Research and collaboration

• What are the benefits of working with you?

  Exhibitions and programmes are an excellent way to engage the public with research, but we also aim to achieve measurable and meaningful impact. We set objectives for all our projects, setting out what we want to achieve, and carefully evaluate them to demonstrate the extent to which we’ve achieved them and how.

  Museums are particularly interested in achieving behavioural and attitudinal change in visitors and are experimenting in the best ways of doing this.

• What are the options for working with you?

  • A major exhibition, held in the Albany Gallery of the Wardlaw Museum. These are our biggest and most involved options and take around 18 months to prepare. Each is heavily marketed and evaluated, with a full programme of events forming a key part of the project.
  • A Research Studio display is a lighter commitment and involves creating a small display or conceiving of an experimental approach. Programming around these is much lighter.
  • A small display elsewhere in the University.
  • An event or events programme.
  • Something digital.
  • If you just want to hire a space you can do this by emailing museumenqueries@st-andrews.ac.uk. Each School, Professional Service Unit and Student Society is allowed one free use of the Learning Loft every year.

  If you have an idea for something that’s not included above we’d love to hear it. We aim to reimagine what a museum can be, so if you’ve got something out of the ordinary then let us know.

• What does working with you involve?

  Projects with University Museums are collaborative. You bring your subject expertise and we bring our knowledge in creating exciting programmes and exhibitions.

  What this looks like on a week-to-week basis varies depending on the project and the stage of development. Typical tasks for a big exhibition based in our Albany Gallery include:

  • attending regular meetings, usually around 60-90 minutes each fortnight
  • involvement in the development of ideas, objectives and audiences
  • advising and supporting content development, but not writing text
  • reading text to ensure accuracy
  • supporting grant applications
  • some involvement in the programme
  • advising on evaluation.

• What does it cost?

  Exhibitions in the Albany Gallery typically cost £40,000 to £60,000 each. Museums will cover the costs from their budget and external grant applications.

  Displays elsewhere, including in the Research Studio, typically cost £500 to £1000 and you will usually be expected to fund this in its entirety.

• Will my work be credited?

  Yes. As of 2024 all our collaborative partners will be credited at the entrance to the exhibition and on the website, as well as in any press releases.

• How can I demonstrate impact?

  Demonstrating impact is one of our specialities. For exhibitions in our Albany Gallery we will work with you to determine what you need to demonstrate and to develop a full and robust evaluation plan that clearly shows the impact of the project. Evaluation methodologies are wide ranging and often include a mixture of:

  • gallery observations
  • exit surveys
  • follow-up surveys
  • focus groups
  • targeted feedback cards
  • online insights
  • data collected as part of the displays, for example via interactives
  • theory-of-change.

  We know evaluation takes time, so museum staff will conduct all the evaluation, although you are welcome to be fully involved. We aim to fully analyse all data within 12 months of the exhibition closing and you will have access to the raw anonymised data. Museum staff will submit ethics applications for the research.

• How do I start the process of working with you?

  The first stage is to complete a Note of Interest form (PDF), which will be considered by our Programmes and Exhibitions Committee. Once you’ve submitted this you’ll hear from us within two to five weeks.

  If we think your project might make a good exhibition in the Albany Gallery we’ll ask you to submit a second stage Exhibition Proposal, which we’ll support you in developing.

  Unfortunately we can’t take forward every proposal we receive. If we decline your proposal we’ll tell you why and suggest alternative approaches and partners.

• When should I submit my note of interest?

  The earlier the better. We typically plan the Albany Gallery programme two years in advance. However, other spaces are more flexible, so if you’ve something that’s short notice submit a Note of Interest, we’ll do all we can to find an approach that works.

• What are the timescales involved?

  We schedule exhibitions in our Albany Gallery around two years in advance and begin working on them around 18 months before they open. For this reason it's best to get your note of interest in early.

  Other options have much shorter timescales. We do not schedule the Research Studio more than a year in advance so that it can remain flexible. 

  Even if your timescales are short, submit a note of interest - there's a good chance we will have an option available.

• Can I write you into a grant application?

  You must speak to us before you include University Museums in any grant applications. We will not commit to supporting any projects that have not been formally agreed to via the Programmes and Exhibitions Committee.

• I have an idea, but it's not well developed.

  Send us a Note of Interest form (PDF). If you have an interesting kernel of an idea we’d love to hear it, even if you’re not sure where it could go. We’ve got a good sense of what might work, so if it’s got potential, we’ll work with you to develop it into something fantastic.

• Have you any top tips for preparing a note of interest?

  Your note of interest can contain as much or as little as you've considered. As long as we have the basic idea we can see how it might make a great project.

  There are two things that might be worth considering to help us find the best option for you:

  • Objectives - what do you want to achieve by doing this? Why do you want to do it? 
  • Audience - who do you want to reach? And why? Go beyond “general public”

  However, don’t worry too much if you’re not sure about these. If we take the project forward we’ll work together to refine the answers to these questions.

• I have questions or want to find out more.

  Drop an email to Matt Sheard, Head of Experience and Engagement, on mjs42@st-andrews.ac.uk.