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Arts Tasmania

Roving Curators (October 2020)

The Roving Curator program gives museums, galleries and collections access to our museum professionals for up to 25 days.

The Roving Curators are a team of skilled and knowledgeable museum and cultural heritage professionals based in Launceston.

A delegate of the Minister for the Arts has approved 9 organisations for support with 75 days of Roving Curator time in this round.

Funding recommendations were made by expert peers drawn from the Cultural and Creative Industries Expert Register.

The expert peers were directed to assess and recommend applications for support on the basis of the published criteria of quality, planning and benefit.

Roving Curator time

Devonport RSL – 8 days towards the development of an Interpretation Plan for the Jack Mason Memorial Museum.

Fingal Valley Neighbourhood House Inc. – 7 days towards the museum’s forward planning.

Huon Valley Council – 14 days towards the Interpretation Plan for the Vin Smith Collection.

Latrobe Council – 7 days towards forward planning for the Australian Axeman's Hall of Fame.

Launceston Tramway Museum Society Inc. – 10 days towards the development of an Interpretation Plan and review the Collection Policy.

National Trust of Australia (Tasmania) – 10 days towards the development of a Disaster Preparedness Plan and volunteer training.

Tasmanian Aviation Historical Society Inc. – 11 days towards the development of an Interpretation Plan

The Derwent Valley Railway Preservation Society Inc. – 5 days towards Interpretation projects.

The Trustee for the Trustees of the Diocese of Tasmania – 3 days towards input in the production of a professionally designed and produced brochure with photographs and text.

Feedback from the expert peers

The peers gave the following feedback to help current and future applicants:

  • Peers recommended that applicants include more information in future applications to demonstrate evidence of community support.
  • Applications that clearly articulated the objectives of the activity, and how it fit in to the longer term goals of the organisation, were more likely to be supported.
  • A clear explanation of how the activity complimented or enhanced existing resources such as the collection or interpretation plans, policies, procedures or strategies made applications more competitive.
  • The peers strongly encouraged applicants to include support material, including relevant letters of support, any available interpretation plans, collection policies, and other keys supporting documentation to strengthen the application.
  • Peers would like to see applicants consider diversity and inclusivity in their activities, and to plan genuine ongoing engagements with diverse communities.

The peers were very encouraged to see a range of different small museums run by volunteers adapting or looking to adapt professional museum practices.

Peer assessors

The following peers assessed in the October 2020 round (incorporating Cultural Heritage Organisations, Cultural Heritage Organisations [multi-year] and Roving Curators):

  • Anna Hume
  • Belinda Cotton
  • Jennifer Franklin
  • Kim Lehman
  • Stephen Salt

Arts Tasmania carefully manages actual and perceived conflicts of interest for both staff members and peers involved in the assessment process.

More information on the management of conflicts of interest