Talks and courses bring Shropshire Museums and Archives collections to life
The learning team at Shropshire Museums and Archives has launched a new programme of adult course and talks this month (January 2015). The courses are being held at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery, Ludlow Museum Resource Centre, and Shropshire Archives, and will allow participants to explore the collections held by the museums and archives service.
The learning team will be also be working in partnership with the Workers Educational Association, and Shropshire learning and skills, at The Gateway in Shrewsbury to run a diverse range of courses in 2015, including creative writing, photography and Latin for fun.
Courses range from creative techniques to history classes and archives research skills. Tutors Mark Warner and Angela Gladwell will be delivering life drawing and still life drawing classes inspired by the museums’ fine art and natural history collections.
Taking inspiration form the museums’ extensive costume collections, tutor Catherine Crowther is inviting participants to ‘vamp up their vintage’ and breate new life into long forgotten outfits in a practical sewing course, whilst heritage seamstress Sarah Thursfield is running a course on the history of dress in Shrewsbury and a series of one day courses in Ludlow.
Margaret Thorpe and Linda Martin will be using the artefacts and stories in Shrewsbury Museum’s Roman collection and forthcoming Secret Egypt exhibition in their lively history classes. Jonathan Worton will be holding a talk on the Civil War in Shropshire, “A Great Blow to the King” on Sunday 22 February 2015 at 2.30pm.
Shropshire Archives will be the venue for a course in Palaeography (reading old writing) and two talks by author Gordon Dickins on Shropshire’s literary heritage.
Tina Woodward, Shropshire Council’s deputy Cabinet member for visitor economy, said:
“Shropshire museums’ wonderful collection of objects and documents are a fantastic resource for inspiring historical enquiry and encouraging creativity. We look forward to welcoming adult learners to our venues in 2015.”
The programme begins at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery on Friday 9 January with a sculpture course run by Elizabeth Turner; life drawing starts on 10 January, and Gordon Dickins’ first talk “Literary Visitors to Shropshire” takes place at Shropshire Archives on Monday 12 January between 2pm and 3.30pm.
Contact 01743 258884 or 01743 258888 for further details and to book, or email museumeducation@shropshire.gov.uk.
The full adult course brochure can be downloaded from the museum website at http://www.shrewsburymuseum.org.uk/education/
Further information
Run by Shropshire Council, the new Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery opened its doors on 1 April 2014 following a £10m project to restore the town’s old Music Hall and a rare 13th century mansion. The entire museum collection, previously at Rowley’s House, has been reimagined for a modern audience, with exhibitions exploring subjects from geology to natural history via art, archaeology and costume. The museum holds some of the nation’s most treasured Roman artefacts, as well displays inspired by the work of Charles Darwin, who was born and educated in the town. The Special Exhibitions Gallery houses a rolling programme of artwork and media installations.
