Friends of Herne Bay Museum

Issue 4 SPRING 2011

NEWSLETTER
Helping to secure the future of Herne Bays own museum

New Museum Director appointed

The Peoples Case

n principal, the idea of a Peoples Case has been approved by museum staff, this will be a display case where people can apply to show their own collections or items of interest. In Whitstable in the early nineties the museum ran a Peoples Show on the same basis, it was one of the most popular shows the service ever ran. There were collections of fossils and the kind of things one might expect in a museum, but there was also the unexpected: a collection of Homepride our graders, a collection of veteran microphones, Star Wars gurines, tea towels from around the world, egg cups, a vast collection of cigarette packets. So we are appealing to all you collectors out there, members and non members to come forward and share your passion

s part of the restructuring and realignment of the Museums service as a whole, Canterbury City Council has appointed a new Director of Museums. She is Joanna Jones, currently Arts and Cultural Services Manager for Sefton Museums & Galleries, she is due to take up her new post in June. Ken Reedie, who has been Curator of the City Museums and Galleries Service since the early 1970s is due to retire as soon as the Beaney project in Canterbury is complete.

The timing of Ms. Jones appointment means that no great changes are likely take place in the near future. We can be encouraged that in making this appointment the Council seems serious about its commitment to support the museums and avoid any further threats of closure. We look forward to working with the new Director, who we understand is enthusiastic about community involvement, to help make Herne bay Museum become the attraction that the town needs.

Friends stall at the Kings Hall

he annual Projects and Business Exhibition at the Kings Hall, on the 9th of March was well attended with the Friends stall attracting a good deal of interest. We gave out lots of membership forms and people were keen to enter the prize draw, for this they had to fill in a questionnaire. As a greater part of the aim of the Friends is to encourage an increased level of community and

town involvement in the museum, then we need to know what peoples interests and talents are. Read the article on page 2, we need to know what the museum can do for you and what you can do for the museum. The winner of the prize draw was Angela Furlong who was excited to receive her hamper and is now a member.

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Friends of Herne Bay Museum

Issue 4 SPRING 2011

or why you should think seriously about helping with The Peoples Case

ON COLLECTING

ou may think of collecting as a specialised activity, rare and valuable items in glass cases or velvet lined drawers, but collecting, although it can be like this, is something much broader and something peculiar to the human species. With the possible exception of Mynah birds and jackdaws, no other creature fetishises objects in the way we do, no other creature manufactures objects in the way we do either and I suspect that the one activity is an integral part of the other. Since early man rst recognised one stick as more useful than another or one stone more suitable than another, we have been on the track of comparing, sorting, categorising, selecting, possessing, adapting, and manufacturing; in a word, collecting. So although you might think you dont collect anything, (and by this you mean you dont trek off to antique markets and boot fairs in search of Staffordshire cow creamers) you almost certainly do, you wouldnt be human if you didnt. Collecting can and does include the things you use, most activities involve collections of some sort. Cooking, DIY, car maintenance, sport, gardening and making music, all demand collections

of specialised tools and equipment. Many people hoard magazines; thats a collection. Have to keep all your receipts for an accountant? ; thats an archive. If you think about it you do collect (records? CDs? Photographs?), its just that you dont associate the activity with what museums do, but any of those collections of workaday items, given a few years, become items of historical interest. Even without the addition of years, peoples collections are interesting. They tell us about lives and life and others experience and thats one of the things that museums are for. So before dismissing the idea of a peoples case as nothing to do with you, think about it for a bit. Get in touch with us at museumfriends@hernebaymatters. com or write to FOHBM Newsletter 1, Mickleburgh Hill, Herne Bay CT6 6AA. We want to hear about your collections and we want you to make an exhibition of yourself, with our help of course. David Cross secretary

Apologies for the late arrival of this newsletter, any later and it would have collided with the Summer issue!

Drawings by Grace Ayson

Contemporary Turner Exhibition 14 May to 19 June

COMING EVENTS

As artist-in-residence during construction of Turner Contemporary, Margate, alongside J.M.W. Turners prints of coastal Kent from museum collections. Included in museum entry charge. Free to Canterbury district Residents Card holders and their families. All ages. In partnership with Turner Contemporary, Margate.

New Perspectives Drop-in drawing activity 14 May to 19 June

Be inspired by Grace Ayson views of the Turner Contemporary building site ? seen from all sorts of interesting angles. Then pick up your pencil and get down on your hands and knees to do the same for Herne Bay Museum! Included in museum entry charge. Free to Canterbury district Residents Card holders

Discover the art and inuence of JMW Turner. The evening includes a short talk, and the opportunity to look closely at Turner prints, images of related paintings, and work by other artists inuenced by him. A complementary glass of wine or fruit juice is included. 5 per person, 4 for Friends of Herne Bay Museum, and members of Herne Bay Historical Records Society. Phone 01227 367 368.

A closer look at Turner Art talk and viewing of prints Wednesday 18 May, 7pm to 9pm

sidents the Get a Re able at are avail on will get useum m s licati ons form Applicati d making the app an e spot. museum ntry on th ou free e y

GET! T FOrRee entry to the DON Card fo fr

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