As an organisation we want to work to support groups that are underrepresented in our collections and interpretation to use our spaces to share their heritage and culture. As a small staff team, we have limited capacity so cannot do this for all groups, but we will try our best to support as many groups as possible.

We have a few different ways that we can do this, detailed below. We have a busy programme of events and installations which will affect which spaces and options are available at any given time. It is a good idea to pick a few options that might interest you so that if your first choice is not available we can hopefully do your second choice.

There are some small costs associated with some of these activities. Where these costs are not recovered from ticket sales we would ask that where possible the community group covers these costs, however if this a barrier to involvement please do let us know and we may in some circumstances be able to cover these costs. If you would like to collaborate on a ticketed event we ask that you lead in the promotion of the event within your own community group and networks.

Options of ways you could work with us:

• Pop up exhibition: We have a dedicated community space at St Albans Museum + Gallery for showcasing objects and stories from local groups and organisations. 
  • Perfect for: sharing artworks, photographs or local narratives.
    • Associated costs: Printing (panels, labels etc) The museum may be able to support with this if necessary.
    • Community groups will be expected to abide by museum accessibility standards and submit a plan & text before the exhibition opens.

• Case in St Albans on Demand or Timeline Gallery at St Albans Museum + Gallery: An object or small selection of objects chosen from our collection displayed in the Objects on Demand gallery space. Can be for 3, 6 or 12 months (depending on demand).
  • Perfect for: sharing the history of a group, a small intervention over a long time.
    • Associated costs: £0
    • You will be asked to write a short paragraph for display about why the object is significant to you.

• A talk and Q&A: a talk in the learning studio at St Albans Museum + Gallery (capacity 35 people, plus 100 people online if offered as a hybrid event) or in Lecture Room 1 at Verulamium Museum (capacity 50 people, plus 100 people online if offered as a hybrid event) from a local community member/ panel with a powerpoint presentation.
  • Perfect for: sharing local narratives and sparking discussion. You can see an example of this type of activity here.
    • Associated costs: if out of hours- extra staffing, approx. £30. If need to pay for a speaker, approx. £150.
    • Ticket costs: can recover costs through ticketing at approx. £10 per person.

• Themed under 5s activity: bringing a themed storybook and activities to one of our regular Museum Minis/ Tots Tales activities.
  • Perfect for: diversifying educational activities and sharing basic customs/ celebrations
    • Associated costs: £0

• Themed half-term craft activities: drop-in basic craft activities in the learning studio or assembly room at St Albans Museum + Gallery or in one of the lecture rooms at Verulamium Museum (capacity approx. 25 children per session).
  • Perfect for: sharing/ celebrating customs. You can see an example of this type of activity here.
    • Associated costs: if need to pay for a facilitator, approx. £150. If need to pay for special materials, approx. £50. Simpler activities can be offered for free.
    • Ticket costs: can recover costs through ticketing at approx. £5 per child.

• Themed adult craft activities: workshops for adults in the learning studio or lecture rooms (capacity approx. 20 people).
  • Perfect for: sharing traditional crafts/ supporting diverse artists. You can see an example of this type of activity here.
    • Associated costs: if need to pay for a facilitator, approx. £200. If need to pay for special materials, approx. £50. Simpler activities can be offered for free.
    • Ticket costs: can recover costs through ticketing at approx. £15 per person.

• Online activity: We can also do lots of online things, whether that is a video, online exhibition, social media posting/ takeover or webinar. We’d love to hear your ideas of how we could use our platforms to celebrate your community group.
  • Perfect for: sharing an important message/ increasing your online visibility. You can see an example of this type of activity here.
    • Associated costs: often free. May be costs associated with video creation/ image licencing.

If you want to propose an event or something you'd like to work with us on, please get in touch: museum@stalbans.gov.uk