Portraits > People and Portraits
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Anne
Which location did you choose?
The Joseph Wright Gallery – I’ve loved the paintings since I started working here, not only for the content, but the skill too.What object did you bring?
A picture of my parents.What do you most like about working in the museum?
Handling beautiful objects. Meeting a wide range of people. Working with a nice team.
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Arran
Which location did you choose?
Bonnie Prince Charlie Room – the history of the 1745 rebellion is a great passion of mine and I spend a lot of time researching and presenting the period.What object did you bring?
Reproduction Star and Sash of the Most Noble Order of the Garter, which I wear when portraying Bonnie Prince Charlie. It was made and given to me by a number of people who are very dear to me.What is the most important aspect of your job?
Being in a position to get people to engage and provide a narrative. Show museums aren’t just stuffy places.
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Chris
Which location did you choose?
Origins gallery – part of my area of work.What object did you bring?
A photo of a Irish Red Setter dog and my dog’s lead – she is my passion and hobby.How would you like to see the museum move forward?
Modernise and update – brighten up the decor.What’s inside here is good and we do very well with the buildings we have.
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Diana
Which location did you choose?
The Community Gallery. Woven words textiles – they’re very colourful and interesting.What object did you bring?
Athletics shoes from my last race. My daughter is now the 2nd best shot putter in Britain. I also have a book of The Tempest, as my son is an actor.What do you most like about working in the museum?
The variety – you see the most amazing and beautiful things. You never know each day what you are going to come across.How would you like to see the museum move forward?
To be able to show off more of the collection. Tell the story of the city. Use the river.
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Jonathan
Which location did you choose?
The Clock Tower because you can see the roof – it keeps me awake at night, especially when it’s raining, as it has been known to leak...What object did you bring?
2 wooden spoons – I make them as presents and always keeps the dud ones.What is the most important aspect of your job?
Making sure that the people who work here have the things they need to do their jobs properly.How would you like to see the museum move forward?
Connecting more people with the museum objects on a personal and group level. We need to make ourselves something that is useful.
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Lucy
Which location did you choose?
Next to the Erasmus Darwin sculpture – he’s such a fascinating character.What object did you bring?
My vintage leather jacket – I love it, it’s very rock and roll and I’ve had some good times in it. I like to think about who owned it before.What do you most like about working in the museum?
The people are very enthusiastic, it has a homely feel and I felt
comfortable very quickly.What is the most important aspect of your job?
Making sure the East Midlands moves forward in the development
of its collections.How would you like to see the museum move forward?
By transforming the 3 sites to be fit for the 21st century, promoting Derby in a positive light, attracting more local people and making more of the collections.
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Maggie
Which location did you choose?
Top floor in my work area – temporary exhibitions.What object did you bring?
My own work, which is sculpture.What do you most like about working in the museum?
Challenge of constant change. Bringing something new to Derby. Working with artists.What is the most important aspect of your job?
Accessing the public to new opportunities - helping them to broaden
their horizons.How would you like to see the museum move forward?
To have a café/shop on museum square and a more commercial outlook. Open the museum in the evening.
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Matt
Which location did you choose?
The Joseph Wright Gallery – the area I’m based in.What object did you bring?
A book that I have bound myself - a hobby of mine.What do you most like about working in the museum?
The historical interest and the variety of enquiries and services we provide here.How would you like to see the museum move forward?
Refurbish the building and get more investment to show off the fantastic collections.
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Ruth
Which location did you choose?
My office.What object did you bring?
Child’s rattle – which been used by many of the children in my family and is now becoming a bit of an heirloom.What do you most like about working in the museum?
I used to be a gallery assistant and I miss that, but I love my new role which is about giving access to the museum collections and working with the objects.What is the most important aspect of your job?
It’s about access and cataloguing – it is an indefinable and endless task.How would you like to see the museum move forward?
For the museum to become rich. To be valued more. To educate.