The Migration Museum

The site visit for my course this week was to the Migration Museum. This emerging organisation started life as a museum without premises, working on a project basis in collaboration with other museums and public spaces. It is currently tucked away upstairs in a former factory, in temporary premises in Lambeth High Street, whilst it continues to work towards a permanent premises. The Museum's  discreet location is however just a stone's throw away from major galleries such as Tate Britain.

Museum educator Liberty Melly spoke in depth to our group about the motivations of the museum, in creating a more meaningful dialogue about migration, and to actively counter negative perceptions of migration peddled in parts of the British print media. The Museum hopes to create a richer dialogue and understanding of the positive impact of migration in the UK, and dispel some of the many myths surrounding this contentious issue. The UK has experienced migrations over thousands of years, but this perspective is rarely reflected in the media.

During this study tour I am visiting and reflecting on both emerging museums and galleries, and those that have been established for hundreds of years. One of the extraordinary benefits of visiting a small and emerging space such as this one, is the visibility of the processes and issues that impact on all areas of the sector today. This includes the  mechanisms of arguing a case for a museum, strategies for measuring reach and impact, and audience engagement and consultations. 

Have a close look at their website (linked above) for some great examples of how this small museum is doing  these things and more.

This Museum has been established by a small group of people who are passionate about expanding the dialogue surrounding migration in the UK. It is a shining example of how a small group of determined, resilient and passionate people can use and develop  the Museum and Gallery space to encourage debate and discussion on issues that matter. 

The potential for our creative industry students within TAFE regions, and forging collaborations  across regions to think and act in this way is enormous. We have an opportunity to develop engagement and thinking around key issues of our location and of our times,  to broaden debate around key issues, and work to build inclusivity and connectedness, and innovation. In turn, this will develop audience engagement and also patronage of the creative industries. It is essential that we evaluate (measure) the impact or meaning in some way. A place to start is asking our TAFE communities: 'what are the issues that matter to you? What do we need to talk more about?'

installation detail: 'Humanae' (work in progres since 2012), Angelica Dass

From the current exhibition at the Migration Museum ' No turning back'.

"Cataloguing every conceivable human skin tone, I aim to illustrate that skin and race are more complex than they might appear at first glance. This project invites people to rethink their identity, to bring people together isnstead of separating them." - Angelica Dass, catalogue statement. 

Post script:

Check out the valuable work already being done in Australia in this field at South Australia's Migration Museum, and Melbourne's Immigration Museum.