Experience the Museum collections in new ways through our new Sensory Trail

Explore the weight and feel of porcelain through tactile objects, and scents inspired by porcelain history – can you find the chocolate and baking apple pie smells? Enjoy the musical sounds of porcelain and the soundscape of brewing and sharing tea in 20th century Royal Worcester china.

The Sensory Trail was created through a collaboration with local group The Monday Night Club and Birmingham-based sensory and food artist Kaye Winwood.  Together we co-created a series of sensory stations throughout our galleries where the character of the Worcester porcelain in the cases can be experienced in fun interactive ways with hands, ears, and noses!

Perfect for a family outing.  And if you’re inspired by the creativity of this project you can round off your visit by painting a pot in our ceramic studio.

All the sensory trail interpretation is also accessible in braille.

We worked in partnership with the Monday Night Club, a Worcester independent charity run by and for their members, enabling adults with learning disabilities and autism to enjoy new experiences and gain skills. Over eight months the group collaborated with experienced food, sensory and performance artist, Kaye Winwood, musician and sound artist, Paul Carroll, and ceramic artist Nuala Clooney, and the MoRW collections team. In wide-ranging creative sessions MNC members discovered more about the sensory qualities of Worcester porcelain, how it was made, and its food and drink history.  From these investigations the Sensory Trail was created.

This project was supported by an Association for Independent Museums ‘New Stories New Audiences’ grant, made possible with support from  The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Thanks to National Lottery players, we have been able to explore and develop new ways of sharing the collection’s stories using the senses. Generous support from the Bransford Trust also helped us develop this project.

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