Joanne Davies
Professional Doctorate
Schools and Colleges Manager Manchester City Galleries
Job overview
I have been working at Manchester City Galleries within the learning team since 2005. My main duties revolve around schools and colleges, devising activities for 3-19 year olds, delivering teacher training courses and managing a team of 20 freelance artist/educators. Recent activities have included the development of an artist in schools programme which helps children develop skills as independent learners through enquiry-based learning and critical and reflective thinking.
My role has developed over the last 18 months, creating opportunities to explore new approaches to curating and interpretation. Fundamental to this has been the work I've developed around the Object Dialogue Box. An artist made interpretation tool that opens up the collection, ask questions and increases confidence in personal response. The box and its contents are used to make imaginative connections between artworks and their environments. See the artist's website that created the box to find out more, www.objectdialoguebox.com/newboxes/object-dialogue-box-6-manchester-art-gallery
Biography
My interest in working in museums and galleries began whilst completing my PGCE in Secondary Art and Design Education at Manchester Metropolitan University. I received an enrichment placement in Amsterdam, working with the Van Gogh Museum. This time of research and reflection developed my understanding of the unique learning environment museums and galleries can offer. I took this experience into my teaching, working as an Art Teacher in Salford, taking young people to the different venues across the North West. Knowing my passion was in teaching outside of the classroom, I decided to develop my knowledge of the art world and undertake a MA in Art History at the University of Manchester, where I completed my dissertation on Performance Art. I then gained my position at Manchester City Galleries.
Motivation and Aims for undertaking the PD
In February 2009, I gained a Professional Development Placement with the Centre for Museology supported by Renaissance North West. This opportunity provided me with the time to reflect on my working practice and develop my approach and methodology. I completing a successful work based research project surrounding the gallery's exhibition Angels of Anarchy: Women Artist and Surrealism. Working with the University framed my personal and professional progression. I decided to progress this learning and begin my Professional Doctorate, not only to continue the process but to develop my ability to influence change. My initial research will centre on engagement, interpretation and public participation, exploring the following questions:
- How/can we transfer /adapt the approaches and outcomes used in learning activities into the gallery environment for all visitors?
- When/how can we encourage traditional notions of curatorial authority to be opened up so we can start displaying and accessing collections creatively?
- How/when /should we open up hidden collections to the public?
- When/should the collection be touched, handled to create a different level of experience/engagement?
- How/when will collections be regularly redisplayed to create different dialogues, connections and conditions to help people to question and learn?
Contact: j.davies5@manchester.gov.uk