梅德斯通博物館尋求社區參與，共同打造下一個引人入勝的展覽

Maidstone Museum, located in Kent, is inviting local community groups to help create a new display for its gallery. The museum is known for exploring Maidstone’s history, covering everything from the Tudor period to the present day. Now, the museum wants to involve the community by asking groups to curate a short-term exhibit in its Community Cabinet. This special cabinet is designed to showcase the stories and objects that matter most to the people who live in Maidstone, giving everyone a chance to share their experiences and heritage.

Councillor Stephen Thompson, who is responsible for healthier and stronger communities at Maidstone Borough Council, said that the Community Cabinet is a perfect example of what the Oldham Gallery aims to do. He believes it helps show the real, modern-day Maidstone by letting people from different backgrounds contribute their own stories. The first display in the cabinet focused on the Polish community in Maidstone. Dee Lukasik, who organized that display, said it was meaningful to her because she was able to include her own memorabilia. Dee has lived in Maidstone for many years but has always stayed close to her Polish roots. She said that even after the display ended, she felt proud knowing her story was part of the museum and that it helped preserve and share the history of her community.

The council praised the Polish display, saying that the community put a lot of thought into choosing objects, setting up the display, and writing interpretation boards. They pointed out that even ordinary items can tell powerful and fascinating stories about settling and living in Maidstone. The museum is now searching for the next group to help fill the Community Cabinet and share their own journey. If you or your group have a story to tell or objects to share, you can contact Maidstone Museum to get involved. This is a great opportunity to help preserve your community’s history and make it part of Maidstone’s story for everyone to see.