Colchester Museums

Our friends at Ipswich Museums are recruiting for a Senior Collections + Learning Curator. For all the details head to https://buff.ly/2IUt4nb, but don't delay, the deadline for applications is this Friday!

Last night our incredible Visitor Services team were winners at the first ever national Visitor Experience Awards. They won Team of the Year at a ceremony in London's Welcome Collection.
We want to say a huge congratulations! Our staff work hard to make every visitor feel welcome, and for their time to be fun-filled and memorable, so we're all really proud of them!

There's still time to apply for our Retail + Digital Collections traineeships. Share your passion, develop new skills + help transform museums!
The deadline for applying has been extended to Sunday 12th August. For more information, simply head to: https://buff.ly/2IUt4nb
#skillsforthefuture #HLFSupported

Do you have creative flair and entrepreneurial instincts? Are you interested in helping people connect with museum collections? Why not apply to be our Retail Trainee? Applications are now open!
We are looking for enthusiastic individuals with an eye for detail and GCSE in English at grade C (or equivalent). For further details or to apply, head to: https://buff.ly/2IUt4nb. If you have any questions, simple email transform.museums@colchester.gov.uk
Don't delay though - applications close Wednesday 8th August!

Come and join us at Hollytrees today to make Victorian peg dolls and learn about the many roles in a Victorian home. Spaces available for sessions at 11.30 and 12.30 (£5 per person).

Applications close at midnight on Wednesday 1 August for our Assistant Collections and Learning Curator (Natural Sciences) post : https://buff.ly/2IUt4nb.
How would you like to work alongside experts in both Colchester and Ipswich, and support a range of natural science collections projects?

Colchester + Ipswich Museums have a range of opportunities across the service, from traineeships to senior roles.
Supported by the John Ellerman Foundation, we're currently recruiting for an Assistant Collections + Learning Curator. The chosen candidate will get to work with different natural science collections, whilst learning from experts in both towns.
To find out more, visit: https://buff.ly/2IUt4nb The closing date for applications is Wednesday 1 August

Ever thought about a career in museums? Why not take that first step and learn alongside an experienced team? We are once again open for traineeship applications and no prior experience is required! This year, we have exciting opportunities working with Retail and Digital Collections.
To find out more, simply head to https://buff.ly/2IUt4nb You have until Wednesday 8 August to apply.

Even though any invading army might be at the beach today for some summer sun, there's no stopping Mike the Knight sharing his stories outside Colchester Castle

Come along to Hollytrees Museum today to make your own glove monkey or monster! Sessions at 10.30, 11.30 and 12.30 £5 per person

How would like to join the team at the Castle? We're looking for volunteers to help us on Saturday 8 September, when our doors will open for free as part of Heritage Open Days.
Could you welcome visitors, show them our interactive tablet or even paint children's faces? There are many different ways you can support us and to find our more, simply head to our website: https://buff.ly/2tVerxu

Midnight on Wednesday 1 August is the deadline for our Assistant Collections and Learning Curator post.
We're looking for someone to work on four amazing natural science collections here in Colchester and at Ipswich Museums, from taxidermy birds to fossils, flies to molluscs. This really is a unique opportunity to gain experience of different collections and work alongside experts.
To find out all the details and apply, simply head to https://buff.ly/2IUt4nb #museumjobs

Today is the final day of the work experience week and this morning we explored how to curate an exhibition. Finding a theme to link the handling objects was a real challenge, but the team used their imaginations and created a fictional Colchester crime - the story of which was told through objects. Great work everyone!

Do you have a passion for the natural world? Are you looking for a new challenge and chance to develop your skills? Could you help us unlock the hidden stories of our museum collections? Colchester + Ipswich Museums are recruiting an Assistant Collections and Learning Curator, focused on natural sciences.
For details and to apply, simply head to https://buff.ly/2IUt4nb The deadline for applications is midnight on Wednesday 1 August.

Ever considered a career in museums? We are holding a taster day at Colchester Castle this Thursday. If you are interested, contact transform.museums@colchester.gov.uk to book a place.

We have some paid traineeships coming up soon. Join us at Colchester Castle on Thursday 12th July, 2.30-4.30pm for our Trainee Taster Day to find out more. Email transform.museums@colchester.gov.uk now to book your place!

Today is the inventor of the vacuum cleaner's 147th birthday - Happy birthday Hubert Cecil Booth! 🎂Here's a lovely bellows powered vac from our collection c.1920 #hoover #vacuum #GoogleDoodle

Medieval tiles from Danbury in Essex. What a treat for a Friday!

We did the tour for the first time and loved it, also discovered we qualified for the residents pass so now we can visit any time we like during the next year.

We all had a Great day out with the family. The tour and guide were great . Nice friendly staff. Fantastic museum.

Very good staff were realy nice and a good place to take the children for fun and they get educated as well�

Lovely evening staff was brill thank you all do much xxx

It was a fantastic day out for all the family, we all loved the guided tour and all the interactive bits for the children to do

I visited the museum yesterday and fully enjoyed walking around viewing various objects from the past. The way the exhibitions were laid out makes the transit through history easy to follow for all the family.



I actually enjoyed the young lady who had painted arms, her knowledge was vast and she explained everything she did, and why people in the past painted their arms or faces and what it represented. The museum had plenty of activities for the family to join in with, from dressing as a Roman soldier to riding a chariot.



I never looked at the grounds around the castle i shall do that on another visit. I feel that the museum was great value for money, though the cafe area was a little bit of a let down with just a vending machine, however Colchester has quite a few coffee shops and you can return to the museum all day and still use your ticket.



Overall i was very impressed with the staff and their helpfulness, the displays, the young lady on the top floor as i mentioned and the costs not only entry fee but also the shop.

I took my children aged 4 and 7 to the Castle for the second time today specifically to see the Fenwick Treasure. We had a great time, the children loved seeing history 'come alive' through the interactive tablets and were fascinated by the mini film explaining the circumstances that the Fenwick treasure was hidden away. Perfectly aimed for children. Would highly recommend for anyone visiting over the Easter holidays with children.

Great museum.

A lovely day out. Enjoyed the exhibits. Lovely to see history unfold through the different eras.

Never having visited Colchester before, I was looking forward to discovering the area and in particular the castle. However, to be honest, I was quite disappointed. There was very little to see concerning the architecture and the history of the building. It was more like an adventure playground for kids. Not high on my list of recommended places to go. Sorry!

The Mediaeval Festival made up for it, though it was a shame we had to pay twice.

Great value but not as much to see considering its such an important site. We’d go again

An interesting visit