Museum Placement Award 2007 Reports:

Students Report:

Annabel Talbot 1st October 2007

The Placement:

Since becoming the first ever recipient of the Costume Society Museum Placement Award, I have been working part time throughout the summer in The Bowes Museum Textile department.

The Work Completed:

I have played an instrumental role in planning and finding long-term storage solutions for the recently exhibited Blackborne Lace, which is considered a major collection in both size and importance. I selected and ordered appropriate boxes and shelving to accommodate and protect the collection and recorded its new location after it was dismounted from the Fine and Fashionable exhibition space. After initial consultation and advice, I was able to make important decisions independently with minimal supervision, relating to conservation care and long-term storage solutions of this major collection.

I am currently cataloguing and documenting the Textile department's backlog of accessions. Due to the busy nature of the department this backlog dates back to 2002. Undertaking sole responsibility for this task has enabled me to enhance my knowledge, experience and capabilities relating to cataloguing and documentation procedures. A number of the objects that I am cataloguing are going to be displayed in the new Costume and Textile Galleries at The Bowes Museum. Therefore, I am currently conducting additional research for the exhibition labels relating to the objects.

Additionally, I am assisting with the Conservation and Display Requirement Report, which has been undertaken in preparation for the new Gallery. One of my main responsibilities for this task is to physically help with the access, handling and movement of large objects (such as tapestries) in a safe, planned and controlled manner. This Conservation and Display Requirement Report will create a database of the objects which will aid the curator, conservator & designer in planning the new Costume and Textile gallery.

How The Placement has benefitted the Student:

I feel the placement has given me a wonderful opportunity to further my knowledge and skills in relation to Costume, Textiles and the Museum sector. My experience has increased my academic interest in costume, textile and object based research. It has also taught me to how to efficiently prioritise my workload and work within strict personal deadlines.

Future Plans:

I have been offered a short-term contract for six months until March 2008 in the Textile Department. Hopefully this will lead on to a career in costume and textiles. I am passionate about costume and textiles; The Bowes Museum plays an important role in preserving and documenting both. I feel the history of costume and textiles enhances and enlightens people’s lives and I am excited about the prospect of pursuing a career that contributes to audience development by making The Bowes Museum Costume and Textile collection more accessible and enjoyable. The costume society museum placement award has played a vital and integral part in my graduate career and I am truly grateful for the opportunity.

Curator’s Report:

Joanna Hashagen, Keeper of Textiles, The Bowes Museum. 28 September 2007

The Placement: Annabel Talbot

has given part-time assistance to Joanna Hashagen, the Keeper of Textiles at The Bowes Museum from the beginning of June, for three 3 days a week until the end of September 2007.

The Work Completed: The re-organisation of space to create storage for The Blackborne Collection of Lace. This involved ordering suitable shelving & boxes.

The cataloguing of a 1960s collection of dress and accessories, including research on the designers represented and talking to the donor, a buyer for Fenwicks, Newcastle & Top Shop, London in the 1960s.

Assistance with the selection of items for the new Textile & Dress Gallery. This has involved a great deal of physical work in taking out objects from stores for selection and assisting the conservator with condition surveys. Annabel has now been given responsibility for the input of all the relevant information on a database for the project to be used by curator, conservator & designer. She has found & selected images or taken new photographs for each object selected and checked dimensions.

How The Placement has benefitted the Museum:

Providing support to the Keeper of Textiles at this critical early stage of the Textile & Dress Gallery Project has been crucial, particularly the physical assistance with carrying boxes and rolled textiles from the stores.

To have a placement for a longer period of time than the normal student placement allows for the student to develop a role, requiring less supervision. Annabel has proved most capable at working on her own and taking initiatives.

Not least are the benefits of having someone on hand to respond to the everyday needs of a busy department, answering telephone enquiries, helping student researchers, administrative tasks etc. This placement has demonstrated to the Museum’s senior management that this range of work could not have been undertaken successfully without extra help in the Textile Department. They have therefore offered Annabel a short term contract for six months until March 2008.

Future Plans:

The placement has highlighted the need for a permanent, full time textile assistant. Most immediately however, assistance is needed for the new Textiles and Dress Gallery, planned to open in late 2008. This will generate the need for research and display expertise. The mounting and display of historic dress requires skill and is a great opportunity for an assistant to extend their knowledge and experience of this aspect of the collections care. The Museum will be actively seeking to fund a Curatorial Assistant post for the Textile Department for a further three years.