Culture Syndicates CIC

   First posted: 28th February 2017  In  Collections ,  News And Opportunities Walking on a beach, do you stop to admire a nice looking rock? I do. I have a nice shiny Tanzanian rock sitting on my bookshelf – every time I look at it I am flooded with fond memories of my travels. Victorians liked to do this too. They particularly liked those they thought to be hand axes. Before the Victorians and before the Stone Age was known to exist, some people thought that stone tools were the remnants of lightning bolts. Some even thought they were Roman: woolly mammoth bones with a stone tool were found in London and deemed to be Roman elephants from the time of Emperor Claudius. Eventually, the antiquity of humanity was realised and a classification system for stone tools arose. People longed to find older and older tools – tools which were indicative of the origins of tool making and the earliest humans. The Victorians were finding thousands of very crude tools and these...

   First posted: 21st February 2017  In  Reviews In December, I attended the ‘Winter Wind Down’ tour at the British Horological Institute (BHI) Museum, led by the Museum Manager Eleanor Baumber. There was a festive feel, with a chill in the air and the house decorated for Christmas, as we had a tour of the ground floor. Many of the clocks have to be wound regularly, as periodically they lose or gain time. During the build up to the start of the tour, and then the first 10 minutes, the chorus of various clocks chiming on “their” hour entertained us. The BHI was originally located in London and began collecting clocks, watches, photos and timepieces in 1858. The collection was moved to its current location Upton Hall, a Grade 2 Listed building, in 1971. The Clocks The first clock we were introduced to was a fascinatingly designed clock where the seconds were measured by a ball bearing on a zig-zag track. One attendee of the tour had a personal connection to this clock,...

   First Posted: 15th February 2017  In  Industry Trends And Critical Analysis For many tourists, visiting national museums and historical sites which contain objects and artworks definitive to the history of the country they’re exploring, are an important element of a successful trip. The accessibility of these sites and objects are often vital in shaping one’s view of the culture of a country, especially that of those where much has been lost in the face of technical advancement and global influence. For me, there is nothing better than visiting a museum in a new city and seeing a masterpiece central to its cultural heritage, yet this came into question when I visited South Korea. ​Within South Korean museums and historical sites, objects and buildings take on a new identity through the extensive use of replicas and reconstructions. Coming from an unassuming Western perspective, I have always unquestionably trusted museums in their curation of original objects, tak...

  First posted:  6th February 2017  In  Exploring History ‘There is no Maslenitsa without pancakes’ – popular Russian folk saying Originally, pancakes were made during  Shrovetide Week  as part of the celebration of the coming of spring and the sun. Pagans thought that the change between these seasons was a struggle between Jarilo; the God of vegetation, fertility and springtime, and the evil spirits of cold and darkness. They believed they had to help Jarilo in this battle in order to bring in the spring. The most important part of  Shrovetide Week  was the making and eating of pancakes – hot round cakes that symbolised the power, light and warmth of the sun. The first pancake was usually put by the window for the spirits of the ancestors, while at the end of the week, the last pancakes were burnt (along with other food) in a bonfire: in sacrifice to the Pagan Gods. Also known as  Maslenitsa ,  Butter Week ,  Crepe week  or...

   First posted: 6th February 2017  In  Reviews Over the past few years, changes within academia and government have resulted in a surge towards apprenticeships in business. I work alongside Jodie Neely, an apprentice at the Manor House Museum and Alfred East Art Gallery in Kettering. She has worked there since July 2015 and is working towards a Level 3 NVQ in Business Admin. However, this is no ordinary apprenticeship in Business Admin. Jodie’s experience is very different from her peers elsewhere within the Council, and she is currently preparing to install an art exhibition at the gallery that she has compiled from artworks of the permanent collection. I decided to pick her brains about the whole experience. Lots of people within the heritage industry would love to have this opportunity, what’s been your favourite part so far?  JN: All of it. I’m gaining qualifications whilst gaining hands-on practical experience, day to day tasks are varied, and I love the t...