Collective Conversations and the use of narratives at the Manchester Museum Abby Stevens

What is Collective Conversations? CC is an ongoing project focused upon enabling people to engage in conversations relating to objects in the Museums collections. These conversations are recorded onto video, and will be a resource available on the museum's website.

Whats it all about? Its increasing access to the collections, both physically and intellectually. Its placing the museum visitor at the heart of the documentation and interpretation process, and therefore at the core of the museums function.

The project encompasses the following key elements: Documentation, photography and restorage of the collections. Interrogation of collections in relation to the interests, concerns and knowledge of the people involved. Thus directing the Museums documentation of collections towards key themes that place community and academic engagement at the core.

The process… Recruitment: This is partly based on the audience development plan and involves actively recruiting groups from the surrounding area, but also relies on community work past and present undertaken within the museum.

The groups select their objects with the help of: The Museum website The Museum website Information provided by staff relating to interests or themes. Information provided by staff relating to interests or themes. The galleries The galleries

First Contact We always meet the group before the day of filming. This is an opportunity for them to: See some of the objects and make their final selection. See some of the objects and make their final selection. Consider the topics they wish to discuss, and how they would like the conversation to take place. Consider the topics they wish to discuss, and how they would like the conversation to take place.

Documentation, Photography & Conservation Conservation prepare the objects for handling, and create a conservation record on EMu Conservation prepare the objects for handling, and create a conservation record on EMu A basic catalogue record is created for each object, all information relating to the object is added, and digital images are attached. A basic catalogue record is created for each object, all information relating to the object is added, and digital images are attached. An event module is created, containing all information relating to the conversation, and an object list that links the individual records to the event module. An event module is created, containing all information relating to the conversation, and an object list that links the individual records to the event module. A narrative entry is also created, again with an object list which links it to the object catalogue entries. A narrative entry is also created, again with an object list which links it to the object catalogue entries.

Conversation A conversation involves at least six people: 3 x camera people 1 x vision mixer 1 x conservator 1 x facilitator

Post conversation After the conversation comes the editing process. After the conversation comes the editing process. We edit the conversation into object related clips lasting for anything up to five minutes. We edit the conversation into object related clips lasting for anything up to five minutes.

The website The information on the Collective Conversations pages comes directly from the KE EMu narratives. The information on the Collective Conversations pages comes directly from the KE EMu narratives. Beneath the narrative on the opening page will be a selection of images, each one representing a clip. Each one of these will take you to an individual conversation page. Beneath the narrative on the opening page will be a selection of images, each one representing a clip. Each one of these will take you to an individual conversation page.

Individual Conversation Pages At the bottom of each conversation page are links to the related narrative and object pages. These also appear at the bottom of the object pages. Again, the narratives for each conversation come directly from KE EMu.

Our latest conversation Our most recent conversation was a live link between children from Manchesters Excellence in Cities programme and Kaleen Primary School at the National Museum of Australia in Sydney!

All the conversations that have taken place so far will soon be available on the Manchester Museum website. All the conversations that have taken place so far will soon be available on the Manchester Museum website.