Below is useful background and context to the Curating, Researching, Digitising and Exhibiting (CRDE) Leicestershire Museum Collections in Co-production Placement.

Background and Content to the CRDE Placement

In the context of the Curating, Researching, Digitising and Exhibiting (CRDE) Leicestershire Museum Collections in Co-production Placement which is part of the strategic creative and heritage partnership between the University of Nottingham (UoN) and Leicestershire County Council (LCC), fifteen students from across the Faculty of Arts curated, researched and digitised selected objects from Leicestershire Museum Collections using 3D digitisation and scanning techniques.

This nine-month placement (October 2024-June 2025) offered students distinctive and wide-ranging professional development competencies and skills coveted by graduate job employers. 

The placement also provided students with first-hand experience of working on an exciting and real-world project at the intersection of the heritage sector, the digital media industries, the immersive technologies realm, and local government context. 

What the CRDE Placement Involved

In addition to (a) undertaking three in-person visits to selected Leicestershire Museum Collections facilities, (b) in-depth research on and around their curated objects, and (c) writing blog posts about their research, placement students underwent basic professional training delivered by museum, heritage and digital media industry professionals as follows: 

• a training session around LGBTQIA+ work;
• a training session around object handling and collections care;
• a training session on the co-curation approach used by Culture Leicestershire (i.e., the Heritage, Libraries, Collections, Learning and Participation Services) at LCC;
• a training session on LCC’s approach to online showcasing; and
• a Q&A session with key LCC museum and heritage professionals.

Students' intellectual engagement with the placement included conducting in-depth research on and around their curated objects, writing research blog posts, and attending public engagement activities to broaden their horizons. These activities were supervised by Daniel H. Mutibwa (UoN) as well as Esther Shaw, Alison Clague and Pippa Vidal Davies (LCC).   

In the Digital Transformations Hub (DTH) in the Faculty of Arts (FoA) at UoN under the tutelage of Matt Davies (DTH Manager), placement students:

• received training in photogrammetry — a method of producing high resolution digital 3D versions of objects using studio photography; and
• digitised curated objects and produced 3D versions of those objects.

In the Archaeology Labs in the School of Humanities (FoA) under the instruction of Dr Susie Sherwin (Archaeology Labs Manager), placement students:

• learnt how to use state-of-the-art 3D laser scanners to produce 3D models of the objects they curated; and
• prepared the models that were supplied to form part of a prominent LCC virtual exhibition titled Villiers Revealed.

In the School of Humanities, Vicki Morris (Senior Administrator, Marketing and Events) trained placement students in the areas of marketing, use of social media for public communication and promotion, poster creation and event organisation. 

Across the Faculty of Arts and University, placement students received key advice and guidance on how best to situate their placement activities and experiences in their future graduate career planning. The advice and guidance were provided by Hayley Revill (Faculty of Arts Placements Manager) and Jo Edgerton (Placements Senior Administrator) as well as Deborah Till and Caroline Nolan (Senior Careers Advisors, Careers and Employability Service).

Within the Villiers Revealed Virtual Exhibition, placement students co-curated 3D models in the purpose-built Student Gallery — including co-designing its distinctive ambience. 

Through bespoke design, iteration and beta-testing sessions, placement students worked in close collaboration with One-to-One Development Trust — an arts organisation that uses film, games and immersive storytelling for social change — to (a) curate the 3D models, (b) craft responses to them in the Student Gallery, and (c) offer their own interpretation of how the objects could be understood and interacted with.

CRDE Placement Facilitation 

The CRDE Placement was facilitated by the following team of dedicated, expert, passionate and vastly experienced staff:

Placement Leads

• Daniel H. Mutibwa (Associate Professor of Creative Industries and Digital Culture, School of Cultures, Languages and Area Studies, University of Nottingham);
• Esther Shaw (Community Participation Worker, Culture Leicestershire, Leicestershire County Council);
• Matt Davies (Manager, Digital Transformations Hub (Faculty of Arts), University of Nottingham);
• Alison Clague (Senior Curator, Leicestershire Museum Collections, Leicestershire County Council);
• Pippa Vidal Davies (Volunteering Manager, Culture Leicesterhsire, Leicestershire County Council); and
• Hayley Revill (Faculty of Arts Placement Manager, University of Nottingham).

Placement Team

• Jemma Atkin-Barrett (Community Participation Worker, Culture Leicesterhsire, Leicesterhsire County Council);
• Amanda Hanton (Cultural Participation Team Manager, Culture Leicestershire, Leicestershire County Council);
• Dr Susie Sherwin (Archaeology Lab Technician, School of Humanities, University of Nottingham);
• Vicki Morris (Senior Adminstrator, School of Humanities, Marketing and Events);
• Deborah Till and Caroline Nolan (Senior Careers Advisors, Careers and Employability Service, University of Nottingham); and
• Jo Edgerton (Placements Senior Administrator, Faculty of Arts Placements, University of Nottingham).

Placement Student Feedback

Here is some feedback provided by placement students anonymously on their placement experience:

I was particularly drawn to the CRDE Placement because it offered a rare opportunity to engage directly with museum collections and gain practical experience beyond the classroom. The chance to collaborate with both academic staff and professionals from Leicestershire County Council was especially appealing, as it aligned with my interest in media, culture, and public engagement. I also saw it as a valuable addition to my CV and a way to explore heritage-related careers.

I feel as though from writing a blog post and research my writing skills have improved, my ability to network and be social has definitely improved, and I think I have developed a deeper passion for museums and exhibitions.

[I learnt the following]: 1. Research and analytical skills, especially in interpreting museum collections and historical materials. 2. Teamwork and communication through collaboration with peers and professionals. 3. Project planning and content creation, particularly when preparing placement updates or blogs. 4. Time management and professionalism in meeting deadlines and participating in meetings. 5. A deeper appreciation of how cultural heritage is preserved, interpreted, and communicated to the public. 6. Confidence in applying academic knowledge in real-world settings.

The opportunity to learn 3D Photogrammetry as well as opportunities to take part in launch events and an insight into how museums develop exhibitions [was invaluable].

I learnt the inner workings of a museum collection [and] how objects are held. I also learnt how to operate a 3D scanner.

The placement contributed to my development in the opportunities to talk to professionals and receive advice from them, as well as the opportunity to learn how curation takes place, and see it firsthand.

[The placement] enhanced my ability to relay historical narratives to lay audiences - distinct from the academic writing style employed in university assignments. More generally, my ability to collaborate on a broader project, working with people across generations and backgrounds [improved greatly].

The placement involved a lot of team work, though a lot of the work was done individually, we all came together in the end to create the digital exhibition – I believe that would be an interesting thing to talk about in an interview [for my first graduate job].

I would describe the CRDE Placement as a turning point where I applied my academic knowledge in a professional, real-world context. It challenged me to think critically about cultural representation and audience engagement. It also strengthened my confidence in public-facing roles and enhanced my ability to work independently while also being part of a collaborative team. Personally, it helped me grow more reflective and motivated in pursuing work that connects media, culture, and community impact.

I had a very lovely time doing this placement!

Villiers Revealed Virtual Exhibition

Explore the Villiers Revealed Virtual Exhibition and the Student Gallery!