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Museums tell our stories and hold our histories
Share Museums tell our stories and hold our histories on Facebook Share Museums tell our stories and hold our histories on Twitter Share Museums tell our stories and hold our histories on Linkedin Email Museums tell our stories and hold our histories linkWhat is the role of a museum? The traditional role of museums is to collect objects and materials of cultural, religious and historical importance, preserve them, research them and present them to the public for the purpose of education and enjoyment.
Whether they are national or local in focus, museums cherish the stories important to a community. Some of those stories are well known and some of them might be hidden and need to be brought to the surface. When a community knows its own stories - not just the whitewashed version but the warts and all kind, - we develop a deeper appreciation of our place and who we are as a result of our experiences as a community.
A good museum tells engaging stories and narratives that capture our interest and imagination, taps into our emotions and prompt us to think more deeply and ask questions about the past, present and future of our region. For example, why do we have refugees in Coffs? How are we protecting our natural environment? What kind of innovations are going on in food production?
How have museums changed? Banish the idea of fusty, dusty old museums which focus more on objects rather than stories. Museums are still institutions which collect and safeguard artefacts, but they now use multimedia technology such as touchscreens and touch tables, as well as film and audio to engage visitors in meaningful and interesting ways.
Museums have become more hands on as well, with many providing opportunities for interactive activities. The new museum will host an interactive space where visitors of all ages can sign up for a workshop and learn valuable new skills such as how to look after their family photos and collections, how to handle historical objects and much more.
What can we look forward to in our new museum? Our new museum will be contemporary, highly visual and will showcase many more of the fascinating items in the museum’s collections, including historical artefacts, photographs and multi-media resources. Visitors will be engaged, surprised and energised by what they experience.
Our new museum will be a one-of-a-kind visitor experience, not only for Coffs Harbour locals, who will feel proud of our histories and stories on display, but for visitors to the area who will be drawn to the unique cultural destination as part of their stay on the beautiful Coffs Coast.
Image by: and the trees photography
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August newsletter
Share August newsletter on Facebook Share August newsletter on Twitter Share August newsletter on Linkedin Email August newsletter linkHi all,
August has flown by and it’s been another busy month for our design team with the look and feel of our new building taking shape. We’re busily plotting a fun way to give our community a sneak peek inside the walls so you can see where we are up to - stay tuned!
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Council's Cultural Framework Planning Wins Top State Award
Share Council's Cultural Framework Planning Wins Top State Award on Facebook Share Council's Cultural Framework Planning Wins Top State Award on Twitter Share Council's Cultural Framework Planning Wins Top State Award on Linkedin Email Council's Cultural Framework Planning Wins Top State Award linkIn an exciting end to Local Government Week 2020, Coffs Harbour City Council has won the top prize for Cultural Plans in the Local Government NSW Awards. It emphasises the importance of partnerships and networks and provides a bridge to 2023, when new spaces and possibilities will be realised as part of the Cultural and Civic Space project.
The winning plan, ‘LMG Strategy 2020-2023’ provides a framework to:
- inspire and support lifelong-learning, literacy, creativity and cultural expression;
- to find, share, and create knowledge;
- recognise, preserve, and share our diverse histories and stories; and
- provide welcoming public spaces accessible to all.
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July e-newsletter
Share July e-newsletter on Facebook Share July e-newsletter on Twitter Share July e-newsletter on Linkedin Email July e-newsletter linkDetailed design is progressing for the Cultural and Civic Space project, with council working groups and the design team functioning well together.
During the month, Matthew Blair, BVN Principal Architect for the Cultural and Civic Space, paid a visit to Coffs Harbour. It’s surprising how much can be accomplished over video-conference, but some things are just better face to face.
During his time here, Matthew met with Mayor Denise Knight, where they discussed the progress of the project and visited the site. He also made time to meet with a group of enthusiastic young people at Toormina library to get their feedback and ideas on the library youth space, one of three youth space meetings conducted during this month.
Read on to hear what our young people imagine for their youth space, the provisions being made for disability access and questions from the community on our Have Your Say Page.
The Project Office team.
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Coffs Coast Youth Inspired by Cultural and Civic Space
Share Coffs Coast Youth Inspired by Cultural and Civic Space on Facebook Share Coffs Coast Youth Inspired by Cultural and Civic Space on Twitter Share Coffs Coast Youth Inspired by Cultural and Civic Space on Linkedin Email Coffs Coast Youth Inspired by Cultural and Civic Space linkRecently, members of the BVN Architecture team and Cofs Harbour City Council staff met with groups of local young people to get their feedback and ideas on the youth space being designed into the new central library within the Cultural and Civic Space building.
The BVN team showed the students some digital sketches of the space and asked for their feedback on furniture and technology, as well as their ideas about how they would use the space if the building was ready for them to walk into that afternoon.
Their ideas were positive, inspiring and sometimes surprising!
To read more, go to the CHCC newsroom
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Public libraries and young people
Share Public libraries and young people on Facebook Share Public libraries and young people on Twitter Share Public libraries and young people on Linkedin Email Public libraries and young people linkQuestion: Why do young people need a public library when our schools have libraries and they use the internet for research?
Answer: One of the fundamental principles of public libraries is the notion of equity: that all people should have equal and equitable access to knowledge and information regardless of where you fit (or don’t fit) in society.
Most new libraries include a specially designed youth space, because young people use libraries differently than other users. Youth spaces in libraries often feature different types of furniture, the latest in technology and gaming and easy access to the kinds of books which young adults love, like science fiction, fantasy, mystery and graphic novels.
Public libraries provide spaces and programs as well as recreational, digital and technological tools and resources for young people. Importantly, these spaces also have places to study, access to PCs, free Wi-Fi and places to plug in a device. For many young people, a public library is not a not just a ‘nice thing to have’ but an essential service.
In the new central library being designed for the Cultural and Civic Space, the young adult section is located alongside the new digital design studio and maker space. There is a combination of private study spaces and more communal public spaces to hang out, do homework, play games and chat.
We are looking forward to working with teens in the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area to help create a space that fits their brief – after all, young people are the experts on their own needs.
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June e-newsletter
Share June e-newsletter on Facebook Share June e-newsletter on Twitter Share June e-newsletter on Linkedin Email June e-newsletter linkWe’ve had another busy month helping to design the new Cultural and Civic Space building. In architect’s terms, design is an ‘iterative’ process, which means the council working groups and the design team communicate back and forth, both internally and with each other, asking for more information, clarifying and refining the design until the building is 80% designed and construction can begin. The building is not quite at that point yet, but we are another month closer.
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$500,000 PUBLIC LIBRARY GRANT
Share $500,000 PUBLIC LIBRARY GRANT on Facebook Share $500,000 PUBLIC LIBRARY GRANT on Twitter Share $500,000 PUBLIC LIBRARY GRANT on Linkedin Email $500,000 PUBLIC LIBRARY GRANT linkMarrickville library, designed by BVN. Photograph by Tony Roe
Coffs Harbour City Council has welcomed the news that the Cultural and Civic Space is to receive a $500,000 NSW Public Library Infrastructure Grant (PLIG) towards the new central library.
Administered through the State Library of NSW, the Public Library Infrastructure Grant program is for projects that assist NSW councils to improve public library infrastructure, including buildings and information technology systems.
Coffs Harbour Mayor Denise Knight said she was delighted that the need for improved library facilities for the local community has been recognised by the prestigious State Library of NSW.
“At 986sq, the current central library (Harry Bailey Memorial Library) is about 40 per cent of the size required for a community the size of Coffs Harbour.
“Which is exactly why we have worked so hard to get this project off the ground, to receive the full amount requested makes us very proud. The people of Coffs Harbour deserve a world class library and that’s what we will be delivering to them.
“Developing the literacy and, by extension, the employment prospects of our future generations is paramount to our success as a regional city.”
Read more here.
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Project e-newsletter May 2020
Share Project e-newsletter May 2020 on Facebook Share Project e-newsletter May 2020 on Twitter Share Project e-newsletter May 2020 on Linkedin Email Project e-newsletter May 2020 linkDetailed Design
For the last month, the Cultural and Civic Space project's architect, BVN, and their design team, have been deep in the detailed design phase working towards a 50% design brief.
This process involves a number of internal working groups with representatives and expertise across the council administration and cultural footprint including customer service, administration, library, museum, gallery, IT and maintenance.
Consulting with the people who will work in the new building is a vital part of the process, enabling the design team to iron out inconsistencies and re-visit concepts and spaces from schematic design.
50% design is an important stage in a project of this size, a mid-point in the design process which provides a solid base for the project to develop on. It’s also a key milestone for keeping project costs on track and in budget.
To read more: http://createsend.com/t/r-026C49E9284CFA672540EF23F30FEDED
