WBL Research

Maidstone Museum was established in 1858 and now houses over 660,000 artefacts and specimens. They are outstanding in their diversity and quality and some are of national and even international importance. The work of collectors, staff and benefactors over 145 years has created an overwhelmingly rich and diverse collection of far greater than regional significance.

Chillington Manor
The Museum’s central core consists of Chillington Manor, an Elizabethan manor house built in 1562. The Great Hall and the Withdrawing Room date from that period but the Cloisters and Long Gallery (restored around 1870) are survivals from an earlier Tudor building. Between 1698 and 1743 a substantial wing was added to the rear of the Elizabethan building. This was the building which was bequeathed to the town by Thomas Charles, a surgeon and antiquarian, in 1855. Three years later Maidstone Museum and Library was opened, its first curator being Charles' close friend, Edward Pretty. More galleries were soon added to house the growing collections.

East Wing
On the eastern side a new wing was added in 1869 and extended in 1889 to accommodate the Bentlif Art Gallery. This was funded by Samuel Bentlif in honour of his brother George (he also donated over 200 hundred paintings), and was enlarged again in 1924.

West Wing
On the western side a new wing, made possible by donations from Julius Brenchley, was built 1873. The Victoria Gallery, housing the town’s library, was built between 1897 and 1899 to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. In 1977 a fire damaged much of the upper floors in the West Wing and 18th century extension.

WBL research

Here is a video that the natural history museum in london made in order to help raise money

WBL - Commission

I have been commissioned to make a video for Maidstone Borough Council, which they would like to promote the Museum in Maidstone, and also Mote Park.

I think the way to go about this is, for want of a better word, to make it as "hip" as possible, in an attempt to target younger people and get them interested in the museum.

As the museum have a new wing, i will not give too much away so as to create an air of intrigue around what will be in there.

I will talk to the curator (i think that's the right word) in order to understand the history of the museum better.


With regard to Mote Park i'm not entirely sure how to go about it, so more on that when i've had a bit more time to think about it.

WBL

I've had a about 15 different phonecalls to the KM in the last 4 days, each time being passed onto someone different, or having to leave answerphone messages. Even when i returned a call from someone who had phoned me, they didn't know who i was, and passed me on again. Then i got an email from someone from the KM asking me for my cv, even though i had already handed it into the offices in maidstone, so i sent them that but havent heard back from them.

I've now given up on the KM as I am of the understanding that Maidstone Borough Council would like to comission me to create a film for them, and i am currently communicating with them about this.

It's all been one big palava with one problem after another, but hopefully this will be the end of it and it'll all be over soon!

WBL

I have discovered the fickle world of media commissions, one minute someone is really willing to do something, then the next they decide they can't be bothered. This has left me in a pickle, as i am now looking for some work experience again. Have contacted both Maidstone Hospital Radio and KMFM, along with the Kent Messenger but so far have not heard back from the KM.

Unfortunately Hospital Radio emailed me back on the day to let me know that they cannot offer work experience. Going to chase up KM to see if they can!

WBL - Problems

I'm having trouble arranging with Charlie a time when he can film at the beach, as there is always a reason for him to not be able to do it. I try ringing him but he doesn't answer his phone, presumably because he knows what i am going to say, but he can't be bothered to put the effort into the making of it.

Major Project - Research

Future plc is an international special-interest media group that is listed on the London Stock Exchange (symbol FUTR). Founded in 1985 with one magazine, today they have operations in the UK, US and Australia creating over 180 special-interest publications, websites and events for people who are passionate about their interests. They hold market-leading positions in games, film, music, technology, cycling, automotive and crafts.

The biggest-selling magazines include T3, Total Film, Classic Rock, Guitar World, and Official Xbox Magazine. Websites include GamesRadar.com, BikeRadar.com, TechRadar.com, MusicRadar.com, PhotoRadar.com and Cyclingnews.com

Future sells 3.2 million magazines each month; attracting more than 23 million unique visitors to websites; and hosting 27 annual live events that attract hundreds of thousands of enthusiasts. In addition, Future exports or syndicates publications to 90 countries internationally, making them the UK’s number one exporter and licensor of monthly magazines.