As an organisation we want to work to support groups that are underrepresented in our collections and interpretation to use our spaces to share their heritage and culture. As a small staff team, we have limited capacity so cannot do this for all groups, but we will try our best to support as many groups as possible.
We have a few different ways that we can do this, detailed below. We have a busy programme of events and installations which will affect which spaces and options are available at any given time. It is a good idea to pick a few options that might interest you so that if your first choice is not available we can hopefully do your second choice.
There are some small costs associated with some of these activities. Where these costs are not recovered from ticket sales we would ask that where possible the community group covers these costs, however if this a barrier to involvement please do let us know and we may in some circumstances be able to cover these costs. If you would like to collaborate on a ticketed event we ask that you lead in the promotion of the event within your own community group and networks.
Options of ways you could work with us:
- Pop up exhibition: This can be held either in the Assembly Room at St Albans Museum + Gallery, usually Monday-Friday, or in Lecture Room 1 at Verulamium Museum, usually only during school holidays. Have a look at our Exhibition Proposal page to find out more about how you can use our spaces.
- Perfect for: sharing artworks, photographs or local narratives. You can see an example of this type of activity here.
- Associated costs: Walls, easels or other display methods. Printing (panels, labels etc.) The museum may be able to support with this if necessary.
- Community groups will be expected to abide by museum accessibility standards and submit a plan & text before the exhibition opens.
- Perfect for: sharing artworks, photographs or local narratives. You can see an example of this type of activity here.
- Case in St Albans on Demand or Timeline Gallery at St Albans Museum + Gallery: A small selection of objects in St Albans on Demand case, wall space or on a screen. Can be for 3, 6 or 12 months (depending on demand). You can see an example of this type of activity here.
- Perfect for: sharing the history of a group, a small intervention over a long time.
- Associated costs: £0
- Interpretation will need to fit within St Albans on Demand template so this works best when the objects/artworks/film speaks for itself largely.
- Perfect for: sharing the history of a group, a small intervention over a long time.
- A talk and Q&A: a talk in the learning studio at St Albans Museum + Gallery (capacity 35 people, plus 100 people online if offered as a hybrid event) or in Lecture Room 1 at Verulamium Museum (capacity 50 people, plus 100 people online if offered as a hybrid event) from a local community member/ panel with a powerpoint presentation. Have a look at our Generous Hosting page to find out more about how you can use our spaces.
- Perfect for: sharing local narratives and sparking discussion. You can see an example of this type of activity here.
- Associated costs: if out of hours- extra staffing, approx. £30. If need to pay for a speaker, approx. £150.
- Ticket costs: can recover costs through ticketing at approx. £10 per person.
- Perfect for: sharing local narratives and sparking discussion. You can see an example of this type of activity here.
- Themed under 5s activity: bringing a themed storybook and activities to one of our regular Museum Minis/ Tots Tales activities.
- Perfect for: diversifying educational activities and sharing basic customs/ celebrations
- Associated costs: £0
- Perfect for: diversifying educational activities and sharing basic customs/ celebrations
- Themed half-term craft activities: drop-in basic craft activities in the learning studio or assembly room at St Albans Museum + Gallery or in one of the lecture rooms at Verulamium Museum (capacity approx. 25 children per session). Have a look at our Generous Hosting page to find out more about how you can use our spaces.
- Perfect for: sharing/ celebrating customs. You can see an example of this type of activity here.
- Associated costs: if need to pay for a facilitator, approx. £150. If need to pay for special materials, approx. £50. Simpler activities can be offered for free.
- Ticket costs: can recover costs through ticketing at approx. £5 per child.
- Perfect for: sharing/ celebrating customs. You can see an example of this type of activity here.
- Themed adult craft activities: workshops for adults in the learning studio or lecture rooms (capacity approx. 20 people). Have a look at our Generous Hosting page to find out more about how you can use our spaces.
- Perfect for: sharing traditional crafts/ supporting diverse artists. You can see an example of this type of activity here.
- Associated costs: if need to pay for a facilitator, approx. £200. If need to pay for special materials, approx. £50. Simpler activities can be offered for free.
- Ticket costs: can recover costs through ticketing at approx. £15 per person.
- Perfect for: sharing traditional crafts/ supporting diverse artists. You can see an example of this type of activity here.
- Online activity: We can also do lots of online things, whether that is a video, online exhibition, social media posting/ takeover or webinar. We’d love to hear your ideas of how we could use our platforms to celebrate your community group.
- Perfect for: sharing an important message/ increasing your online visibility. You can see an example of this type of activity here.
- Associated costs: often free. May be costs associated with video creation/ image licencing.
- Perfect for: sharing an important message/ increasing your online visibility. You can see an example of this type of activity here.
Please email us at museum@stalbans.gov.uk to tell us about your ideas so we can discuss them with you.
