a by-product.
Port Macquarie Historical Society & Museum
With thousands of uncatalogued objects, the database team donated their time to learn the system and visit other museums with MOSAiC to gain experience. Based on this research, the team designed new object forms based on the screen layout and implemented an object photographing process. The team has become familiar with website research tools, enhancing exhibitions as a by-product.
Port Macquarie Historical Society & Museum
Port Macquarie undertook a Preservation Needs Assessment as recommended by a Collection Significance Assessment, both funded by Community Heritage Grants.
Spending time with the consultant during the assessment was a great learning experience for volunteers. They discussed best practices for pest control, object handling, adjusting lighting and reducing dust, implementing them before receiving the report.
Recommendations have been incorporated into the Strategic Plan and Exhibition & Display Program Plan. They have modified the way they handle objects and have implemented a regular display and cleaning schedule. Information from the report has assisted the Museum by supporting grant applications, budgeting for storage materials and completing a Disaster Preparedness Plan.
Queanbeyan and District Historical Museum Society
Over the last few years the Society in partnership with Queanbeyan City Council has implemented the recommendations from their 2008 Preservation Assessment Survey. At that time the collection was wrapped in newspaper and stored in different shaped boxes throughout the Museum.
Since 2008 the collection has been catalogued into Mosaic and rehoused according to recommended standards in a secure purpose designed store. The Society works on the collection by assessing significance and priorities. Data entry is done by a cataloguer and trained Society members.
Society members are now embarking on de-accessioning material that doesn’t fit collection guidelines.
These processes have taken much hard work over the last few years but the Queanbeyan and District Historical Museum Society is very proud of their achievements.
CATEGORY 1: COLLECTION MANAGEMENT
LEVEL B: 1-4 PAID STAFF
Broken Hill City Council Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery
Since 2008 the collection has been catalogued into Mosaic and rehoused according to recommended standards in a secure purpose designed store. The Society works on the collection by assessing significance and priorities. Data entry is done by a cataloguer and trained Society members.
Society members are now embarking on de-accessioning material that doesn’t fit collection guidelines.
These processes have taken much hard work over the last few years but the Queanbeyan and District Historical Museum Society is very proud of their achievements.
CATEGORY 1: COLLECTION MANAGEMENT
LEVEL B: 1-4 PAID STAFF
Broken Hill City Council Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery
The Broken Hill Regional Art Gallery collection was housed in less than ideal conditions with outmoded climate control and poor protection from the elements. The previous off-site arrangements made it hard to fully utilise the collection and extreme weather made it difficult to plan the transportation of works.
By building an extension to the existing building that included environmental controls, loading dock, crate store, office area, an area dedicated to the storage of works on paper, and sliding racks for paintings the new storage space now meets the Gallery’s requirements. Staff have daily access to the collection, are able to research its history, manage conservation issues, develop new curated exhibitions and make it available to researchers and educators.
Corrective Services NSW
Corrective Services Museum, Cooma
The Museum is the guardian of many significant documents, images and recordings, including execution warrants for well-known bushrangers and personal letters by the last woman hanged in NSW.
In August 2011 the need for an immense digitisation project gained momentum. After extensive research, installation of the necessary technology and staff training, the State-wide Manager and assistant undertook the mammoth task of digitising the Museum’s collection. The intense process demanded a “non-stop” approach of unbroken operation.
Whilst the digitisation project remains an ongoing commitment, the bulk of items were digitised in the first half of 2012. Much of the collection is delicate and fragile and may eventually perish. Through digitising they will survive for generations, at the touch of a button.
Grafton Regional Gallery
In 2004 the Cullen family gifted 37 photographs by John William Lindt (1845 - 1926), including 34 of Aboriginal people. The question of their identity was pursued by the Lindt Research Group, with the support of Aboriginal Elders whose lands lie within the Clarence Valley.
The Gallery employed historian Nola Mackey to research and her report launched the Search for Identity project alongside an exhibition of the photographs.
A call to the community resulted in identifying three of the Aboriginal people and the descendants of one. This motivated Dreaming the Past: the Lindt Story, a 70 page full colour catalogue.
This project developed the significance of the photographs, provided exhibition development, community involvement and created the outline for a future publication.
Orange City Council
Sustainable Collections Project
The Sustainable Collections Project (SCP) is an annual regional museum program spanning the Central West Region of NSW, involving 16 museums. SCP supports volunteers conserving their heritage through museums, collections, exhibitions, and programs by delivering training, resource materials, marketing products, a web presence and assistance with collection management and curatorial work.
The drivers of the project emanate from the museum plan which describes the community driven need for a range of local projects.
Outcomes have included three major regional exhibitions researched, developed and showcased in Orange Regional Gallery; interpretative panels researched, designed, fabricated and installed for six museums; development of the migration heritage trail, a partnership project with The NSW Migration Heritage Centre and interpretation of the Wentworth Mine site at Lucknow.
Newcastle Maritime Museum
Beginning in 2007, this project involved moving and cataloguing the Newcastle Maritime Museum collection. Many objects had no accession number or documentation and faulty records indicated there were only 2,000 objects in the collection. With the project close to completion, 6,500 items are now recorded and all objects have an accession number and their location recorded.
Ten people were trained in cataloguing including preventative conservation, photography and numbering objects. Two volunteers have become proficient at dealing with rust and caring for organic materials.
Newcastle Maritime Museum wishes to recognise the work and passion of their volunteers, in particular three who have died in the past six months.
Shoalhaven City Arts Centre
Shoalhaven City Arts Centre constructed an industry standard, climate controlled art storage facility. This was vital for valuable historic items including photographs and watercolours by both Samual Elyard and Jon Edward.
Because of this new facility, collection items can now be condition assessed, reviewed for exhibitions and easily accessed by researching educators. There also is now room to process and store safely incoming and outgoing exhibitions. Items are consistently photographed, updated in the database, digitised and made available on the Art Centre’s website.
The new facility was operational when a valuation of the collection was undertaken, assisting in a positive report from the valuer.
CATEGORY 1: COLLECTION MANAGEMENT
LEVEL C: 5-20 PAID STAFF
Albury LibraryMuseum
LEVEL C: 5-20 PAID STAFF
Albury LibraryMuseum
Any person working in a regional cultural facility has to wear many hats. As demanding as this is, the team at Albury LibraryMuseum have adopted a strategy for exhibition development and collection management. These are not exclusive; in fact, the more they tie together the greater the benefits for the collection and community.
An example is the Bonegilla Collection, which is of national significance. The process of the collection's exhibition development provided many collection benefits, including increased documentation, better care, digitisation advancements, new acquisitions, greater understanding of staff and improved access.
This process is not new, however this project demonstrates that cataloguing collections through to curating exhibitions are intrinsically interlinked.
Mosman Art Gallery
In 2010 Neil Balnaves AO pledged to donate a million dollars worth of paintings from his private collection to the Gallery. This has been realised through a donation of 16 Australian Impressionist and early twentieth century works significant to the Mosman area.
The Balnaves Gift includes works by Arthur Streeton, Conrad Martens, Will Ashton, Henry Fullwood, Elioth Gruner, George Halstead, James Ranalph Jackson, Matthew Charles Meere, Adelaide Elizabeth Perry, Sydney Long, Ethel Carrick Fox and Margaret Preston. They form a substantial historical addition to the collection and have particular value for education.
In preparation for the launch, all works were assessed and received conservation treatment by specialist conservators. To adequately house these works, a new gallery space was created.
Western Plains Cultural Centre
WPCC’s deacession project saw 1000 objects deaccessioned beginning with a significance assessment of the Dubbo Regional Museum collection. In addition, WPCC had duplicates and gaps in thematic areas because of the collection's beginnings - commited amateurs with large sheds.
As part of the project WPCC created a new collection policy which allowed deaccessioning, offered objects to donors and other museums, identified objects for programs and conducted an auction, selling all but two of the objects that providing proceeds that went to collection care.
Images of the various education programs, exhibitions and other activities of museums and galleries in NSW are courtesy of the 2012 IMAGinE nominees.
