From Passive Objects to Active Storytelling at The Bowes Museum

The Bowes Museum, nestled in the rural town of Barnard Castle, has long been a hub for the region’s art and history. However, with the introduction of the Curiosity Project, the institution is redefining how museums can function—not only as repositories of the past but as vibrant, interactive spaces that foster creativity, curiosity, and connection. Led by Vicky Sturrs, Director of Programme Collections, the Curiosity Project is an example of the power of co-production and community engagement in transforming how we experience museum collections.

The Vision Behind the Curiosity Project

The Curiosity Project emerged from a simple yet profound question: How can The Bowes Museum co-produce spaces that preserve and showcase its collections and invite deeper, more meaningful engagement with them? Central to this initiative are the concepts of curiosity and co-production. For The Bowes Museum, co-production is not merely a buzzword; it’s a foundational approach that emphasizes collaboration with the community. Sturrs explains that this method seeks to create mutually beneficial opportunities—where the museum, staff, and audiences contribute to and gain from the process.

The project aimed to shift the museum’s collections from passive displays to active storytelling tools. This required opening up previously unseen spaces, such as storage vaults, and involving the community directly in the process. By doing so, The Bowes Museum aimed to create welcoming, inclusive environments capable of sparking dialogue and inspiration.

A Journey of Co-Production

Co-production is at the heart of the Curiosity Project. The museum refitted four gallery spaces and created three accessible storage vaults for ceramics, textiles, and furniture collections. A crucial element of this transformation was the involvement of community members, who were invited to become co-production champions within the museum. These champions represented diverse community groups and audiences, ensuring a wide range of perspectives were considered and integrated into the project.

Workshops played a pivotal role in this process. These sessions included tours, discussions, and hands-on activities where participants could engage with objects, ask questions, and share their insights. Sturrs highlights that these workshops were instrumental in fostering a sense of ownership and connection among participants. By involving people in the decision-making process, the museum was able to create spaces that genuinely reflect the interests and needs of its visitors.

Insights from the Community

The feedback from these co-production workshops provided valuable insights that shaped the Curiosity Project. The community strongly desired the museum to tell more stories—stories that delve into the history of objects, explore broader themes, and bring to light previously unheard voices. This feedback became a guiding force for the project.

One key takeaway was the need for spaces that offer diverse experiences. The community wanted opportunities for hands-on engagement and areas for rest, reflection, and contemplation. This led to creating environments catering to different needs, ensuring that every visitor can find something that resonates with them.

The community also expressed interest in exploring various thematic areas, such as the stories of artists, designers, and makers, the relationship between the collections and the environment, and the representation of gender and social justice issues. These themes guided the selection and interpretation of objects, resulting in a more diverse and inclusive narrative.

Building an Interpretive Framework

To ensure the insights from the co-production process were effectively integrated, The Bowes Museum developed an interpretive framework. This framework outlines four key strands that guide the museum’s storytelling:

1. Connecting with and Championing Artists, Designers, and Makers: This strand highlights the individuals behind the objects, exploring their creative processes and showcasing the significance of their work.

2. Exploring Ourselves and Our Place in the World: This involves examining how objects relate to broader cultural and historical contexts, encouraging visitors to reflect on their place in the world.

3. Making a Difference: This strand emphasizes the museum’s role in advocating for change and addressing contemporary issues through its collections.

4. Encouraging Everyone to be an Active Appreciator, Collector, and Storyteller: This encourages visitors to see themselves as active participants in the museum’s narrative, whether by contributing their own stories or engaging with the objects meaningfully.

By grouping objects and narratives under these strands, The Bowes Museum has created a more coherent and purposeful approach to storytelling. This framework guides the interpretation of objects and informs programming, events, and activities, ensuring that every aspect of the museum’s work aligns with its mission.

From Passive Objects to Active Storytelling

The Curiosity Project has fundamentally transformed how The Bowes Museum views its collections. Objects are no longer seen as static artefacts to be passively observed; instead, they are active participants in the storytelling process. For instance, one of the narratives developed through the project focuses on the history and landscape of Teesdale, exploring how the region’s industrial and agricultural past has shaped the local community.

Another narrative centers on the concept of home and hospitality, responding to community feedback about the need for welcoming and relatable spaces, especially during challenging times like the current cost of living crisis. The museum also explores themes of family and chosen families, examining how different relationships and domestic environments are reflected in the displayed objects.

Other narratives address environmental issues, gender representation, and social justice—areas the community highlighted as necessary. By tackling these themes, The Bowes Museum preserves history, engages with contemporary debates, and encourages visitors to think critically about the world around them.

Key Lessons for Successful Co-Production

As the Curiosity Project continues to evolve, The Bowes Museum has identified several key lessons that could benefit other institutions embarking on similar journeys:

1. Continuous Engagement: Maintaining staff and community engagement throughout the project is crucial. Regular updates, celebrating progress, and creating opportunities for stakeholders to see new ideas in action are essential for sustaining momentum.

2. Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Involving a wide range of staff from different departments ensures the project benefits from diverse perspectives. Expanding this collaboration to include more areas, such as front-of-house staff, can further enhance the project’s success.

3. Transparency in Progress: Keeping everyone informed and involved in the project’s progress helps build momentum and ensures all stakeholders feel invested in the outcome.

4. Empowering Community Champions: Assigning staff members as community champions fosters a culture of co-production across the organization. This approach ensures that co-production is not confined to a single department but is embraced by the entire museum.

5. Embedding Change into Strategy: Developing frameworks and policies that reflect the lessons learned from co-production ensures that these changes are sustainable and embedded in the museum’s long-term strategy.

Looking Ahead

The Curiosity Project marks a new era for The Bowes Museum, where objects are no longer passive but brought to life through the stories they tell and the connections they inspire. While the project has already achieved significant milestones, it is an ongoing journey. The museum continues to refine its approach to co-production, storytelling, and community engagement, always striving to create spaces that are informative, welcoming, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of its audience.

In many ways, the Curiosity Project is a model for how museums can evolve to meet the needs of modern audiences. By embracing co-production and placing storytelling at the heart of its mission, The Bowes Museum is preserving the past and actively shaping the future.