The Socio-Cultural Impact of Museums on their Local Communities: The case of the Royal Albert Memorial Museum

(RAMM)Fiona C. Hutchison

Outline of Presentation

1. Context for this project- the RAMM2. Reasons for Studentship3. Objectives4. Focus for the research5. Methods6. Plan for remainder of project

Royal Albert Memorial Museum (RAMM)

Reasons for Studentship

• Aim: This studentship sets to investigate, capture and analyse the range of socio-cultural impacts generated by the RAMM in the period immediately after its re-opening

• Drivers: Highlight the socio-cultural impacts Looks at whole museum service Contribution to knowledge Academic study (methodological rigour) Practical use (not simply a theoretical exercise)

To develop a toolkit and best practice guide.

To analyse the findings and to learn the early lessons of the socio-cultural impacts

Develop a strategy to capture the socio-cultural impacts of the reopening of RAMM in 2011

Examine the extent to which existing ideas and experiences of impact assessment may be transferred to museums and galleries

Develop a deeper understanding of the academic and practical issues surrounding the examination of socio-cultural impacts

Review the range of preferred indicators of socio-cultural impact and their reasons for selection

Objectives

Focus

Impact for community

Pride and identity

Stewardship

Partnership working

Bringing people together

Impact for individuals

Social elements

Learning

Connection with objects

Emotional responses

Methods

Mixed methods:

Large scale survey pre-opening

Large scale survey post-opening

Interviews

Plan for Remainder of Project

Thank you for listening.

• Research presented here was conducted during an ESRC Studentship under its Capacity Building Clusters Award (RES-187-24-0002) in partnership with the Royal Albert Memorial Museum

• For more information about this project and the work of the Centre for Sport, Leisure and Tourism research, see www.ex.ac.uk/slt.

• Contact Fiona Hutchison on f.c.hutchison@exeter.ac.uk• Photos (c) 2011 Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery and

Exeter City Council.