Culture Syndicates CIC

We compiled a short list of books we've been delving into this month to celebrate World Book-Giving Day, from classic novels and travel memoirs to a contemporary thriller set in Nottingham. Keep an eye out for an updated list next month and leave a comment below letting us know what you've been reading! The British Perfumer, 1822 Charles Lillie, ed. by Colin MacKenzie Archive 'Being a Collection of Choice Receipts and Observations Made During an Extensive Practice of Thirty Years, by which Any Lady Or Gentleman May Prepare Their Own Articles of the Best Quality, Whether of Perfumery, Snuffs, Or Colours.'  Interested in colour and fragrance? Trade? Biopolitics? This archival text of 1822 by London-born perfume merchant Charles Lillie provokes thought on trade and imperialism in the creations of 'recipes' for domestic production. Blurred boundaries between what we eat, heal with, and wear; between nature, laboratory, and the home.  https://archive.org/details/b220...

Between 6 and 12 February 2022 Business Networking International is celebrating its annual International Networking Week. The key is to celebrate the important role that networking plays in the development and success of business across the world. As a reader of this article I am sure you have attended different events, through an academic route, through your work or social activity. Such events include training and development, meeting people to support a good cause or share an experience such as a performance or talk. When people come together there is a natural tendency to network, to explore the commonality. These connections so often reveal more to us, that we can work together or meet in a different space to explore the common threads and opportunities to collaborate.  At Culture Syndicates we encourage our team to engage with different organisations. Many of our amazing Heritage Assistants have developed connections with organisations through their work. There are opportuni...

Placement Student Sophie Cragg from Nottingham Trent University shares her experience doing research into sustainability in the heritage sector for Culture Syndicates. See excerpts from the group research presentation here . Image credit: Sophie Cragg and Anna Stanley Hello histo -readers , This term, I had the privilege to work with Culture Syndicates who are a non-profit heritage and arts consultancy who develop employability programmes for emerging sector entrants such as ourselves. Th eir Heritage Assistants Model gives p eople the crucial paid experience that is essential for any application into heritage. It beats sitting in the library with a pile of dusty books any day! One of the best things about Culture Syndicates is its location: The National Justice Museum . W e were honoured to have a private tour around the museum which was thrilling (but very spooky!) . One of our missions was to research how COVID-19 had impacted the sustainability of museums. This is at the hea...

We feature a blog post written by placement student Anna Stanley from the University of Nottingham on the issue of funding for CIC organisations.  Why haven't I heard of Culture Syndicates? 🤔 When most of us think about the heritage sector, the first thing that comes to mind are the national public museums like the British Museum, and we often neglect the independent, local authority, National Trust and university-owned museums.  Could it be the size of the museum? This impressive architecture is definitely hard to miss, located between Holborn and Tottenham Court Road tube stations.  Or could it just be down to how the collections are managed, with a combination of both permanent collections for free visits and Special Exhibitions to pay for? This is where Culture Syndicates comes in. Our Values To support cultural organisations in making their collections accessible to local, national and international audiences.  To Train the next sector of emerging graduates who...

We heard from NTU placement and history student Georgia, who reflects on her experience conducting research for us during the pandemic on sustainability in the heritage sector.  I am currently a second-year history student at Nottingham Trent University, I was given the chance to work with Culture Syndicates on a research project as part of my degree. I worked alongside Elizabeth Neathey and other university students to complete a report focusing on sustainability in the heritage sector. What do you feel you personally gained from this experience? From this experience, I feel I have increased my graduate employability. The opportunity to work with Culture Syndicates linked closely to my interest in heritage and my desire to work in the sector upon graduation. This placement has given me great insight into working in the sector, it has supplied me with knowledge of the employment options available to me in this sector as well as allowing me to network with others who work in the are...

Micro-internship student Adya shares her experience conducting and analysing research for us on employability and placement opportunities in place for heritage courses at universities in the UK. In December 2021, I was given the wonderful opportunity to undertake a 5-day intensive micro-internship at Culture Syndicates as a Researcher. I am currently pursuing an MSc in Visual, Material and Museum Anthropology. Prior to this I completed a BA in History of Art at Goldsmiths University, London. I have focussed my research on museums studies, material culture, migration, decolonising and diversity within the Arts and Heritage Sector. For my undergraduate dissertation I researched on how community engagement and diversity within museum staff can help create greater inclusivity and decolonial activity in museums. As the heritage sector is changing, there is a big issue around diversity and lack of paid heritage opportunities for younger generation. This placement at Culture Syndicates CIC al...

 We welcome Mary Strickson as our new Development Officer, also previously working with us as a Heritage Assistant, to discuss her experience during this time and share advice with those interested in working in a similar role.  What has your career journey been since being a Heritage Assistant at CS?  I started working as a Heritage Assistant at Culture Syndicates in April 2018. Since then, I’ve also started my own small business, ran artist workshops, project-managed exhibitions and written for national and international magazines! My little business is called The Picture Whole where I work as a documentary events photographer, artist, illustrator and workshop facilitator. I have recently started working as Development Officer for Culture Syndicates and am really enjoying this opportunity!  Do you feel like you are making a difference in your job?  I really enjoy working in heritage. My passion for history and art (alongside the desire to work within museums a...

We welcome Claire Roe as a guest blogger and heritage professional, with an interview about her exciting experience and career so far through drama and teaching as she now undergoes her PhD on Heritage and Tourism at the University of Derby.                                                   Image credit: Lorraine Mannion Tell us a little about yourself and your background. Currently, I am in my second year of PhD study at the University of Derby, where I am focussing on Heritage and Tourism in the Derwent Valley. So far, I am loving the PhD journey . I was born in Derbyshire and have lived most of my life here , so being able to research and hopefully make a difference in my home county feels like a real privilege. Researching is definitely not my first job, though. I began by training to be an actress at Manchester Metropolitan Univers...