This object handling workshop will be held on the first floor of the Library on campus, room E1.14. We are delighted to welcome visiting speaker Nicholas Crowe, Culturally Sensitive Collections Lead, from the Wellcome Collection, London, to lead this session. Nicholas is responsible for assisting in the development of policy frameworks for restitution and repatriation, including human remains. Acting as a source of expertise in relation to the management of culturally sensitive collections, Nicholas’ role contributes to improving Wellcome’s ability to develop, manage, describe, and interpret collections with complex and multi-layered contexts and histories. Prior to this role, Nicholas was Assistant Curator at the Pitt Rivers Museum, University of Oxford. 

The workshop will begin with a discussion of the interpretation of museum objects, and current issues relating to cultural sensitivity, restitution and repatriation. Then you’ll get the chance to try out your interpreting skills with a range of objects from our Special Collections Museum. These will include nineteenth-century greetings cards from the Seddon Collection, Victorian scrapbooks, pictorial prints, annuals, African masks, items of furniture, textiles and contemporary zines. You’ll work in pairs to interpret different objects and discuss how they could be effectively curated, before feeding back to the group.

Staff from the Special Collections Museum and Nicholas will also be happy to answer any questions during the workshop.

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