In March 2022 National Lottery Heritage Fund awarded the Museum of Royal Worcester £223,00.00 to share the porcelain heritage of Worcester with the wider community, including a greater outreach. Since the start of the project, we have involved an incredible 8,498 people in Worcester’s porcelain heritage, with a few more events left to run!
The project meant we could employ 2 part time heritage engagement officers, who were able to get to know the collection and then with the support of freelance creative consultants devise programmes to be delivered in the community. At the end of the 10-week programme, the funding supported these groups visit and explore the Museum, and enjoy pottery painting.
Throughout the 3 years of the project these programmes have been delivered in sheltered accommodation, social housing, worked with day centres for adults with learning difficulties and acquired brain injuries. They have developed strong links with community partners such as Platform Housing Group and branches day centre.
They have also delivered to refugee groups, alternative schools for children who are unable to attend mainstream school, victims of domestic violence, youth centres and school holiday groups.
The wellbeing impact on the participants of museum’s work, should not be underestimated.
Feedback from participants has been wonderful.
I enjoy the items that we make and I feel a sense of achievement when finished
Trying (and succeeding) at something new.
Getting out of my house and spending time with people – the conversation and the laughter
Help my mental health
They have helped with my anxiety as I have found them relaxing.
They’ve really helped me to grow in confidence.
The Museum has also worked hard to bring new audiences into the museum, establishing an annual Summer Open Day, where the Museum is filled with creative activities, admission is reduced, and families are encouraged to ‘take over’. The Museum has piloted and now established a regular day for Home Educated families to come and learn in the spaces.
The programme included volunteer recruitment and to date volunteers have contributed over 600 hours to the project. The team are always keen to facilitate work experience, and alongside normal placements, during the project they were able to offer a weekly placement to a student with sight loss from the local blind school.
Many of these partners were not classic audience for a porcelain museum and the support of the National Lottery Heritage Fund has enabled the museum to reach a much wider range of people. The funding has allowed us to introduce the museum to so many more people not just in Worcester, but across the region and even nationally. A growing awareness of the porcelain heritage alongside new audience, will help to give the museum a viable and vibrant future moving forward.