Kiziili Chole (Kenya, ITP 2013) and his Glasgow experience!

Kiziili Chole, curator of the Kitale Museum in Kenya (ITP 2013) talks about his own experiences of a new city and the networking and skills-sharing at the Museums Association Conference, Glasgow.

I was extremely excited to have been among the lucky ones selected from the former participants of International Training Programme (ITP) to attend the Museum Annual Conference and Exhibition in Glasgow for further networking and skills-sharing. Thanks to the British Museum organizers.

During my trip I realized that Glasgow is one of Europe’s most exciting and welcoming cities.

The conference had three very educative themes namely;

Being Brave: courage, innovation and risk-training coordinated by Adele Patrick, Glasgow Women’s Library Lifelong Learning and Creative Development Manager.

People and Places: stories, communities and collections coordinated by Morag Macpherson,  Head of Research & Development, Museums Galleries Scotland

Health and Wellbeing: impact, evidence and delivery coordinated by Mark O’Neill, Director, Policy and Research, Glasgow Life.

I also had a chance to attend some smaller, practice related talks in the workshop rooms on topics such as “How smaller museums can work internationally” and “The Power of Partnership: touring exhibitions.”

I also made quite a number of new connections, by networking and skills-sharing during breaks. Some of the links I made, and which I’m already following-up after coming home, are:

1. Joshua Stevenson at the “Guide ID” exhibition stand. I was able to learn about how we can improve on visitor guides by use of this gadget. Guide ID is an audio tour that is well received and very interactive.
2. I also visited the Interspectral stand – I had some interest in the “Inside Explore” systems. This is an interactive visualization experience that enables users to explore objects that have been scanned with 3D x-rays. Using touch gestures museum visitors learn about a wide variety of subjects including human anatomy, mummies and Martian meteorites.

While in Glasgow i also had an opportunity to visit other places of interest including;

The Riverside Museum – a community focused museum and home to some of the world’s finest cars, bicycles, ship models, trams and locomotives. http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/museums/riverside/pages/default.aspx

Glasgow Cathedral – an historic cathedral, and the St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art.

In conclusion, I wish to sincerely acknowledge Claire Messenger and Emma Croft for their efforts to arrange our successful stay in Glasgow, without forgetting how much they cared and loved us in a very cold climate of less than 5 degrees. Congratulations to Emma for linking Ishaq Mohammed and his luggage!

Thanks,

KIZIILI CHOLE

CURATOR – KITALE MUSEUM

KENYA