Committee Role Highlights: Web Officer

Serving as Web Officer on the UKRG committee has been hugely rewarding. The first thing I’d say, if you’re considering applying, is that you don’t necessarily need a great deal of technical expertise before taking on the role. You’ll be responsible for liaising with the company who provide our web support, Awesem, for checking that the site works, for reporting web stats at the AGM and for renewing licenses and updating content as necessary. You’ll get a handbook on how to do all of this. 

At some of our Event venues: the Canal Museum (above) and the old Design Museum (below)

That said, one of the big highlights of the role for me has been learning about, and developing experience of, website admin. I also led on a project to overhaul the website’s content, which was a very rewarding opportunity to ensure the website remains a useful and usable resource. It’s also developed my negotiation skills, advocating for UKRG’s needs to the Web Support Company and advocating to the committee the reasons for spending money on the website.

Panel Discussion at the event in Manchester, April 2016

Being part of the UKRG committee has given me lots of other amazing opportunities – from getting to know the rest of the committee to having the opportunity to give input on major sector issues. I was also very lucky to attend the European Registrars Conference in Vienna, which was a fantastic opportunity to meet colleagues from across Europe and to learn about the challenges and opportunities faced across the continent.

At the European Registrars' Conference in Vienna

Overall, it’s been a tremendous experience. If you’re considering applying and want to chat through what the role entails, please do get in touch with me.

Susannah Darby UKRG Web Officer 2014-2016

Committee Role Highlights: Treasurer

Being part of the UKRG committee has been a stimulating learning experience into the world of budgets and the importance of the role of the registrar. In my time as treasurer I have mastered excel spread sheets, become acquainted with the banks of South Kensington (an experience in itself) and most importantly learnt how to build and maintain a budget. 

This is perhaps the most satisfying aspect of the role of treasurer on the UKRG committee, previously I had no knowledge of how to build a spread sheet to document the numerous channels of money flow and ensure that the books were balanced throughout the year, but through a very tight budget produced by my predecessor I have become quite familiar with the ways we can document the numerous aspects of UKRG’s income and expenditure.

However being part of the committee is more than just spread sheets and numbers, it is about trying to increase the awareness of the role of the registrar, influence and better understand the standards of good practice among our profession. Being part of fantastic events and getting to meet all the members in person at events and by processing their membership fees has been a great way to meet other registrars and understand just how varied and narrow our roles can be.

In this capacity I have been able to travel across the UK and Europe to see other museums and learn about how they operate. As part of an exhibition team in my day to day role I have been able to learn how to better apply myself to the exhibition registration practice and positively influence the teams I work with into championing the role of the registrar in the multitude of teams with which I work.

This however is a serious role and does take some time, concentration and dedication, knowledge of budgets is not necessary but the willingness to work with excel is. Nonetheless being on the UKRG committee offers more benefits than the time you put in and I will be sad to step down from my post. 

Terri Dendy, UKRG Treasurer 2014-2016

Committee Role Highlights: Supporting Officer

The role of Supporting Officer is very broad – my main task was to create a sustainable UKRG Archive. However, my role’s flexibility means I have been able to become involved with a range of activities at committee level. I assist at Events, complete administrative tasks on an ad-hoc basis and am also looking into potential legacy projects for the ERC Edinburgh money.

Becca at the ERC Conference, Vienna, 2016

By having a presence at events, I have been able to liaise with colleagues from other museums and agencies and build better working relationships – being able to put a face to a name is incredibly helpful in a world full of e-mail. As a result of these networking opportunities I have been able to build relationships both nationally and internationally. Being on the committee means that your travel to and from events is covered. This has been a great help to me as I have been able to attend events I otherwise would not have been able to outside of London and internationally.

The UKRG Archive in full swing! © Dr Ellie Pridgeon

Setting up the archive has meant contact with many different colleagues and institutions, and helped me to gain a better understanding of the different roles within our sector, as well as the important work that the UKRG has been doing since conception. Being able to create a sustainable archive has been a fantastic achievement, as my work will create a lasting record of the important work of the UKRG.

The past 2 years have flown by, and I will always benefit from the relationships, and knowledge, I have built up with UKRG members and the committee.

Rebecca England, UKRG Supporting Officer 2014-2016

#ukrgNG: Roz Vallejo discovers what project management skills are involved in 'Coordinating Large Scale Collection Moves: Planning and Delivery at National Museums Scotland' - A presentation by Chanté St Clair Inglis, Collection Care Manager. Friday 26 February at National Gallery London

Working at National Museums Scotland (NMS) as Assistant Registrar for the last three months, I've become aware of the buzzing hive of activity on NMS’ Master Plan Project - Stage Three (aka MP3 project). I know that there are ten new galleries currently being redeveloped to make way for thousands of objects from the collection, that would have otherwise been hidden in storage for exclusive eyes only, to go on display during the summer of 2016 for the continued enjoyment of visitors in the museum. I also know that there are many people working across NMS sites in assisting with the thousands of object moves of all shapes and sizes, for example, the Hamilton Palace fireplace wall, of oak panelling and marble, measuring 5 metres high by 6.7 metres wide, that had to be installed in advance with the final fit-out of the gallery built around it. But what is the MP3 project and what are the key project management skills involved in managing a gallery redevelopment and collection move? What goes into planning and running a large-scale gallery redevelopment project?

Attending the UKRG third CPD event last Friday at National Gallery was a great opportunity to gain a better sense and understanding of this. My colleague Chanté St Clair Inglis, Collection Care Manager, presented a breakdown of the planning and work involved.

The goal is to move collection items from the museum at Chamber Street to the Collections Centre at Granton (20 minute journey time) and vice-versa, also to identify what kind of activity is required before movement, such as conservation, photography and the production of bespoke mounts (non-obtrusive structural support for museum objects, typically made from perspex, brass or other materials). Back in June-October of 2014, an estimated 4300 objects were moved out of the galleries prior to building construction and refurbishment. The museum now finds itself almost two years later moving over 3000 objects into the new galleries for unveiling at the start of July 2016.

The MP3 project is the third stage of a six phased project plan:

Phase 1 -       Data Gathering: Key project info

· What is the overall goal of the project?

· What objects need to go on display or in storage?

· What are the key project deadlines - timescale, dependencies, to move in phases?

· Key information: quantity; size; type condition; documentation status; hazard status; current location; activity occur before movement?

Phase 2 -       Move mapping: What is the current location and where will the end location be?

·  Move sequence: What sequence/order should the collection be in when it is moved from storage to its interim location, and interim location to final location?

·  Interim location: conservation; photography; mount making; object consolidation etc.?

·  Standardise methods: movement sequence; collection assessment; packing; materials; procedures; documentation; location tracking.

Phase 3 -       Resources and space required to deliver the move?

·  Assess and analyse the data gathered from above.

·  Explore your resources: people; materials; equipment.

·  What space is needed? - dedicated space designed for objects and movement/workflow.

Phase 4 -       ‘Enabling’ Period: Get it ready to move to new location?

·  Document the activities

·  Object treatment (conservation and hazards)

·  Photography of 2000+ objects

·  Mount making where necessary

·  Object consolidation: sort objects into groups and gallery categories

·  Explore space available: ‘Departure Lounge’ at NMCC, Granton and ‘Install depot’ at NMS, Chamber Street

·  Space planning of ‘Departure lounge’ and ‘Install depot’

·  Consider work flows

·  Design packing: ‘light touch’ methods i.e. not too complicated

Phase 5 -       Move Delivery: Move, track and report it!

Phase 6 -       Sign off

·  Final location updates

·  Return equipment/material

·  Project meeting, conclusion and evaluation

What I've taken away, and also witnessed at NMS, was a great sense of importance with engaging everyone involved in conversations throughout the processes mentioned above, especially with those who understand and have proficiency in the collection. Also, the importance of an accessible, visible and adaptable workflow breaking down all the components of the process and mapping out every valuable step, space, physical activity involved, whilst keeping an open bird’s eye approach.

It is an exciting time for the museum and the project, and I look forward to seeing and celebrating the final results of all their hard work and enthusiasm.

I would be interested to hear an update on NMS’ achievements and experiences at a future UKRG event.

Roz Vallejo, Assistant Registrar, National Museums Scotland.