Museums Today for 15 – 17 Year Olds

Monday to Friday 10 am – 4 pm, one week

This course is for those interested in social and cultural history and how it is being curated in museums and galleries today.

Course Description

In Nottingham and the surrounding areas there are many nationally important museums, as well as castles, country estates and art galleries, all celebrating British history.

On our doorstep are The National Justice Museum, Nottingham Contemporary Gallery, Hardwick Hall, Wollaton Hall, Chatsworth House and more.

You will start this course by visiting some of these places and learn first-hand from professionals about how marketing is exploiting the history of the region to attract local, national and international visitors.

On this course you will:

• examine local and regional history and contemporary cultures
• visit important buildings and see their collections
• learn about the museum sector and its funding
• examine how the interpretation of material culture can affect the artefact on display
• create a project and proposal that responds to new ways of curating.

Lively classroom activities will help you identify key themes as you immerse yourself in British culture and history.

You will complete the week by creating a proposal, either individually or in groups, for an exhibition that celebrates the history and heritage of the region.

What will I gain?

By the end of the week you will have a notebook full of ideas, visual research (sketches and photographs) and a project that will enhance a portfolio or support an application to college or university.

Level: Open to all

Entry requirement: You should have an enthusiasm for history and an interest in developing your critical thinking and idea development skills.

Where you'll learn: You will be studying in the School of Arts and Humanities on the City Campus.

You will find modern teaching spaces and group study environments to develop your ideas between visits to local museums.

You’ll also have access to our library to use outside of your short course; whilst you can’t reserve or take away books, you are welcome to use them as a resource for research and referencing.

Here's what our previous attendees said:

'Thank you so much for a brilliant course and brilliant tutors, I really enjoyed it'

'I have learnt more about curation of museums. I enjoyed looking around Nottingham and the museums.' TC

'Learnt a lot and had a great time. Enjoyed the outings into the city and museums'

'History is my favourite subject and I am very interested in it, which is why I wanted to do this course. I have made new friends and got an experience of university life, as well as getting more information on museums and Nottingham's history' AN

'I was interested in the planning and interpretations of museums and enjoyed analysing the museum's strategies that we visited.' JP

'This was an absolutely fascinating course! It was a completely new experience for me that I thoroughly enjoyed. I'm interested in history and found museum curation is a lot more complex that I ever realised, it was great discussing the pros and cons of museums and how to improve them' EW

'I wanted to do this course for my Gold Duke of Edinburgh Residential Award, and learnt through the week what the key considerations are when planning and curating an exhibtion as well as seeing some of the key heritage spots in Nottingham. Thank you' EM

'The visits to museums and socialising with people also interested in art and history was enjoyable. I have a further understanding of the problems posed in trying to curate a good exhibition, and how to make one that will interest the audience.' RV

Tutor Profiles: 

Charlotte Pratley is a university lecturer in Museum and Heritage Development, with a focus on creating innovative, inclusive arts organisations, and works in collaboration with local museum and heritage sites.

She has established a sustainable arts consultancy in partnership with organisations such as National Trust to deliver projects, and continues her consultancy practice, supporting the diversity and creative impact of arts and culture.

Charlotte has worked with a wide variety of clients, including national and international organisations such as Barker Langham, National Justice Museum and National Heritage Science Forum, as well as regional services such as Corby Borough Council and Creswell Crags.

In her NTU role, Charlotte is currently working with Mansfield Museum, Ruddington Village Museum and Bassetlaw Museum, and works with a large proportion of the East Midlands arts industry as well as further afield.

Katharina Massing is a university lecturer and researcher in Museum and Heritage Development.

Before working at NTU, Katharina completed her PhD in Museum, Gallery and Heritage Studies at Newcastle University.

Her research focuses on holistic approaches to the safeguarding of heritage and management of sustainable tourism, such as ecomuseums, in the Asia-Pacific region.

In addition to her work in Asia she is also working with the Southwell Heritage Trust in Nottinghamshire to establish a community-led heritage project within the town.

Need accommodation?

If you're aged 16 or 17 then you can stay unaccompanied with agreement from a parent/guardian.

To support safeguarding, all guests aged 16 and 17 will be accommodated together in the same halls of residence.

The reception and security team are available 24 hours, and there will be a dedicated supervisor(s) during the evenings and mornings, outside of class times.

Guests will be provided with a mobile number for the supervisor(s) during their stay.

If you're aged 15 then you can stay as long as you are accompanied by a parent/guardian.

Find out more at www.ntu.ac.uk/summeraccommodation

Doing your Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award?

This course can count as your Gold DofE Residential.

DofE participants must book both the course and accommodation on campus for this to count towards your Gold Award.

Looking to turn your one-week course into a two-week experience?

If you can match this with any second course, you’ll receive a 10% refund on your course fees.

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Any questions?

Contact the short course team:

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: +44 (0)115 848 2813