Mobilising the Energy in Store: stored collections, enthusiast experts and the ecology of heritage

In this multi -media article we examine the experiences and perspectives of a group of enthus iast experts as they encounter the col lections held in store across the Science Museum Group as part of the Energy in Store project. Their voices are reflected here from observations during the project, from ini tia l participant interviews and from fi lmed interviews conducted towards the end of the project. Enthus iast experts in this context often include former profess ional engineers , model bui lders or even inventors , who have detai led knowledge and practical ski l l s that are vi ta l to shedding new l ight on the col lections. This group are stalwarts in volunteer museums and heri tage networks across the UK and international ly. However, previous research has indicated that in recent years this audience has not necessari ly been seen a priori ty for museums. This article views the role of enthus iast experts as object ambassadors that, through their speci fic research practices , knowledge and understanding, help reinvigorate stored col lections and can be seen as essentia l actors in the ecology of publ ic heri tage. We cons ider what form their object research takes, us ing a relational framework to cons ider enthus iast experts ’ epistemic practices . From this perspective, the article argues, i t becomes clear that the group are an under-uti l i sed resource, who have important contributions to make to the dynamism and sustainabi l i ty of stored museum col lections. Compone nt DOI: http://dx.doi .org/10.15180/191207/001