Old Tools, New Uses – Public Launch
The public launch of the Old Tools, New Uses project took place on Wednesday 9th June at the National Piping Centre in Glasgow.
It was well attended and we were fortunate to have the Minister for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop to formally open the event. Hyslop was very enthusiastic about the project and admired its creativity and collaborative nature. STICK founder and Chair, Alexander Hayward charted STICK’s extraordinary growth from a promising ‘twig’ to a confident and sturdy ‘branch’.
Further contributions from Gordon Rintoul, Director NMS and Sally Cross, Collections Coordinator at the MA, developed the context of the Effective Collections Project as a whole. The process and ethos of Old Tools, New Uses was defined and elaborated on by Catherine Gillies of the Hope McDougall Collection, and Luke Caley of Tools For Self Reliance explained how the charity uses unwanted museum objects to benefit the lives of less fortunate communities in Africa. David Woodcock, STICK’s Subject Specialist Advisor, talked about the importance of the NMS collections of tools, sewing machines and typewriters, focusing on the cultural and financial benefits of considered and responsible disposal for all museums, large and small.
The event was well attended and David Woodcock commented afterwards, “More and more museums appreciate the specific benefits of judicious disposal to enhance their collections and improve the overall efficiency of their operation. Museums quickly pick-up on the idea of a master catalogue of tools, sewing machines and typewriters for the whole of Scotland. Lists have come in to me from NMS, North Lanarkshire, Aberdeen, Almond Valley and interest from Glasgow Museums too. It’s an exciting time.”
A piece on the launch has also appeared on the Museums Association’s website here.
Image above shows from left to right: Sally Cross (MA collections coordinator), Fiona Hyslop MSP (Minister for Culture and External Affairs), Gordon Rintoul (NMS Director), Alexander Hayward (Chairman of STICK).
Programme from the day
11:00 – 11:05 Welcome and introduction by Alexander Hayward, STICK Chair and Event Chair
11:05 –11:10 Official opening by Fiona Hyslop, Minister for Culture and External Affairs
11:10 – 11:20 Context of Effective Collections Project and range of current projects, Gordon Rintoul, Director NMS and Sally Cross, Collections Coordinator, Museums Association
11:20 – 11:35 Tools for Self Reliance – how the charity uses the material – Luke Caley, TFSR
11:35 – 11:50 Old Tools, New Uses –the importance of these collections – David Woodcock, STICK Subject Specialist Consultant
11:50 – 12:00 Old Tools, New Uses – programme, how to get involved – Catherine Gillies
12:00 – 12:15 Summary and Questions
12:15 – 13:00 Lunch
13:00 – 16:00 Drop-in Surgery