GEM/SMC GRASS ROOTS PROJECT
Update 1 - Introduction to the Project
May 2005
Introduction
The Scottish Museums Council (SMC) and the Group for Education in Museums (GEM) are working in partnership on a project to increase and enhance the learning services their museum and gallery members offer. The chief objective of Grass Roots is to achieve a lasting legacy of material and intellectual resources to support ongoing, confident and continually improving access and learning provision in Scottish museums and galleries. This legacy will be of ongoing value and use to staff and volunteers implementing SMC and GEM access and learning initiatives.
The post of Education Officer is the centrepiece of the Grass Roots project. The project is funded by SMC and managed by GEM with the support of GEM Scotland. The role will provide practical support to museums and galleries throughout Scotland in developing high quality learning and access programmes and will particularly target less well resourced museums lacking dedicated learning and access staff. Professional development through training and resource development will also be a priority for staff responsible for learning and access, and those delivering learning programmes.
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as the new GEM/SMC Education Officer for the Grass Roots Project.
The main objectives of the Grass Roots project being to:
- develop learning resources, including web-based material
- provide museum education training for education specialist and non-specialist museum staff
- provide a mentoring programme for selected staff
- consolidate GEM and SMC access and learning networks
GEM Scotland and SMC members will be contacted by me throughout the year with information relating to the project, training opportunities, resources and other activities relevant to the project. This will be in the form of letters, emails and publications such as GEM News and SMSee. There will also be regular updates on this website of all Grass Roots activities. I will also be adding web-based resources at regular intervals throughout the project. Notifications of updates will be posted through Jiscmail and SMC’s Learning and Access network.
I plan to carry out a small initial consultation with a number of GEM Scotland members. I would like to gather comments or feelings from GEM members on any areas or gaps they feel there are in current provision for training either in their own work or that they are aware of in the museums in their area (possibly without dedicated education staff). Because of the strict time limits of the project, I may not be able to contact every single member individually at this time, however if you have any comments which you would like to e-mail to me, I would be very grateful. I would like feedback on:
- Suggested training opportunities, needs and type (e.g. half day, full day training, study weekends, residential, etc.)
- Resources which need to be developed (especially for non-education specialists)
- Museums in your area (without specific education specialists) in need of and who might benefit most from mentoring opportunities
You can e-mail any comments or suggestions to me at gemscotland@blueyonder.co.uk
In the meantime, I look forward to working together with GEM and SMC members on what promises to be both an exciting and challenging project.
Susan Galloway
GEM/SMC Education Officer
Grass Roots Project
Contact Details:
Flat 2/1
7 Eden Street
Dundee
DD4 6HL
Tel/Fax: 01382 523 635
Mobile: 07957 552535
Email: gemscotland@blueyonder.co.uk
Link to Scottish Museums Council website