24th May 2006, 01:58 AM
Why are we having a parallel debate with Britarch. I have just posted.
"I have to say I agree with much that you say. But those of us who have no other source of income other than our labours get pretty miffed when it comes to how badly archaeologists get paid. Archaeology is in many ways different to museums in that it is a profit making private sector activity with a hangover of public service. By definition amateurs do not undertake work that is done by professionals.
I could rant further but I have to do some more work."
We have to accept the very valuable role of volunteers in Museums and at Heritage centres. In my area of the local museums the one run by amateurs is clearly the better than the professional one.
There are two other amateur ones plus a lottery funded heritage archaeology centre which i have never been too. Another new amateur museum is planned and I have offerred to be a trustee. (The bluff worked because I was prepared to be one lots of other people volunteered.)
Not one recieves funding via the council tax. Good. Every penny on the council tax is worth about 100 Tory votes.
Within a few more miles there are a number of international museums and some more amateur ones. I tend to prefer the amateur ones.
The councillors in this area are very well informed about heritage and museums. What they were not well informed about is why, that is why, archaeology is a development control function at county level. They are now. Archaeology became a political issue three years ago and the Tory got elected.
I would suggest therefore that the dynamics of museums is very different to that of archaeology. Paul has indicated some of the complexities of how museums work.
Dr Peter Wardle
The joys of Bajr where spelling really does not matter. Back to printing that report.
"I have to say I agree with much that you say. But those of us who have no other source of income other than our labours get pretty miffed when it comes to how badly archaeologists get paid. Archaeology is in many ways different to museums in that it is a profit making private sector activity with a hangover of public service. By definition amateurs do not undertake work that is done by professionals.
I could rant further but I have to do some more work."
We have to accept the very valuable role of volunteers in Museums and at Heritage centres. In my area of the local museums the one run by amateurs is clearly the better than the professional one.
There are two other amateur ones plus a lottery funded heritage archaeology centre which i have never been too. Another new amateur museum is planned and I have offerred to be a trustee. (The bluff worked because I was prepared to be one lots of other people volunteered.)
Not one recieves funding via the council tax. Good. Every penny on the council tax is worth about 100 Tory votes.
Within a few more miles there are a number of international museums and some more amateur ones. I tend to prefer the amateur ones.
The councillors in this area are very well informed about heritage and museums. What they were not well informed about is why, that is why, archaeology is a development control function at county level. They are now. Archaeology became a political issue three years ago and the Tory got elected.
I would suggest therefore that the dynamics of museums is very different to that of archaeology. Paul has indicated some of the complexities of how museums work.
Dr Peter Wardle
The joys of Bajr where spelling really does not matter. Back to printing that report.