Collections advice and our work with other museums
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums has designated collections of art, natural science and science and industry. These collections lie at the heart of our organisation and we care for, research, interpret and provide access to these collections through exhibitions and digital activity. We see them as part of a distributed national collection through our partnerships with national and regional organisations.
Key partnerships with national museums include formally recorded agreements with the British Museum and the National Portrait Gallery. We have also worked in partnership recently with Tate to deliver a series of blockbuster art exhibitions as part of the Great British Art Debate project.
Under the Renaissance North East programme we continue to work closely with museums in the region.
Curatorial Knowledge and Collections advice
Our workforce has expertise across almost every area of museum work and staff are actively engaged regionally and nationally to develop their own knowledge and knowledge of others as:
- Trustees of regional arts and heritage organisations
- Members of Regional Steering Groups
- Honorary Research Fellows at Universities
- Museum Mentors
- Curatorial Advisors
- Active members of Subject Specialist Networks
We can also provide advice to other regional museums and archives about collections and objects. For more details please email Sarah Carr: sarah.carr@twmuseums.org.uk
Renaissance North East commissioned a report which looked at collections by subject area across the region. The survey identified four areas in particular which require extra support:
- Maritime and shipbuilding
- Science and industry
- Costume and textiles
- Natural history
Renaissance North East has been running projects in each of these areas, to explore different ways of enhancing the knowledge base. This includes:
- Contracting specialists to work across the region on targeted pieces of work
- Working with volunteer museums to survey collections and develop knowledge
- Running training/skills sharing days
- The publication of information
- Networking with specialist groups outside the museum sector
- Linking with national Subject Specialist Networks (SSNs) and creating new regional and national networks