Mersea Island Museum joined VAQAS in 2002. Pat Kirby, the Museum Education Officer, explains how that relationship altered the way in which the museum operated and how the relationship with VAQAS has developed, despite some initial disappointments!

The Mersea Island Museum Trust was formed in 1976 initially to house engineering items and expanded its collection as other items were donated. A generous bequest provided an extension in 1992 and in 2005 a grant was obtained to build an accessible toilet. Since 1976 the Museum has developed to showcase the maritime aspects of the island of Mersea and the local area.

The Museum functions with trustees, officers, curators and attendants. All are volunteers and there are no paid staff. A committee includes officers and curators and meets regularly to discuss current running matters and future planning. Attendants are encouraged to comment on the activities of the Museum. 

The Museum is open from May to September, Wednesdays to Sundays, 2.00 – 5.00 pm. There is an entry fee of 50p for adults and 25p for children and seniors. During the Winter Season, the movable exhibits are stored and the main hall is let to local groups for meetings and other functions. This includes an Autumn and Spring Art Show, and regular meetings of societies, generating regular additional income for the museum.

Many of the exhibits are permanent, for example, there is a representation of a Victorian fisherman’s cottage with many artefacts shown in a room setting, a display of local birds and mammals in a typical habitat, children’s toys and activities from earlier times and a wall display showing locally found artefacts from prehistoric to 20th century times. Each year there is a specific exhibition using items from the archive or on loan. In 2007 we had a ‘Romans in Mersea’ theme.

Five years ago, in 2002, Colchester Borough Council offered to fund a visit from VAQAS. The VAQAS assessor visited the museum but it did not achieve the accreditation of ‘Quality Assured Visitor Attraction’. We had failed, but were totally unaware of the significance of VAQAS, and did little to improve. The following year we again did not gain the award but this time we asked for a follow-up visit. The purpose of this visit was for the volunteer team, including trustees, officers and curators to gain some more detailed advice from VAQAS as to what we could do. This visit lasted all morning and took us through what it was like to be a visitor to our museum. We gained positive encouragement in many areas, and other areas where we could improve were pointed out. Many of these points were relatively minor details, which could be dealt with easily – like removing some of the fourteen NO SMOKING signs on display!

Our attention was also drawn to inconsistencies in labelling and we were advised to use a simple introductory panel for each display but to add more detail for visitors more interested in the subject. Another suggestion was that we should improve our information leaflet to include coloured pictures. This advice included guidance on the wording and picture content as well as possible locations for their distribution. 

Following these suggestions, many of us went on courses on presentation and display, and understanding the varied needs of disabled visitors. After a concerted effort, we improved on many of the points mentioned in the VAQAS report and at the next ‘incognito’ visit we received a very encouraging report and were awarded the VAQAS Rose. We sent out a press release which resulted in much more interest being shown in our museum. 

Since then, we have started to obtain new cabinets to improve displays. The Natural History displays are due for improvement, with expert advice from the wider museum services. A new Heritage, Information, Resources and Work Area Centre is being planned and we will be applying for a Heritage Lottery Grant.

Our ‘shop’ consisted of some rather old uninviting stock. We now have a very attractive shop area with many exclusive Mersea Museum items, as well as local books, postcards and gifts with a maritime link. This has considerably increased income for the museum. 

We have continued to act on the advice and suggestions made with each VAQAS visit and it has made us more aware of how we should view our museum through the eyes of the visitor, as well as how to be prepared to adapt and update wherever possible. There are still areas that need improvement, and these will be dealt with in the future. Our visitor numbers have increased, and the school group visits have more than doubled this season. Much of this interest is due to the hard work of our new Press Officer, and the setting up of a Mersea Island Museum Website www.merseamuseum.org.uk. This year, 2007, we received Museum Accreditation from the Museums Libraries Archives Council (MLA).

Pat Kirby, 

Museum Education Officer