Building a Home for Heritage

On Wednesday the 23rd of May 2019 we invited members of the Maryhill community to come into the Halls for a chat about community heritage and the future of a Maryhill Museum. We have long been working on the idea of a Maryhill Museum, and are hoping to make this a reality soon (read more about our donation drive here). During our talk we learned more about what you think the museum should be like - free and accessible to all, a place that represents home and the rich Maryhill heritage.

As a community run charity with only two members of staff, the museum will, as it is now, be dependent on and shaped by volunteers. If you’ve ever entered the Halls and met one of our friendly receptionists, you know how volunteers make sure everything runs smoothly in the Halls.

But besides reception, there is also so much more you can help with! Even if it’s just for an odd hour here and there, reach out to heritage@mbht.org.uk if you want to get involved with the Museum and be part of an exciting community project. No matter where your hobbies lie, we can use them - and you get to be part of a fantastic, engaged team and flex your talents! For some inspiration, here’s a roundup of talents we would love to have on board.

We are also very open to people who want to take this as a learning opportunity to practice their skills. For those interested in collections care, historical research, and similar, we will provide training and ongoing support - making it a perfect opportunity for those wanting to get started in the heritage sector, or even those who are just interested in the history of the area.

Any questions can be send to heritage@mbht.org.uk or over our social media.

Preserving the Maryhill Museum

The Maryhill Burgh Halls Trust was established by local people in 2004 with the goal to establish and preserve the Maryhill Burgh Halls both as a historic building, and a centre for the community. Since our re-opening in 2012, the Halls have served as a space for small businesses, community events, and to display our local heritage.

The Halls have over the past 6 years put on many public events and exhibitions showing the local history of Maryhill, thereby building our heritage collection. But we need a dedicated museum space with space for our over 100 objects - Maryhill has a rich history, and we want to preserve and show it off! The collection includes paintings, medals, oral history, sound archives, poetry and photographs, and if we don’t have the appropriate space, these objects will need to be transferred somewhere else.

We want to make the history and culture of Maryhill accessible to local residents. We have applied for funding, but to be eligible we need to have 5% of funding in place beforehand. This is where you come in!

Help us reach our 5% target to carry through our plans for the museum by donating through the link on the left. The money is to design and build the museum, staffing, and for our 3-year community engagement plan. Ever penny will go to give back to the community and showcasing our shared heritage.

Because this project is for and by the community, we also invite you to come along the 22nd of May for a behind the scenes meeting on the Maryhill Museum. We’ll talk about our future plans for the museum, share ideas, and you can hear more on how to get involved and help us research our own wee part of Glasgow! Sign up and read more about the event here.