Collective Conversations
Collective Conversations is an award winning project that makes films about people's encounters with objects from the Museum's collections.
The subjects of the films explore objects usually hidden away in stores and discuss the meanings they hold. To watch these films visit The Manchester Museum's YouTube channel.
They are also on display in the Museum.
Since June 2004, The Manchester Museum has held 'conversations' with diverse groups and individuals including local migrant communities, researchers, enthusiasts and academics.
They might be people who identify or have personal interests in the objects, people whose work gives them insights into relevant themes, or people who are simply curious.
Get Involved
If you would like to take part in a conversation or get more information please email gurdeep.thiara@manchester.ac.uk or contact her by phone on 0161 275 8768.
The selection of objects available for these 'conversations' includes the whole Museum and its collections of Botany, Palaeontology, Numismatics, Archery, Mineralogy, Geology, Egyptology, Entomology and Archaeology.
Contact Zone
The Contact Zone, the Museum's first permanent film studio, opened in September 2007 with a special ceremony by a Yoruba chief, and attended by many of the Museum's community partners. It is an active, informal and relaxed space for Collective Conversations. As one sociologist recently remarked, 'Who gets to tell the story is the thing'.
The Contact Zone (funded by the Department for Culture Media and Sport's 'Renaissance in the Regions') is integrated into staff training and development, so that curators across all collection areas can continue the work of building-in community collaboration into the interpretation of all collections and exhibition and design staff may integrate the outputs into gallery development, temporary exhibitions and the Museum's website.
International Conversations
The Museum has already successfully accomplished international 'conversations' using video-conferencing with the National Museum of Australia in Canberra.The next stage in the growth of the Collective Conversations programme is international collaborations with museums via video-link.
Members of communities from Manchester and other countries will participate in real time in a 'collective conversation'. The Contact Zone will operate in an international partnership network between museums and the wider communities, leading to an ongoing exchange of knowledge and skills.
Transcripts of Collective Conversations
The transcripts for the following Collective Conversations are now available, more will be uploaded as they become available.
Transcript of Collective Conversation With Chief Adelekan
Transcript of Collective Conversation With Gaetana
Transcript of Collective Conversation With Ehi, Ebi & Esima
View Conversations
Mapping Our Lives
What can botanical specimens tell you about the trans-Atlantic slave trade?
Chief Adelekan in Conversation
Chief Adelekan discusses the significance of a Babalawo, a Shango staff and a Gelede Mask.
Gaetanna in Conversation
How can museum objects be used to help relate to different cultures and people?
More Conversations
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