2024 has been a bumper year for the Museum of Cornish Life. Here’s a round-up of some 2024 highlights in numbers…

In the Museum 2024

• 20,000 people visited the museum
• Over 850 pupils have taken part in schools workshops
• We worked and collaborated with 63 freelance artists, archaeologists and performers across our exhibitions and engagement programmes
• 8 temporary exhibitions and 4 online exhibition tours
• 2 festivals, Animate Helston in February and Helston Makes It! in September

Behind the Scenes 2024

• Over 60 volunteers have helped welcome visitors, care for the collection, care for the building and deliver engagement and learning activities
• 1 Esmée Fairbairn Collections Funded project ‘Farmers will like it’ addressing Cornish farming heritage has allowed us to focus on reviewing the collection and then putting plans in place to help preserve them. We have worked with Museum Development South West to develop a conservation plan and with Historyonics to try new techniques such as microwaving our giant cider press
• Completion of a mezzanine storage area in our costume store thanks to funding from the Dennis Myner Charitable Trust. Across the year the team of costume volunteers have re-organised the store and continue to improve the care and storage of this important collection.

Museum of Cornish Life Team 2024

• 1 Community Engagement Curator and 1 Assistant Curator funded through mc⁷ a collaborative museum in Cornwall project funded by Arts Council England
• 1 Research Curator leading research and collections work supported by Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund
• 1 Finds Liaison Officer delivering the work of the Portable Antiquities scheme across Cornwall
• 1 Museum Assistant (Collections) on a work placement from University of Exeter, 1 Museum Assistant (Engagement) undertaking a marketing assistant apprenticeship at Truro College, all as part of our commitment to supporting career progression
• 7 young people supported on placements from University of Exeter, University of Liverpool and Bath Spa.
• Over 10,000 hours dedicated by museums team of over 60 volunteers

The Museum in the Community 2024

• 2800 people of all ages have participated in off-site activities including Finds days, memory cafes and digital dial-ins to care homes
• 5 young people supported to undertake Duke of Edinburgh and 5 young people on work experience
• 1 new chapter to our Cornish Life Stories looking at our Albion Printing Press was funded thanks to MWJV
• 1 choreography commission that resulted in a new piece of dance, Reveal, which included newly composed music and costume that was followed by a 3 month mini-exhibition
• 2 pop-up exhibitions in No.12 Wendron Street Helston for a total of 6 months

The Museum as a Charity in 2024

• Over £1000 raised through our museums supporters scheme
• £16,600 raised through donations in the museum
• Over £16,700 raised in income through purchases in the shop
• Over 1000 people attended our Cornish Summer Fair and Christmas Craft Fayre
• Delivered a collaborative project called mc⁷ , funded by Arts Council England, providing £80,000 a year

Image credit: Philip Sayer for Museums Journal