Mansfield Museum, Mansfield, Notts: Museum in the Blitz – Night at the Museum
Contact: Jodie Henshaw Email: jhenshaw@mansfield.gov.uk
Name of Event: ‘Mansfield in the Blitz’ - Night at the Museum
Date(s): Saturday May 17 2008
Budget: Renaissance East Midlands MGM Grant - £800
Theme: Life in Mansfield during the Second World War
Objectives:
The aim of the event was to explore a period in (some of) our visitors’ past in an accessible, light-hearted way which would allow those with first-hand experience of the Second World War to reflect on and perhaps share their thoughts and feelings with others, including those who were too young to have experienced those days first-hand.
Description
The idea stemmed from our previous Museums Night event, ‘The Museum by Moonlight’. This proved hugely popular with its audience, who requested something similar this year.
The earlier event was notable for the spontaneous bout of singing along to our background pianist and our audience’s engagement with the evening’s themed aspect, as embodied by Edwardian-costumed staff and country house style buffet.
To that end, we tried to ensure that ‘Mansfield in the Blitz’ played to those strengths. Accordingly, we split the evening into three complementary parts: an ‘austerity’ buffet; a performance piece in which the audience helps prepare a land-girl for a wartime wedding and a more organised sing-a-long to a medley of Forties songs.
All staff in attendance wore period outfits, as did some members of the audience. Tickets were sent out in the guise of ration books. The evening concluded with a chance to examine and handle some of the items of clothing used in the performance.
Overall evaluation
We aimed to reach a mixed audience. On the one hand we hoped to attract people of the older generation, including new visitors; on the other we wished to involve younger people, again in the shape of regulars and first-timers. In all these we were successful: the audience consisted of all categories, from senior citizens to infants (aged 5 – 87). Some were familiar faces; some newcomers had made appreciable journeys to be with us.
We issued eighty tickets. All were taken up and we had a waiting-list in case of cancellations.
Marketing
· MGM leaflet – sent out to last years participants.
· Mansfield Museum Newsletter
· Posters
· Mansfield Chad
· Mansfield Observer and Recorder (free papers)
· Mansfield 103.2 Culture Show and news feature
· Insider Magazine – The Mansfield District Council staff newsletter
· Websites – Mansfield Chad, Mansfield Museum, Radio Nottingham events Guide, Radio Trent What’s On and The 24 Hour Museum
What made this event/activity special to the participants and the museum?
The audience’s comments, both verbal and, as you can see from the ones listed below, formally written, were universally positive. A relaxed atmosphere helped them get the most out of the evening and young and old responded enthusiastically to all aspects.
Observing from the back of the gallery, one noticed head noddings and appreciative comments on and affirmations of virtually everything that emanated from the stage, including the more formal contextual talk given at performance’s end. The vast majority lingered well past the end of the presentations to discuss their thoughts with the performers, museum staff and each other.
Some visitor comments
· Once again a smashing evening here at the museum. This is the second year we’ve been….
· Absolutely brilliant - full of nostalgia!
· Fantastic evening- most professional-more of it please!
· Nice to have a singsong….we were five people covering three generations.
· We had a wonderful evening and it was so different for a Saturday night…
· We all enjoyed the sing-a-long and the fabulous buffet, many thanks to all the staff for all their effort – well done!
Mansfield Museums ‘Night at the Museum’ event is always a highlight of year for its staff, this year was no acceptation. In the weeks leading up to the event there was a definite buzz of excitement amongst the staff especially after we had all visited the costume hire shop and been fitted from head-to-to in 1940’s dress.
How will this project inspire you for the future? And, how could it inspire others?
This event has inspired Mansfield Museum to look at running other evening events and we will definitely be involved in ‘Night at the Museum’ next year – we are already planning ‘Mansfield in the Seventies’ complete with butterscotch angel delight, flares and D.I.S.C.O.
These evening events are great fun for visitors and staff! And I can’t recommend highly enough that museums give it a try!
