Prachee Sathe, junior artist Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu ...

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The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai formerly known as the Prince of Wales. Museum of Western India is one of the premier cultural ...
Prachee Sathe, junior artist Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai Prachee, a junior artist at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai (CSMVS) spent a few weeks visiting and working with museums in London. Here she gives a background of the CSMVS and her role at the Museum; the highlights of her visit to London and possible follow up work in India. About the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya The Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Vastu Sangrahalaya, Mumbai formerly known as the Prince of Wales th Museum of Western India is one of the premier cultural institutions in the country. On the 14 August 1905, a number of prominent people of Bombay gathered at the Town Hall and resolved to erect a public Museum. For a long time people had also felt the need for a good museum in the city and finally the museum was established by the public contribution aided by the then Government of the th Bombay Presidency. The Foundation Stone of the Museum was laid by the Prince of Wales on 11 November 1905 and the Museum was named Prince of Wales Museum of Western India. This memorial was to be erected on the plot of land known as the ‘Crescent Site’ on the southern tip of the island, which was given by the Government. The architect of the building, George Wittet, was selected after an open competition in 1909. Wittet is known for the Indo-Saracenic style of architecture of which this museum is one of the best examples. The building was completed in 1914 but it opened to the public much later on 10th January, 1922. Till then it was used by the military as a hospital and for the Children’s Welfare Exhibitions. It is a Grade I Heritage Building of the city and is set in a well laid out garden which retains its original plan. It has been awarded first place for Heritage Building Maintenance by the Indian Heritage Society. Today, this museum houses about 50,000 artefacts and has an outstanding collection comprising of sculptures, terracotta’s, bronzes, excavated artefacts from the Harappan sites, Indian miniature paintings, European paintings, Porcelain and Ivories from China and Japan, etc. Besides these, the Museum has a separate Natural History section. We cater to nearly a million visitors a year from all parts of India and the World. About Prachee I am a Designer for the publication section and I work in the following areas:  Gallery work: All types of text panels, other such accessories required for the permanent as well as temporary exhibitions and other activities organized by the Museum from time to time. Publicity material such as Banners, Invitation cards, Leaflets etc as directed by the Senior staff. (from visualization stage to final production)  Smaller book publications: Work with the curators for contents and images required for the publications, Design and graphic layouts, prepress and production. (from visualisation stage to final production)  Merchandising: Different souvenirs created for exhibitions as and when required. Selection of art and craft articles to be sold at the Museum Shop  Administration: Designing and printing of information panels and other notices to be put up on the museum premises. Designing and printing of entry tickets and office stationery as and when required. Participation in the development of the Museum’s website (coming soon) and any other work assigned by the senior staff members. The staff exchange in London As per the programme laid out for me by the South Asian Department Head, Dr. Beth McKillop, I visited different institutions in and around London. When in London, I was based at the Victoria and Albert Museum for the first two weeks. I worked with the staff in different departments and got an opportunity to observe their working patterns and system. I also volunteered in an educational workshop on screen printing organised by the V&A. Later, I visited the British Library, British Museum, Horniman Museum, Museum of Natural History, Science Museum in London. In the third week I travelled to Birmingham and Leeds where I could spend time with the staff at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Leeds City Museum and

Temple Newsam House. While at Leeds, I also visited the Royal Armouries Museum. In the fourth week I met design companies who work with museums to design and build galleries and exhibitions

Most of the things in the working patterns of the museums in London were similar to the practices in CSMVS with a different approach considering the limitations in funds and other resources. But some things which could be beneficial to us are as follows:  



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An independent publicity and marketing department could be helpful for publicizing events and the institution. This would also help in generating funds. A digital database generating team who can create and manage the data of the collection. This database should be created digitally, which is handwritten at present. It would be helpful for people who work with the collections. An exhibitions team who work solely for organizing and setting up of visiting exhibitions preferably going out of the museum which would give a wide exposure to our wonderful collections. Well, this is for the senior curators to decide. Publicity of museum events done electronically and creating a database for this purpose. Gallery work, merchandising and publications should be treated separately in terms of creating them as it is not a mechanical or technical thing. Also, they are equally time and energy consuming jobs.