Philips abstract 2007
Hands On: object handling and the history of money: Laura Philips, British Museum, LondonThe decision to allow visitors close access to Museum collections,
allowing objects to be removed from stores and cases and placed into the hands of visitors, is a difficult one to take. The Department of Coins and Medals at the British Museum has, for a number of years, been leading the development of 'Hands On', a handling programme where trained Museum volunteers take objects into the galleries for visitors to touch. This presentation will discuss 'Hands On' and a range of other activities which make up a part of the learning programme of the Department. All activities centre on the collections and involve the use of a handling collection developed specifically for this purpose. They aim to engage diverse audiences and encourage reciprocal dialogue, allowing the many meanings of individual objects to be discussed, often broadening curatorial knowledge. At the heart of taking the decision to let visitors handle objects, is the question of conservation, a question that makes this presentation relevant to a conference exploring the relationship between the preservation and use of collections.
"back to Vienna programme":http://www.icomon.org.uk/meetings/31/vienna-programme