Participating in the Past: Museum Participation

4.9 Museum Participation

This topic is clearly a double-sided issue involving museums’ own outreach activities, as well public perception and involvement. The unique role that museums can play in general educational activities has already been noted. Museums were often identified as key players in other areas of participation, for example where good links had been established with local groups, creating mutual support networks of volunteers and advice, although significant local resource constraints were often reported.

In terms of encouraging participation, museums have a vital role in bringing to public notice the results of local research, including the results of fieldwork by commercial archaeological units which might otherwise have low visibility in the public eye. They are also well placed through displays and other activities to take the broader view of new discoveries and to place them in their local context. Many museums also have a long established role in using volunteers, and some museums are run completely by volunteers.

Some museums (but perhaps not enough) are clearly active in providing opportunities for recognition of ‘new’ local cultural groupings, for example through collection activity, displays and oral history projects.

Many museums in England and Wales have become hosts to Portable Antiquities Recording Scheme staff funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), in some cases leading to the re-establishment of cordial links with metal detectorists who often feel disenfranchised by what they perceive as the hostile attitude of the archaeological establishment.