STICK Projects
STICK exists to promote the care and enjoyment of transport and industry collections. One of the ways we can achieve this is through project and partnership working to encourage wider engagement with these collections across Scotland.
Old Tools, New Uses
Our current project is the Old Tools, New Uses project which is part of the Museums Association's Effective Collections Scheme.
Get involved
Come along to one of our workshops for museums professionals which are being held across the country. These will give you the opportunity to find out more about Old Tools, New Uses and meet our independent subject specialist advisor, David Woodcock.
For more information on Old Tools, New Uses, or to register for the project please contact Megan Combe, NMS National Partnerships Officer on m.combe@nms.ac.uk
**RECRUITMENT**
STICK are now advertising for a Schools Education Project Manager as part of the third phase of the Old Tools, New Uses project. STICK wish to commission:
A suitably qualified self-employed professional to plan and deliver a digital education resource and teacher’s pack for Primary School use that will be capable of use by a number of museums across Scotland.
The resource will focus on the use of domestic technology collections past and present and explore the themes of poverty, recycling, technical skills and technological developments in society, which relate to the aims of the Old Tools New Uses project.
It is essential that the resource employs a cross-curricular methodology and is compliant with the Curriculum for Excellence. It is also required that the final resource is in a format that allows its content to be used or enhanced (without significant cost) by different types of museums across Scotland in the long-term.
The consultant brief has more information about the role. For further discussion of the brief please contact Jilly Burns by email (j.burns@nms.ac.uk) or call 0131 247 4394.
The deadline for applications is Friday 20th August, a written submission and CV should be sent electronically by 5pm to Jilly Burns (j.burns@nms.ac.uk) by this date. It is expected that interviews will be held on Monday 30th August.
**RECRUITMENT**
STICK are now advertising for a Schools Education Project Manager as part of the third phase of the Old Tools, New Uses project. STICK wish to commission:
A suitably qualified self-employed professional to plan and deliver a digital education resource and teacher’s pack for Primary School use that will be capable of use by a number of museums across Scotland.
The resource will focus on the use of domestic technology collections past and present and explore the themes of poverty, recycling, technical skills and technological developments in society, which relate to the aims of the Old Tools New Uses project.
It is essential that the resource employs a cross-curricular methodology and is compliant with the Curriculum for Excellence. It is also required that the final resource is in a format that allows its content to be used or enhanced (without significant cost) by different types of museums across Scotland in the long-term.
The consultant brief has more information about the role. For further discussion of the brief please contact Jilly Burns by email (j.burns@nms.ac.uk) or call 0131 247 4394.
The deadline for applications is Friday 20th August, a written submission and CV should be sent electronically by 5pm to Jilly Burns (j.burns@nms.ac.uk) by this date. It is expected that interviews will be held on Monday 30th August.
'Old Tools, New Uses' comes to Aberdeen
Our Subject Specialist Advisor, David Woodcock, was at the Cowdray Hall on 24 June to help museum staff assess a range of domestic technology objects.
See our Projects page for details of how to submit your lists of objects for assessment and to learn about our upcoming events.
More photos from the day are on the News page.
Project Launch
June 9 saw the successful launch of STICK’s innovative new project Old Tools, New Uses by Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Culture and External Affairs at The National Piping Centre in Glasgow. STICK founder and Chair, Alexander Hayward charted STICK’s extraordinary growth from a promising ‘twig’ to a confident and sturdy ‘branch’.
Further contributions from Gordon Rintoul, Director NMS and Sally Cross, Collections Coordinator at the MA, developed the context of the Effective Collections Project as a whole. The process and ethos of Old Tools, New Uses was defined and elaborated on by Catherine Gillies of the Hope McDougall Collection, and Luke Caley of Tools For Self Reliance explained how the charity uses unwanted museum objects to benefit the lives of less fortunate communities in Africa. David Woodcock, STICK’s Subject Specialist Advisor, talked about the importance of the NMS collections of tools, sewing machines and typewriters, focusing on the cultural and financial benefits of considered and responsible disposal for all museums, large and small.
The event was well attended and David Woodcock commented afterwards, “More and more museums appreciate the specific benefits of judicious disposal to enhance their collections and improve the overall efficiency of their operation. Museums quickly pick-up on the idea of a master catalogue of tools, sewing machines and typewriters for the whole of Scotland. Lists have come in to me from NMS, North Lanarkshire, Aberdeen, Almond Valley and interest from Glasgow Museums too. It’s an exciting time.”
A piece on the launch has also appeared on the Museums Association's website here.
Don’t miss out!
Be part of the project and submit your lists of inventoried objects of domestic appliances, sewing machines, typewriters, woodworking ,craft and farm tools, for inclusion in the master catalogue for Scotland being put together by the project.
Come along to one of the workshops being run by STICK for any and all heritage concerns with collections, to benefit from free professional assessment of any items you wish to have examined. The next one is at Cowdray Hall, Aberdeen on 24 June; followed by the Highland Folk Museum, Kingussie on 7 September and the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh on 27 September.
Please send your record lists of relevant objects in the categories above direct to David Woodcock email: david@researchpod.co.uk or via Megan Combe, email: m.combe@nms.ac.uk.
Image above shows from left to right: Sally Cross (MA collections coordinator), Fiona Hyslop MSP (Minister for Culture and External Affairs), Gordon Rintoul (NMS Director), Alexander Hayward (Chairman of STICK).
Project Update (May 2010)
STICK’s innovative new project Old Tools, New Uses is now well under way. We are pleased to introduce our Subject Specialist Advisor, David Woodcock. David trained as a social historian with particular interest in industrial and technological development, he has gained a wealth of experience throughout a twenty-five year career as a specialist curator, researching and writing for exhibitions, publications and educational resources, in national museums. Most recently David has concentrated on working as a professional freelance researcher and writer.
David recommends that all museums in Scotland, both large and small, council-run or independent, get involved by submitting their lists of inventoried objects of domestic appliances, sewing machines, typewriters, woodworking ,craft and farm tools, for inclusion in the master catalogue for Scotland being put together by the project.
STICK has organised 4 drop-in workshops for all heritage concerns with collections, to benefit from free professional assessment of any items they wish to have examined. The sessions provide an ideal opportunity to confirm material you have is definitely unwanted and will provide the hardware for charity partner Tools For Self Reliance to renovate and ship to artisan communities in Africa, who can use them to help improve their quality of live.
The Scottish master catalogue of these collections has never before been attempted, but the value of this reference document will be immense in terms of saving all museums valuable time, energy and resources in acquisition, retention and disposals in the future. Make sure your museum is included as part of it.
Please send your record lists of relevant objects in the categories above direct to David Woodcock, email: david@researchpod.co.uk or via Megan Combe, email: m.combe@nms.ac.uk.