Having raised funds to create five new galleries in the Discover Bucks Museum, we now want to create a Bucks People Object Wall. The Object Wall itself will display thirteen objects, covering many areas of daily life including a rare 1598 marriage cup, a beautiful wooden dolls house, an oxygen cylinder used in the 1953 expedition to Mount Everest and a pair of iconic Mary Quant boots! Behind each object is a human story we will tell, introducing themes further explored in the Bucks People Gallery such as life at home, on the move, in good times and hard times. As a collection on one wall, they - and the amazing stories behind them - will illustrate life in Buckinghamshire and celebrate those who have made the county what it is today. Alongside the Object Wall, there will also be a touchscreen interactive where visitors will be able to explore and look closely at many more items and stories from the Museum’s stored collections relating to those on display.

What we'll deliver:

• Give visitors the opportunity to 'meet' Buckinghamshire people from 500 years ago, to today
• See close-up rare and significant historical objects, telling the story of the county
• Provide firsthand opportunities to learn more about Social History
• Support schools, colleges and universities with learning events and workshops
• Support community learning with events and workshops
• Tell stories from, and give platforms to, the county's under-represented communities
• Provide opportunities for family learning and events

Why it's a great idea:

We will provide visitors with amazing opportunities to learn and connect with their past histories, participate in community-led events and learning programmes, enjoy workshops, and take part in interactive family activities. Our new galleries will breathe life into incredibly important stories; ensuring our history continues to inspire visitors for generations to come. The Object Wall will be a focal point of the galleries and a jewel in our crown. Teachers and pupils from schools, colleges and universities will be offered themes, new objects and interactives to inspire their learning in the galleries, with topics including pre-history, unheard stories, the celebrated and forgotten heroes of the county, and the important work that originated there.

Steps to get it done:

• Contractors on site installing new exhibitions - September 2021
• Launch and anticipated opening of galleries - by October 2021

We strive to be more than a museum. Our aim is to be a true showcase for the history of the county. We work actively with local communities, seeking out underserved and marginalised groups to provide a voice, visibility for their stories, and a place to connect. We currently work collaboratively with 15 different communities to ensure our programming reflects their histories, and our new Discover Bucks galleries will provide new areas and more opportunities for us to encourage their involvement. Throughout 2020 and during lockdown, we actively sought to reassure our communities that we still have the same aims and ambitions, and wherever possible we offered digital activities to retain their engagement. Now we can make plans to reopen and get back on track, we are focussing on finally bringing our new galleries to life, and offering more opportunities for our communities to re-engage with our collections onsite.