Running a museum
Our Community Museums Officer advises and supports museums – mainly small and volunteer run museums in Devon – on all matters; collections care, accessibility, fundraising, accreditation and keeping abreast of the latest legislation.
For more information contact susan.eddisford@exeter.gov.uk
Community Museums Officer, Susan Eddisford, in her own words
How would you describe your role in working with museums across Devon?
My role is to support museums throughout Devon in anyway I can. This can be helping in day to day museum practise; managing volunteers; helping to secure funding and documenting collections.
How vital is the contribution of the collections of smaller, independent museums to maintaining a picture of Devon’s past?
The contribution of the smaller museums is vital especially in a large county with such a diverse heritage. The smaller, independent museums are rooted in their respective communities as guardians of their local heritage and without them that rich history would be lost.
Can you think of a particular example where you have been able to help a museum or project achieve its aims?
I have been involved in the celebrating Brunel 200 and the Darwin in Devon projects by helping to organise funding, the loaning of exhibits and in advertising. Currently I’m working towards the Sporting Life project for the cultural Olympiad in 2012.
We are currently at a Devon Museums Group meeting could you briefly outline the nature and the benefits of belonging to the Group?
The group is a mutual support and self help organisation. Membership is open to all museums for collections held in trust and is accessible to the public. By working together we can share skills and problems giving the museums involved a stronger voice and the ability to achieve things such as the group’s brochure and website.
