Ways of Seeing, a Sense of Place Project

Ways of Seeing, A Sense of Place Project

“After graduating,I started working for the Ulster Museum as a Visitor Guide and especially enjoyed engaging with its visitors and organising and delivering special events. During that time, I studied for museum qualifications. I was keen to secure a place on theCommunity Engagement Training Initiative because I wanted to gain the new and different practical experience that is associated with working as an engagement/outreach practitioner. I also wanted the experience of working in a different museum environment.

On placement at the Mid Antrim Museums Service, I am working on the ‘Ways of Seeing, A Sense of Place’project. This project aims to encourage communityawareness of the built environment, especially the built heritage in the Mid Antrim area using the museums’ Art Collections as a starting point.I began the project researching the Art Collections at the various Mid-Antrim sites before deciding which artefacts could be integrated into engagement programmes.

CEI Trainee, Beth Frazer, residents of Sheils Housing Assosiation with representatives of Downshire High School and Architectual Historian Rosie Hickey.

Avaried range and age of audiences have engaged with the project to date including, rural youth groups, community groups, residential groups, older peoples groups and university of the 3rd age members.

I have designed innovative programmes to meet the needs and interests of these different groups and audiencestosupport engagement with the art collections across museums sites. Inspired by the museum’s art collections, I have encouraged an exploration oflocal and social histories, and the work of Sir Charles Lanyon in Mid Antrim. In direct response to participants needs I continue to resource learning activities and organise tours and talks on local built heritage. What I have enjoyed the most is generating stimulating discussion and conversations and offering participants the opportunity to develop their own creativitybased on MAMS artworks and the built heritage they contain. I have found that target groups ‘sense of place’ in their locality and the heritage assets that their area holds has provided an appetite for the engagement activity. Participants have personally responded to their visual narratives within the construct of their experienced sense of place. These activities continue to encourage civic stewardship of built heritage and museum collections for participants on a group and individual basis.

Residents and members of Mallusk and Hydepark community action group on the ‘Exploring Sir Charles Lanyon in Mid Antrim’ Bus Tour.

Groups havean opportunity to contribute to the planned Ways of Seeing, A Sense of Placeexhibition throughtext, image and audio. This group work has led to opportunities for further audience engagement through a plannedLanyon Exhibition entitledBuilding Legacies that will tour MAMS sites between April – August this year.

I am continuously gaining new knowledge, meeting new challenges and developing myprofessional and personal skills onplacement.I am enjoyingusing my creative skills to progress the themes into programmes that the groups enjoy and connect with and have put my own stamp on this project within the parameters of the original project brief, encouraged by my mentor.

Looking forward, I will be reacting to feedback from consultation with groups gathered atthe ‘Beyond the Moss’ event which will progress the project further towards its statedaims. In addition I’m looking forward to developing the two touring exhibitions and seeing their impact on visitors.”

Learning about the built environment is about learning to see the value of well-designed spaces, and to understand the relationship between the natural environment and the local community. Young people can learn about the built environment in the classroom and the school grounds or through the buildings and spaces that make up our cities and streetscapes.Whetherthey arelooking at something inagrand historic house or on the corner of their local street, there are a wealth oflearning opportunities around them.