The Open Museum takes museum objects out of the museum walls and out into the heart of the community. We work with community groups all over Glasgow. We are the outreach department of Glasgow Museums.
The Open Museum facilitates free access to the collections for those who don’t, won’t or can’t visit museums. We do this through handling and reminiscence kits, travelling displays, community exhibitions and partnership projects.
We have over 80 handling and reminiscence kits full of real museum objects. Each kit is based on a different theme and enables people to get close to the objects, stimulating their senses and imagination. Our kits can be used to inspire reminiscence, oral history, storytelling and creativity.
Kits can be borrowed by groups or individuals who work alongside people who don’t, won’t or can’t visit museum venues. Please get in touch if you would like to find out how to borrow our kits. (Please note – we don’t loan to schools or formal education establishments but you can contact the learning and access department to find out what they can offer).
Our travelling displays tour community venues across Glasgow. With over 20 in circulation, our themed displays give people the opportunity to enjoy and discover a range of objects from Glasgow Museums in the heart of their own communities. If you would like to recommend a venue for travelling displays in your local area let us know.
The Open Museum can deliver free, facilitated object-based sessions within community spaces, giving people the chance to get creative, tell stories, reminisce and learn from one another. We also engage with people at community festivals and events. If you would like us to come to a session or event that you are organising please get in touch. Should you require a BSL interpreter please let us know at least 14 days in advance, to ensure that your visit is enjoyable and informative.
We support several permanent community exhibition spaces across the city. The Open Museum offers support and professional expertise to enable communities to develop their ideas into exhibitions and celebrate their achievements.
We recently hosted an international conference to share good practice. The Open Museum has 20 years of experience in working in collaboration with a variety of organisations which support local creativity, innovation and learning. Our publication ‘Out There: Pushing the Boundaries of Museum Potential’ samples some of these projects and offers insights into the thinking behind the museum. These projects show the contribution that museum collections can make towards social equality, literacy, arts, and positive mental health initiatives.
If you would like to know more about any of our work, we are always happy to talk to you. Speak, call, write, email or visit.
Phone (voice only): 0141 276 9300
Email: OpenMuseumEnquiries@glasgowlife.org.uk
