Members of the South West Fed gathered at the brand new Shoemakers Museum in Street for a brilliant afternoon of learning and discussion.
Sam (Deputy Director and Museum Manager) shared an overview of the museum’s wider strategy and the vision behind the capital works project. She spoke candidly about funding, income generation and the challenges of shaping the museum’s identity, including tackling persistent misconceptions about the collection being a corporate archive or “just a shoe museum”, and instead communicating the true scale, variety and purpose of the organisation.
Nicky (Collections Manager) talked through the design and fit-out of the new museum, reflecting on the practical and creative challenges of retrofitting a modern museum into a historic building. She also shared insights into the use of interactives, as well as approaches to conservation and managing hazards within the collection.
Throughout both sessions, the team were extremely generous with their time, openly sharing successes and challenges and offering valuable insight for colleagues across the sector.
The visit concluded with an excellent tour of the museum led by Jude (Curator), followed by time to continue conversations and network in the museum café. For those who weren’t able to attend, the Shoemakers Museum is well worth a visit and highly recommended.
