The Thomas-Ferdinand Gallery and St Albans Museums are seeking four panellists for 'Who Owns the Archive?' Community-Led Methods for Rewriting British Histories. This 90-minute public panel asks: how can community-led approaches to visual and material heritage reshape the histories museums tell about Britain through art, objects and collections? We invite researchers, curators and community practitioners to share work that has uncovered overlooked histories, challenged an interpretation or changed who has a say in telling the story. Three contributions will explore gaps in collections, community-held material and shared interpretation in regional museums. A fourth will compare the case studies through research in British art, design or visual culture. As a panellist, you will: - Prepare a ten-minute illustrated contribution, explaining your evidence, approach and findings, or comparing the case studies. The event will takes place at St Albans Museum + Gallery in February 2027. Preparation is planned for December-January, with edited outputs in March. The event will be recorded for later viewing; recording and reuse permissions will be agreed with contributors. The proposed total fee is £112 per panellist, covering preparation, the event and the research summary. Relevant experience of community research, museum collections, British art or visual and material culture. Independent researchers and practitioners are welcome; an institutional affiliation is not required. You should be able to explain your evidence, findings and any uncertainties clearly to a public audience. We will select contributions for their relevance, supporting evidence and how they work together. Prepare a ten-minute illustrated contribution, join the panel discussion and provide a short research summary. Share material in advance with the organiser and credit those involved in the work. Preparation is planned for December 2026 to January 2027, with the event in February and edited outputs in March. Apply through the Google Form with a brief account of your experience and proposed contribution. No CV or slides are needed. We will contact applicants by late October 2026. Application Deadline: 23:59 15/10/2026Job Summary
Job Description
- Share your material in advance so the chair and other contributors can prepare.
- Join the in-person discussion and audience questions.
- Provide a short research summary for publication, with agreed credit and permissions.Job Requirements
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