Gillian Ramsay Email and Phone Number

I develop and deliver exhibitions and installations in collaboration with academics, students, artists, community groups and partner organisations including the National Museum of Japanese History, National University of Singapore Museum and Museum of Asian Arts, University of Malaya. Additionally, I have been involved in a number of national and international loans to and from the OM. In my current position I regularly research, develop and deliver lectures to undergraduate and postgraduate students covering a wide range of topics. I source and acquire new material for the permanent collection with a particular focus on contemporary art and craft produced by emerging and established artists. Additionally, I supervise student placements and volunteers, answer enquiries and represent the museum and University both nationally and internationally.

I worked as part of a small team of three freelance collections inventory officers on a pilot project for the National Trust for Scotland involving the inventorying of Brodick Castle on the Isle of Arran. The project involved the creation of new or updating existing Adlib records for over 6,000 objects. Additionally each item was marked and photographed to a high professional standard. As the project was a pilot we were given the opportunity to produce our own project outline, manage our own resources and were responsible for ensuring the project was delivered on time and in full. We worked in close collaboration with the property manager and collections officer, and I produced weekly reports on the projects progress as well as wrote blog and twitter posts to promote our work. The pilot proved successful and the format we developed was rolled out across all remaining NTS properties as part of 'Project Reveal'.

Researched the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland collection using archival material, original catalogues and articles to catalogue the collection and improve related object record. Assisted with exhibition deinstallations. Liaised with the conservation team on the care of collections on display.Provided research access to the collections and answered enquiries.

Assisted with research visits.Assisted with improving the care and storage of the collection. Carried out research into areas of the collection.

Researching objects for the redisplay of the medical collection, the Zoology Museum and for the Challenger Expedition Project. Locating and retrieving objects for loan. Updating existing object records using Ke Emu collections database, including importing images.

Carried out preventative conservation and pest management on objects from the Natural History collection. Created new and updated existing Adlib records, including carrying out extensive object research, taking digital images and object marking.

I devised and created the HLF funded exhibition 'Voices from the Past' including researching, writing and formatting the interpretation panels and object labels; cleaning, reassembling and analysing two medieval human skeletons; wrote press releases and acted as press contact for interviews for the local press and STV news; and supervised student interns. Managed budgets, sourced and purchased materials for exhibitions, and awarded contracts.Devised, planned and managed our Kids in Museums ‘Takeover Day’ project, an exhibition of prints from the collection curated by local high school art students. Devised, planned and secured funding for our Festival of Museums ‘Craft Revolution’ event in collaboration with Fife Folk Museum, as well as liaised with the freelance artist running the session. I assisted the Director in managing the popular schools programme 'Step into Medieval Dunfermline' in partnership with the neighbouring Historic Scotland property. Oversaw Abbot House Heritage Centre's progression towards Accreditation by writing and updating existing policy documents and plans including the Documentation Policy and Plan; Care and Conservation Policy; Human Remains Policy; Interpretation and Access Policy; Collections Development Policy and Loans Policy. Successfully applied for and secured funding for display, digitisation and outreach projects from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Museum Galleries ScotlandDeputised for the Director, and answered public and academic enquiries relating to the collections, exhibitions and events. Worked in collaboration with the Director in researching and writing web text for the new Abbot House website, and updated the site with information on events and exhibitions.

In collaboration with the Director completely designed the education programme including researching and writing the teacher's pack and managing teacher's information evenings. Under the supervision of the Director I was responsible for creating temporary exhibitions and permanent displays. Oversaw a large collections rationalisation project which involved recataloguing the collection in hard copy and on to Adlib digital collections database (which I recommended to the Director and installed onto the Abbot House server); the deaccessioning and disposal of objects which no longer adhered to the updated collections policy; the acquisition and accessioning of new objects into the collection; and managing the loan of objects into and from the collection. Wrote funding applications and policy documents including the Forward Plan 2014-2019.Trained and supervised volunteers and student interns to assist me with addressing the documentation backlog and digitisation, the installation of temporary exhibitions and running family weekend and evening events. Worked in collaboration with Fife Cultural Trust in the creation, implementation and publicity of the joint ‘Summer of Archaeology’ programme of events. Deputised for the Director and answered public and academic enquiries relating to the collections, exhibitions and events.

Cleaned and analysed human and animal skeletal remains.