UCL Course: Ethnographic Object Analysis

Convenors: Dr Julie Botticello, Dr Sarah Byrne, Devorah Romanek, Dr Marilena Alivizatou

Venues: UCL, British Museum, Horniman Museum

Dates: Wednesday 2, 9, 16, 23, 30 May 2012, 14:00 – 17:00pm

Do you ever visit museums and feel that you lack the specialist knowledge, skills and experience to critically analyse and evaluate ethnographic objects and displays? This training course, run by the UCL Centre for Museums, Heritage and Material Culture Studies, is designed to provide the skills necessary to do this.

Utilising collections at UCL, and with access to the British Museum and the Horniman Museum, this training course sets out to develop the skills and understanding necessary to best utilise ethnographic collections from Africa, the Americas and Oceania. The course will be particularly suitable for those wishing to develop their ethnographic expertise in such fields as museum studies and cultural heritage as well as graduates keen to familiarise themselves with the materiality of ethnographic objects, images and collections. You will be guided towards relevant themes and perspectives through a series of hands-on practical sessions run on a weekly basis.

Sessions will focus on:
•    Analytical techniques for examining materials, style and technique of ethnographic objects
•    Learning how to observe, document and describe ethnographic objects through drawing, classification and computer documentation systems
•    Handling skills, basic conservation assessment techniques and issues of conservation practice and ethics
•    Practical exploration of issues relating to exhibition, design and representation
•    Analytical techniques for ethnographic photographs and their storage

The training course will provide participants with a practical grounding to become confident in handling and using ethnographic objects in research and creative media. It will also provide some of the necessary skills needed by those interested in pursuing a career in museums and galleries, anthropology, culture and heritage, art history and the education sector.

Course Cost: £300, £250 (student concession)
For more information or to enrol please contact Dr. Sarah Byrne
s.byrne@ucl.ac.uk