Transformers: pilot phase
2014-15
Funded by CyMAL, Arts Council England and Museums Galleries Scotland, the pilot phase of the programme consisted of three interlinked development strands, taking place from July 2014 to March 2015, and saw a number of innovative projects in UK museums:
• a core development programme, including two residential sessions (14-15 July 2014 and 11-12 September 2014)
• support from a project coach who helped participants get the most out of the programme and identify learning needs
• a personalised programme of development and learning activities.
Successful applicants to the pilot phase of Transformers were:
Nazia Ali, curator, science and industry, Birmingham Museums Trust
Helen Barker, head of community participation, Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
Ruth Battersby-Tooke, senior curator, costumes and textiles, Norfolk Museums Service
Brendan Carr, community engagement curator, Reading Museum
Helen Charman, head of learning, Design Museum
Robin Chesters, director, Almond Valley Heritage Trust, West Lothian
Caroline Cutmore, sales and ticketing manager, National Portrait Gallery
Janet Dugdale, director, Museum of Liverpool, National Museums Liverpool
José Forrest-Tennant, community engagement officer, Black Country Echoes, Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Katie Hobbs, curator (collections management), Royal Pavilion and Museums, Brighton
Rachel MacFarlane, project officer/learning and engagement officer, Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service
Zara Matthews, project manager, Market Harborough Library and Harborough Museum Development, Leicestershire County Council
Ross McGregor, heritage officer, East Ayrshire Leisure
Rachael Rogers, heritage and culture service transformation lead, Monmouthshire County Council
Louise Sutherland, head of collections and engagement, People’s History Museum
Ellie Swinbank, keeper, National Mining Museum Scotland
Jessica Suess, Oxford Aspire officer, Oxford University Museums
Jonathan Wallis, head of museum and museum and gallery development, Derby Museums Trust
Carl Warner, research and information manager, IWM Duxford



• a core development programme, including two residential sessions (14-15 July 2014 and 11-12 September 2014)
• support from a project coach who helped participants get the most out of the programme and identify learning needs
• a personalised programme of development and learning activities.
Pilot phase participants
Successful applicants to the pilot phase of Transformers were:
Nazia Ali, curator, science and industry, Birmingham Museums Trust
Helen Barker, head of community participation, Beamish, The Living Museum of the North
Ruth Battersby-Tooke, senior curator, costumes and textiles, Norfolk Museums Service
Brendan Carr, community engagement curator, Reading Museum
Helen Charman, head of learning, Design Museum
Robin Chesters, director, Almond Valley Heritage Trust, West Lothian
Caroline Cutmore, sales and ticketing manager, National Portrait Gallery
Janet Dugdale, director, Museum of Liverpool, National Museums Liverpool
José Forrest-Tennant, community engagement officer, Black Country Echoes, Wolverhampton Art Gallery
Katie Hobbs, curator (collections management), Royal Pavilion and Museums, Brighton
Rachel MacFarlane, project officer/learning and engagement officer, Colchester and Ipswich Museum Service
Zara Matthews, project manager, Market Harborough Library and Harborough Museum Development, Leicestershire County Council
Ross McGregor, heritage officer, East Ayrshire Leisure
Rachael Rogers, heritage and culture service transformation lead, Monmouthshire County Council
Louise Sutherland, head of collections and engagement, People’s History Museum
Ellie Swinbank, keeper, National Mining Museum Scotland
Jessica Suess, Oxford Aspire officer, Oxford University Museums
Jonathan Wallis, head of museum and museum and gallery development, Derby Museums Trust
Carl Warner, research and information manager, IWM Duxford
The pilot phase was supported using public funding by CyMAL, Arts Council England and Museums Galleries Scotland:


