Project 1: Developing an Evaluation Report to MoH

Note: With this partner, we offer two projects. Read both project briefs carefully and select the project you wish to enrol in on the application form.  

Partner: Museum of the Home

Museum of the Home is delivering a collections disposals project that involves community members in decisions about the future of museum objects. Community groups will take part in workshops where they review parts of the Museum’s collections using a community co-created assessment framework and help determine whether those objects should remain in the Museum. As this approach has not been taken in museums before, the project requires evaluation to understand participants’ experiences and assess how effectively the project achieves its aims and intended outcomes? 

Evaluation

Ethical transfer, reuse, disposal, and deaccessioning are an everyday part of collections work that museums undertake. These activities support the long-term sustainability of museums, particularly in the context of the climate crisis. Museum stores have limited space, and rehoming objects of low cultural or research value enables museums to focus resources on preserving and interpreting the most relevant parts of their collections. 

This project invites community groups to contribute to decisions about collections objects whose future within the museum is under review. The Museum of the Home, working alongside a group of Community Authors, is developing a consultation framework to guide this process. The Community Authors are a group of people with knowledge passion and interest with different skills and experiences from Museum staff. The framework will be tested through workshop sessions, where participants will assess objects using a set of questions. They will also have the opportunity to share their views on objects they feel strongly about, helping shape future interpretation through the creation of new object descriptions.  

Museum of the Home seeks to evaluate these workshops against the aims of the Historic Collections Rationalisation and Cataloguing project. Evaluation will take place on-site during one of the workshops and may include a combination of observation and participant surveys to understand the attendees’ experiences and assess the effectiveness of this engagement work.  

Key Questions to Consider

• Do participants enjoy the workshop? 
• Are participants engaged in the workshop? 
• Do participants find the format accessible? 
• Do participants have a greater understanding of how the disposals process works in museums? 
• Do participants feel involved in the Museum’s decision-making process around collections disposals? 

Application Process and Key Dates

Stage 1: Online application - deadline is Friday 06 November 2026 
Stage 2: Shortlisting and selection  
Stage 3: Application outcome notification by Monday 16 November 2026  

Programme duration: Wednesday 03 February to Thursday 25 March 2027 (final presentations will take place at Museum of the Home premises) 

You must complete a pre- and post-project survey, which includes writing a short reflective review of up to 300 words, to receive certification.   

Eligibility

• Current Queen Mary students.
• Highly motivated and teamwork oriented.
• Passionate about heritage and making a real impact in the world. 
• Willing to dedicate a total of 15 -20 hours across the project, including client meetings, teamwork, and individual work.

We are committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse learning environment. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, as we believe diverse perspectives drive innovation and success.   

Apply

Please submit your application via this form by Friday 06 November 2026. 

We will contact you if you are shortlisted. If you do not hear from us by 16 November 2026, you have not been successful on this occasion.  

If you have any questions, please email:  history-qHeritage@qmul.ac.uk

We look forward to receiving your application!