Museum Educator's Professional Development Workshop-2

05 May, 星期四重頭戲是來自大英博物館 家庭與學校教育部門總監 Richard Woff,
帶來約四個半小時的講演,從大英博物館的歷史至博物館扮演的教育角色與提供終身學習的場所與課程.

事實上非常驕傲, 因為在這邊所聽到看到的資料, 都是大英博物館教育相關人員training使用的教材,你不用大老遠跑到London,就算到London,你也可能沒機會到大英博物館接受工作人員training課程.
大英博物館(以下簡稱大英)

大英起源於Sir Hans Sloane的收藏品,
在 Hans Sloane晚年時, 要求英國政府收購他所有的收藏品,Sir Hans Sloane很聰明,他告訴英國政府: 如果你們不收購我所有的藝術品等,我就賣給法國人(知道英國和法國的恩怨,在這邊就笑一下吧!).
當然,英國政府就悶著頭買啦,事實上沒那麼嚴重說不買啦,只是Sir Hans Sloane 總得下點重藥吧!!
infor: Sir Hans Sloane
Sloane was born in Killyleagh, Ireland in relatively modest circumstances. Inspired by a childhood interest in natural history, he studied medicine in London and France. It was said of him by William Stukeley, the antiquary, that he was "an instance of the great power of industry which can advance a man to a considerable height in the world's esteem with moderate parts & learning..."
His career as a collector really began when in 1687, as personal physician, he accompanied the new Governor, the Duke of Albermarle, to Jamaica, having concluded that study of exotic flora and fauna would be of use in his career. Sloane's expectations were fulfilled and he collected some 800 species of plants and other live specimens to bring back to London. An account of his travels was published in 1707 and 1725.
On his return to London in 1689 Sloane set up a successful medical practice at his home in No. 3 Bloomsbury Place - coincidentally just along the street from the present Museum building. He had a good bedside manner, accumulated wealthy and aristocratic patients among them Queen Anne and Kings George I and II, but also participated in charitable work. Although not in the first rank intellectually, he was something of an innovator. He promoted inoculation against smallpox, the use of quinine and the health-giving properties of drinking chocolate mixed with milk. He became President of the College of Physicians in 1719 and in 1727 succeeded Sir Isaac Newton as President of the Royal Society.
In 1695 he married Elizabeth Langley, widow of Fulk Rose of Jamaica. Sloane and his wife had two surviving daughters, Sarah who married George Stanley of Paultons, Hampshire and Elizabeth who became Lady Cadogan. He was created a Baronet in 1716.
He absorbed complete collections made by others, among them William Charlton (Courten) (1642-1702) and James Petiver (d.1718) and also received objects from friends and patients. One wit called him "the foremost toyman of his time". His collection thus outgrew the house at No. 3 Bloomsbury Place and Sloane was obliged to purchase No. 4. In 1742 he moved with his collections to a manor house he had bought at Chelsea. His time there is still commemorated by such place names as 'Sloane Square' and 'Hans Crescent'.
Sloane died at the age of 93 in 1753 and was buried at Chelsea Old Church. His collection then amounted to some 71,000 objects. In addition to a preponderance of natural history specimens, the collection included 1,125 "things relating to the customs of ancient times or antiquities" and 23,000 coins and medals. There were also 50,000 books, prints and manuscripts, together with a herbarium.
A group of Trustees was appointed under the terms of his will to oversee the distribution of the collection which was left in the first instance to King George II for the nation. Following the intervention of Parliament, Sloane's collection was acquired on payment of £20,000 to his two daughters and became the nucleus of the British Museum.
很難相信,現在大英的參觀人數與19世紀相比是天壤之別. 於19世紀中葉, 大英一小時內只容納10個人,週休二日再加國定假日...分明就是開爽的.
雖然那時候門票不用錢,但是這種營業手法,想當然也沒幾個人會去. 當時,不對入館人員年齡等做區別, 也無明定參觀規定,到最後大英就像一個大型菜市場,所有人在裡面大吼大叫,隨性聊天....只差沒野餐而已.
每當午後五時左右(休館時間),你就看到一大群走失的小孩,站在大英入口處的階梯前,讓父母親認領.
(關於這點,Richard有show相關的幻燈片,我無法在此讓大家看到這個畫面).

19世紀中葉至今,也不過一世紀多光景,大英如何經營出現今規模,如何定義博物館在社會,國家...中非單純"展覽"角色,是大英經營背後的精髓.
至今,展覽品本身還受到極大爭議(以前十字軍東征與海權時代至各國"掠奪"而來的藝術品), 但是大英本身不需對這些展覽品作任何政治或定義上表態, 英國國會立法"保護"這些展覽品,任何關係展覽品的來源等等, 是屬於國家議題.大英只須專注博物館本身教育與交流等.

我很想說的一點是,
大英至始至終從未想過在大英國協或世界任何角落設立大英二館(我非常想強烈抨擊台灣故宮南部分院),先不論台灣故宮南部分院的動機為何.
Richard表示,大英知道它本身對英國與世界博物館生態扮演的角色,任何大英的議題都會排擠任何區域與國家其他博物館的生存與文化展示更深層的意義,
大英寧願強烈與其他博物館家族暢談合作事宜,也不願意以大英之名造成獨大後,整體文化與博物館生態的不平衡.畢竟,英國國會每年撥付納稅人的血汗於大英,大英更有責任別於其他法人或私人成立的博物館.

此時,我非常感動西方人的明確與無私方向,寧願整體的提昇以不願以老大哥姿態排擠整個博物館圈裡的其他.

至於大英怎麼帶動起英國人與非英國人"到"大英的意願,以及加深加廣大英在社會角色與單純展示外的社會功能,在大英的網頁中就可以得到點線索.

Richard表示:網頁不僅是網頁,它是個強大的資料庫.
舉例來說,中學老師帶學生至大英做戶外教學,大英的網站提供老師相關訊息與教材,資料不僅開放給一般大眾,老師更可以由其中得到訊息,給學生一個不僅僅"看"的戶外教學,更有來至老師詳細的解說.

大英,不把自己當作一個神聖的展示空間,(套句建築所說的話,除了空間,沒有人,就如一具沒有血肉的軀體罷了)

大英,利用館內空間分隔,於假日或特定活動期間,開放大眾作歷史文化等活動交流,館方與其他社會法人團體結合,在此活動期間舉辦大量不同類似教育活動,把"去博物館"這件事,演化成"去遊樂園"般的快樂!

四個半小時,從London飛越半個地球到Taipei,
我只能說Richard給的不夠,然而是時間不夠!

各別簡短的解說中,你只能訝異再訝異得說,為什麼大英做了這麼多事...
那台灣呢?



infor: Compass
infor: Children's Compass