Dorset Museum Executive Director talks with students

Wey Valley were delighted to welcome the Executive Director of the Dorset Museum, Claire Dixon. Claire has experience of working within different heritage settings across the country including having been the Director of Museums and Deputy Chief Executive at the Bath Preservation Trust. She brings with her a wealth of experience having spent over fifteen years in the cultural sector . Dixon also worked for the internationally renowned No.1 Royal Crescent, the Museum of Bath Architecture , Herschel's Museum of Astronomy and Beckford's Tower and Museum. She also worked for the National Trust at both Kingston Lacy ,Brownsea Island and at the Tank Museum in Bovington.

During the session with the Wey Valley Year 10 History students, Dixon presented the collections on offer at the Dorset Museum, including archaeological finds and the Hardy and Sylvia Townsend Warner galleries. She then discussed how students can seek a career in a museum and applying to the Dorset Museum for work experience would be such a valuable insight . One student said 'this talk has given me the inspiration to pursue a career in conservation ', another said 'it was fascinating and I was completely unaware of the history behind the museum and what it has to offer'. Mark Damon Chutter, Head of Performing Arts, said 'my thanks to Claire Dixon for such an aspirational talk'.