My first day in Norwich – a warm and inspiring beginning (Thuy Pham, Vietnam, ITP 2025)

Written by Thuy Pham, Head of Education and Community Department, Vietnam National Museum of History (Vietnam, ITP Fellow 2025)

After three exciting weeks of learning at the British Museum – with practical and inspiring training sessions, department time, and enriching day trips – today, 28 July 2025, marked the start of a new phase in our ITP 2025 journey. Divided into small groups, we headed out to partner museums across the UK for our placements.

Our group, which will be working with the Norfolk Museums Service, travelled to Norwich and includes four fellows: Nachanok Wongkhaluang (Thailand), Thuy Pham (Vietnam), La‘akea Ai (Hawai’i, USA), and Nabhan Taghlib Al Barwani (Oman).

The train ride to Norwich was stunning – passing through charming villages with red-tiled roofs and brick houses, blooming summer gardens, and vast green fields with golden wheat. In less than two hours, the sign “Welcome to Norwich” appeared, making us all excited.

At the station, we were warmly welcomed with hugs and smiles by Louisa Wickham – Teaching Museum Manager, and Jo Warr – Head of Development. They walked us to our accommodation at Wellington Apartments. I felt a sense of excitement and curiosity for what lay ahead.

Soon after, we had lunch together at the Refectory inside the Hostry of Norwich Cathedral – one of the largest and most impressive Norman cathedrals in the UK, built in the 11th century. In a peaceful and airy space, we enjoyed delicious food and joyful conversation. Louisa asked us what impressed us most during the past three weeks at the British Museum. Each of us shared memorable highlights: the V&A Storehouse’s innovative open design where collections and conservation processes are visible to the public; the child-centred, co-created displays at Young V&A; the emotional and interactive storytelling of Stonehenge; and the Gallery of the Islamic World at the British Museum, which uses multimedia, thematic and contextual storytelling to connect audiences of all ages and backgrounds.

For me, I realised that the power of a display or educational programmes is not only in the objects but also in how we tell their stories. When a story touches emotions and creates connection, that’s when a museum truly comes alive. That’s something I deeply value and strive for in my work.

Our lunch conversation continued with Louisa and Jo sharing interesting insights about the history of Norwich and the local museums, especially the exciting redevelopment project at Norwich Castle. One gallery, developed in collaboration with the British Museum, will tell the archaeological and medieval story of Norfolk. “It opens next week, but you’ll get a special preview tomorrow,” Louisa said — and we all cheered with excitement!

The story of the collaboration between the British Museum and its partner museums – especially with Norwich Castle Museum – made me realise that expanding partnerships and creating opportunities for community and curator participation not only enriches the content of exhibitions but also helps museums grow sustainably and better serve diverse audiences.

In the afternoon, we took a walking tour around Norwich Cathedral and its surrounding area. Norwich Cathedral, with its magnificent Norman architecture and a bell tower reaching 96 metres high, has been the religious and cultural centre of Norfolk for nearly 1,000 years and the site of many important historical events. Strolling along the gently sloping cobbled streets, winding past old tiled-roof houses, charming little shops and cosy cafés, I was truly impressed by the historic buildings and the stories behind them. The visit gave me a deeper understanding of Norwich’s rich culture and history.                               

In the evening, we enjoyed a warm and friendly welcome dinner at a local restaurant. Over delicious food, we talked more about museum work and the importance of museums in building community connections. Everyone was so friendly and open — I felt completely welcomed.

Even on just the first day in Norwich, I’ve already learned a lot about how the Norfolk Museums Service connects with the public and tells stories through its collections. Museums here are not just places to display objects, but also spaces for culture, education, and community experiences. I feel inspired to think about how I can improve public engagement and education at my own museum.

Sincere thanks to the British Museum and the ITP team for giving me this amazing opportunity. I’m looking forward to the coming days in Norwich — especially learning more about education programs at Norwich Castle Museum & Art Gallery, which is known as a model for museum education: meeting national curriculum needs while inspiring learning through interaction and immersive storytelling.