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'Behind the Scenes at the Museum'


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#1 Pullman99

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Posted 08 May 2010 - 11:09

Knowing that there are quite a few TNFrs that are interested in historic vehicles of all types as well as transport in general, I thought that I would bring to your attention a forthcoming programme. I've posted this item on the Commercial Vehicle Nostalgia thread as well.

There is a new three-part TV seres on BBC4 starting next Thursday, 13th May, called "Behind the Scenes at the Museum". The theme of the seies is exploring issues concerning museums that are "strugglng to connect with modern audiences".

Amongst the museums that the series is following is The British Commercial Vehicle Museum at Leyland - one of the best collections in the UK but also one which has had significant funding difficulties in recent years - and The Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port. So a bit of a North-West bias, clearly.

British Commercial Vehicle Museum website

Ellesmere Port website

Edited by Pullman99, 08 May 2010 - 11:14.


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#2 Gary C

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Posted 08 May 2010 - 13:41

excellent, thanks for the heads-up.

Edited by Gary C, 08 May 2010 - 13:42.


#3 alansart

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Posted 08 May 2010 - 15:22

I saw a trailer for that this morning. Looks interesting.

#4 ghinzani

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Posted 08 May 2010 - 15:31

Interesting yes, but I hope they dont do a number on these genuine enthusiasts.

#5 Pullman99

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Posted 14 May 2010 - 08:11

Interesting yes, but I hope they dont do a number on these genuine enthusiasts.


Watched this last night and I have visited the BCVM quite a few times since it opened. I think the genuine enthusiasm and love for the vehicles and the sense of community came over very strongly. Clearly there is a very high level of expertise and knowledge within the museum's "Friends" group. Mjuseums and historic properties depend on a strong support group for their survival very often and that was very apparent through this programme. The actual funding make-up of the museum was not, however, expllored in any depth. The museum was originally set up as a partnership between several local authorities and the British Motor Industry Heritage Trust.

The documentary was quite unusual in that it did cover "warts and all" exactly what was going on and was much more involving than the regular style of say "Airline". What did come across was the major problem that many museums have faced when a Friends orgnisation becomes more than just a support group. The ethos of the museum can be subtly altered through that shift in the balance of power; the result of which is that the tail effectively wags the dog. This was clearly happening here with two of the Friends almost setting up their own museum within a museum and with a conflicting display theme (audio-visual equipment in a commercial vehicle museum) which clearly was not only somewhat renegade but significantly diluted the product and only served to potentially confuse visitors. Quite rightly in my view, although the Museum Manager is himself a volunteer, the Trustees and the Manager demonstrated authority when matters were almost coming to blows. Hopefully these recent episodes can be put behind them and the museum can be taken forward.

The award of museum accreditation is a great step towards ensuring that this highly important collection can remain viable and can grow. There are a number of bus museums and places where other commercials are exhibited, but The British Commercial Vehicle Museum that is contained within what was part of a world famous factory is unique. Hopefully this programme will have alerted many people to the museum's plight and that it will now be in a position to capture ongoing funding as well as establishing a more comprehensive product that can be promoted more widely. Good luck to all concerned.

As an aside, I didn't notice the Leyland Eight in any of the shots. Has it moved (to Gaydon?).

Any further insights may have to wait until next week's programme. It's on the (Sigmund) Freud Museum in London!

Edited by Pullman99, 14 May 2010 - 08:16.


#6 FredF1

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Posted 14 May 2010 - 11:44

What did come across was the major problem that many museums have faced when a Friends organisation becomes more than just a support group. The ethos of the museum can be subtly altered through that shift in the balance of power; the result of which is that the tail effectively wags the dog. This was clearly happening here with two of the Friends almost setting up their own museum within a museum and with a conflicting display theme (audio-visual equipment in a commercial vehicle museum) which clearly was not only somewhat renegade but significantly diluted the product and only served to potentially confuse visitors. Quite rightly in my view, although the Museum Manager is himself a volunteer, the Trustees and the Manager demonstrated authority when matters were almost coming to blows. Hopefully these recent episodes can be put behind them and the museum can be taken forward.



I had the same feelings as you after watching it. Nigh on twenty years ago now, I was involved in an arts project that relied a lot on volunteers. What started innocently enough as one of the volunteers getting friends in to help, soon turned into a lopsided structure. Their pet area got given most of the attention and other stuff wouldn't be even considered until they'd finished up on their own projects. Negotiating a fairer allocation of resources always came to naught as personal preferences won out time after time. In our case, it got so bad that outside people had to be brought in which resulted in everyone of us getting the elbow and a brand new management and volunteer staff taking over.

#7 Pullman99

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Posted 14 May 2010 - 13:48

I had the same feelings as you after watching it.


Thanks for that Fred. I have also had experience of a similar situation.

I think that this series has touched on a very serious problem for small and specoialist museums. In the first programme, it was the issue of a museum that had begun with public funding and with a professional museum management having transformed - through necessity - into a volunteer run organisation. Some of the greatest and most successful museums around the world operate in exactly this way - the National Tramway Museum at Crich springs to mind - but their success is led by strong management that has identified the policy, and thereby shaped the "product", and by then pursuing this vigorously.

The core of any museum is the collection of artefacts for which it cares. Everything else outside those curatorial functions is essentially marketing. Those processes shape and define how those artefacts can be presented effectively to the museum's identified visitor base. It is an interactive process but many museums do not seem to understand exactly what their product is. It is true that the specialist museums, such as the three that are featured in this series, contain unique and irreplaceable material and it is this that is potentailly at some risk from lack of funding. When such a museum loses its focus for other reasons - such as the ones highlighted in the first programme - then future support becomes more difficult. The new government may not have museums such as the BCVM at the top of its agenda right now but central government must recognise that reducing funding at a local level could have far reaching implications for their very fabric. I think that the effective dismissal of the role of independent museums, through concentrating funding to the "National" museums, by the previous government has been extremely damaging. Major collections are, in my view, extremely vulnerable in such a climate. There was some mention last night about the BCVM having to sell off some exhibits to survive. Defining and adhering to a collecting policy is vital but there is a fine line between that and allowing a museum to lose its character.

We'll see how The Boat Museum fares in a couple of weeks!





#8 Vitesse2

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Posted 14 May 2010 - 14:14

It would perhaps have helped if the reasons behind and circumstances of the departure of the previous (paid?) director had been - even briefly - explained, since there were a few hints that he/she was considered (by the Trustees at least) to have taken some wrong decisions and pursued some disliked policies. The photographic display and the sale of exhibits were perhaps only the tip of the iceberg. Did you notice that the interior of the archive - presumably only ever seen by a few researchers - was better decorated and equipped than the café? And certainly better maintained than the roof.

Viewed from the end rather than the beginning, I think it was fairly clear that the Friends were on the back foot from the start and that the Friends' chairman felt he should have had the director's job. But had that been the case, I don't think the museum would have been in business much longer.

Overall, an interesting insight. I wish them well and it would be interesting to see a follow-up some time in the future.

#9 Pullman99

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Posted 28 May 2010 - 05:45

The final part of this series was shown last night on BBC4 and featured what used to be known as The Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port. Many of the problems they are and were facing stemmed from having had a succession of Directors and Managers over a short period of time but the main thrust was of a lack of direction and of product relevance which the most recent Director was attempting to address. Not very long after his appointment, he then left to go to Derby (I do hope he sorts out the Silk Mill Industrial Museum as that IS stuck in a timewarp) but the programme ended on a more optimistic note than it began with at least some of the funding and visitor issues seemingly being resolved. Thier merger / relatinship with the other part of The National Waterways Museum at Gloucester also seems to be heading towards a satisfactory outcome.

I couldn't help thinking that many of the issues raised were very similar to those that The Donington Collection has faced in the past decade or so and recent comments on the Donington Park thread would seem to confirm that other TNFrs share my concern over the future of that museum.

#10 Tony Matthews

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Posted 28 May 2010 - 07:12

We'll see how The Boat Museum fares in a couple of weeks!

I saw most of all three programs, and it was fascinating TV - but at times like watching a slow-motion car crash. I wonder if it is possible to run such large operations as the BCVM with so many knowledgeable but biased volunteers, all vying for space and funds for their own pet passion. When you have a character who owns several major exhibits, is blinkered by his passion and has few social skills (or so it seemed), literally growling with anger, it is a recipe for chaos. Like so many projects, clear thinking and a firm hand are essential. Well, like I have any experience...!

The final shot of the narrow-boat being hoisted from the water and gently lowered to the ground, accompanied by faint cheering from staff and volunteers, was rather moving. I wish them all good luck.

#11 Pullman99

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Posted 23 March 2011 - 17:24

There is a new three-part TV seres on BBC4 starting next Thursday, 13th May, called "Behind the Scenes at the Museum". The theme of the series is exploring issues concerning museums that are "strugglng to connect with modern audiences". Amongst the museums that the series is following is The British Commercial Vehicle Museum at Leyland - one of the best collections in the UK but also one which has had significant funding difficulties in recent years.


Just a heads-up that this programme is being repeated this evening (23rd March) on BBC4 at 1900.

#12 alansart

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Posted 23 March 2011 - 19:01

Just a heads-up that this programme is being repeated this evening (23rd March) on BBC4 at 1900.


Make that 1930 :)


#13 Sharman

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Posted 23 March 2011 - 20:23

I see they are still at odds :rolleyes:

#14 Pullman99

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Posted 23 March 2011 - 21:11

Make that 1930 :)


Yes. Sorry anout that!

Good programme, though.


#15 condor

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Posted 23 March 2011 - 21:19

The last little bit was interesting :up: but I got a bit bored with the earlier stuff...I was trying to see what I'd been recommended to watch from this thread.