Derby Museums

The big idea - Hogarth and the Jacobite Rebellion

The Derby Museum and Art Gallery exhibition will bring together around 60 objects from 13 collections, including loans from the National Portrait Gallery, The Foundling Museum and the National Galleries of Scotland. It will include pieces such as The March of the Guards to Finchley (The Foundling Museum), Marriage A-la-Mode and The Shrimp Girl (National Gallery), and The Beggar’s Opera (Birmingham Museums), amongst others. This is an ambitious exhibition in terms of scale, number of museum lenders, and narratives!

In addition to the ask of supporting our Fundraising aims of securing £24,000 to make the exhibition a reality (click here if you'd like to donate to the efforts), we are also hoping for volunteer support in sharing the many stories the exhibition will have to offer with visitors. To give you a teaser of what these stories might be, here are some words from Lucy Bamford, Senior Curator of Fine Art at Derby Museums:

“The exhibition focuses on Hogarth’s response to the long-running threat posed by the Jacobites, in particular, the Jacobite Rising of 1745, which is important in both the history of our city and nationally. In a campaign to topple the Hanoverian King George II, the Jacobite army, led by the ‘young pretender’ Charles Stuart, “Bonnie Prince Charlie”, marched south from Scotland to Derby, where the decision was taken to retreat rather than march on to London. It was a pivotal moment that decided the course of British history. It was a time of turmoil for Britain. As the prince and his army occupied Derby, Guardsmen were assembling on the northern edge of London in preparation to defend the king and capital. Hogarth witnessed the scene and was inspired to paint ‘The March of the Guards to Finchley’, which will form the exhibition's centrepiece.”

The exhibition is the vision of Dr Jacqueline Riding, an art historian with experience working as a curator as well as a film consultant (Peterloo and Mr Turner), and the celebrated author of Jacobites (2016) and Hogarth: Life in Progress (2021).

How you’ll be making a difference

Many of the themes and issues that Hogarth explored remain relevant today. These include themes of national identity, "Britishness", social and political commentary, propaganda, etc. In the wake of Brexit, discussions around Scottish Independence, our relationship with Europe, and conversations around monarchy are often found in daily conversations and contain parallels to Hogarth's works.

As a volunteer, you will play a vital role in engaging and giving visibility to hidden narratives within the paintings, engaging visitors in discussion and storytelling and supporting the full team in our efforts to ensure the safety of everyone and everything within the temporary exhibition. 

Proposed time donation

We would be grateful for any time you could give to facilitating the experience for our visitors. The exhibition will likely take place from March to June 2023 and volunteering can take place any time within Museum opening hours. We will work with you and other volunteers to accommodate your preference and availability wherever possible.

Location

Derby Museum & Art Gallery. 

Getting started

We proudly commit to enriching our team by progressing diversity, inclusion, relevance and accessibility into all we do - including volunteer engagement. We especially welcome applications from the global majority, and we'll work with you to break barriers. Get in touch if you'd prefer to talk in person about volunteering.

We will provide training to ensure you feel happy, safe and confident in your role. Your training will cover themes within the works, historical context, as well as the volunteer role within the galleries and basic health and safety within the space. 

The "Getting Started" section shares proposed dates for training. Click on the link to browse the available time. Expect a call from us beforehand should this be your first time volunteering within our spaces. 

Key considerations for the role 

• Listening skills are key, as you will hear conversations that explore identity, sense of belonging (or not), representation and early British colonisation. 
• Sharing of stories- many of Hogarth's narratives are hidden within cleverly placed items or actions. We would love for volunteers to be able to share these narratives to visitors and encourage them to spot more.
• Be curious - learning about the collections, provenance and stories shared to develop more in-depth knowledge to pass on to visitors. 
• We would love you to capture the feedback you get from visitors, informally or through them completing a survey with you. All opportunities to record visitor engagement and enjoyment are welcome.  
• Be compassionate and help identify anyone going through distress, so we can provide reassurance. 
• Champion Derby Museums and be an ambassador for our aims and values whilst recognising the problematic narratives we house within our collections. 

Getting support

Pippa Vidal Davies and Hope Slater coordinate your volunteering experience at Derby Museums. They can support you with Wellness Action Plans for any physical or mental health needs, arrange volunteer socials, or discuss personal goals linked to the opportunity.

Inspire people so they leave appreciating and admiring the natural world around them by supporting us within the Objects of Love, Hope and Fear: A World Collection gallery. 

Time commitment 

The Museum & Art Gallery is open from Tuesday to Sunday. We hope you can give at least a couple of hours of your time to maximise your experience. Working with you to accommodate your preferences and availability. 

Location 

This role takes place primarily in Objects of Love, Hope and Fear: A World Collection gallery at the Museum and Art Gallery, although Object Walks can happen across all galleries.  

What you may be doing:

• Friendly, helpful, and love talking to people and listening to their stories  
• Wanting to engage and communicate with others and share knowledge, passion, enthusiasm and/or curiosity for world cultures
• Aware and sensitive towards the approach of the gallery – one that welcomes discussion, sharing and empathy   
• Intrigued and excited to know more
• Someone who takes pride and is enthusiastic for Derby and Derby Museums. 

This role can be combined with: 

• public programming activities such as Tours or Lifelong learning activities 
• gallery making
• co-produced activities
• temporary exhibition support 

Share with us any areas of personal interest that you want to develop, along with your existing experience, to work with you to create an enriching and meaningful role.  

Training: 

We will provide you with training to ensure you feel happy, safe and confident in your role. Get an introduction to the spaces, people and the role by attending our site volunteer introductions.

Proposed dates for these are shared in the "Getting Started" section. Click on the link to browse available times or get in touch to explore alternatives. 

Getting support: 

Count on our Visitor Experience Assistant Team and Site Managers to be your point of contact once in place. The Co-production Volunteering Programme team, Pippa and Hope, manage your overall volunteering experience. Supporting you with Wellness Action Plans and/or Goal Setting Plans to discuss any physical, mental health or vocational needs or goals.   

Do you get a kick out of making someone’s day with a helping hand, a smidge of encouragement or a fantastic fact? This may be the role for you! Join the team that has been nominated for best welcome in the '2022 Museum & Heritage Awards' and share your time, knowledge and skills with visitors as they explore and ‘make’ around the museum.

Time commitment 

The Museum of Making is open from Tuesday to Sunday. We will work with you to accommodate your preferences and availability. 

Location 

The Museum of Making is open from Tuesday to Sunday. We hope you can give at least a couple of hours of your time to maximise your experience. Working with you to accommodate your preferences and availability. 

Tasks 

• You enjoy talking and engaging with the general public
• You like to hear and tell stories around our collections and the heritage of the building (our visitors have lots to tell!)
• You are passionate about Derby Museums and would enjoy championing our collections, values and aims
• You are a friendly and enthusiastic individual
• You are interested in heritage and historic collections
• You have a thirst for learning new things

This role can be combined with: 

• public programming activities such as Tours or Lifelong learning activities 
• gallery making
• temporary exhibition support 

Training: 

We will provide you with training to ensure you feel happy, safe and confident in your role. Get an introduction to the spaces, people and the role by attending our site volunteer introductions.

Proposed dates for these are shared in the "Getting Started" section. Click on the link to browse available times or get in touch to explore alternatives. 

With you in mind: 

Count on our Visitor Experience Assistant Team and Site Managers to be your point of contact once in place.

The Co-production Volunteering Programme team, Pippa and Hope, manage your overall volunteering experience. Supporting you with Wellness Action Plans and/or Goal Setting Plans to discuss any physical, mental health or vocational needs or goals.   

Volunteering can help you to gain new skills, boost your confidence, make new friends, and feel connected to a community of people. It is rewarding to be part of a network of people supporting a charity by creating wonderful things and experiences together. We'll provide you with hot drinks, occasional biscuits, and travel expenses (up to the value of £4 and with the provision of a receipt).