Research case study of the Discovery Museum and Tyne & Wear Archives in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (United Kingdom).

Research case study of the Discovery Museum and Tyne & Wear Archives in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (United Kingdom). | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Research case study of the Discovery Museum and Tyne & Wear Archives in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (United Kingdom). Yann Hui, Michael Mak This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4209584/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 3 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The Discovery Museum [(built in 1899, Grade II listed) (Science & Technology Museum category)] underwent a major renovation (2004 completion), with the addition of the Tyne & Wear Archives (2008 completion) situated within the museum’s basement level. The Discovery Museum and the Tyne & Wear Archives project (Atkins, 2023 ) is re-visited as a research case study, via the conceptual framework lens of International Council of Museum’s (ICOM) & Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development’s (OECD) “Culture and Local Development: Maximising the Impact (ICOM & OECD, 2019)” guide for local governments, communities and museums and the “Management of Archive & Museum Collections” lecture series (Alici, 2023 ). The research paper seeks to question the functional and social role of the museum within society and it’s constantly evolving identity and image, for example Cole’s vision of “museums as a schoolroom for everyone” (Hallemann, 2019 ). A new metaphor for the Discovery Museum’s near future vision [post COVID-19 pandemic era] will be provided within the conclusion of the paper. Architectural heritage 20th century heritage adaptive re-use museums & archives historical architecture refurbishment Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 1 INTRODUCTION Firstly the overview of the museum scene within the city of Newcastle will be presented; secondly the history and developments of the Discovery Museum building will be provided; thirdly the renovation of the Discovery Museum and the addition of the Archive Facility & Museum Storage is provided; fourthly to summarize the present day challenges the Discovery Museum faces from a management perspective [archives & museums]; fifthly a discussion to address present day challenges [management related] via the establishment of links to relevant effective management [archives & museums] strategies; sixthly to provide certain recommendations that the Discovery Museum can undertake to further bolster it’s popularity amongst visitors [local, national & international]. The focus of the paper is grounded within the “Culture and Local Development [Maximizing Impact] policies (OECD & ICOM, 2019)” conceptual framework and in tandem to question the social role of the museum within society and it’s constantly evolving identity and image, for example Cole’s vision of “museums as a schoolroom for everyone” (Hallemann, 2019 ). A new metaphor for the Discovery Museum’s near future vision will be provided within the conclusion of the paper. The research presented is pre-dominantly based on desktop research, review of academic literature as well as re-visiting past architectural project information concerning the renovation of the Discovery Museum. The author intends to visit the Discovery Museum [and to liase with museum staff to gather further research] in the near future [post completion of paper] and will update the paper accordingly as follow-up research paper, this to further enrich the paper and to provide new research information in the form of an addendum. Keywords: Museums; archives; heritage buildings; architecture; sustainability; building adaptive reuse. 2 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK The conceptual framework deployed for this paper is International Council of Museum’s (ICOM) & Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development’s (OECD) “Culture and Local Development: Maximising the Impact (ICOM & OECD, 2019)” guide for local governments, communities and museums. The guide serves as a development tool and can be used by: Local & regional government, museums, key stakeholders and also serves as learning tool for persons [general public] interested in leveraging culture and heritage as a valuable public asset (ICOM & OECD, 2019). The following are the key themes within the mentioned guide: 1) “[To] leverage the power of museums for economic development; 2) [To] build on the role of museums for urban regeneration and community development; 3) [To] catalyse culturally aware and creative societies; 4) [To create] museums as places for inclusion, health and well-being; 5) [To] mainstream the role of museums in local development (ICOM & OECD, 2019)”. 3 OVERVIEW OF MUSEUMS IN NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE (UK) The city of Newcastle has a well-developed museums and art galleries scene and the following is a list of the most prominent institutions: Great North Museum [ The Hancock]: “ This museum, located in the heart of Newcastle, offers a wide range of exhibits, including natural history, archaeology, and ancient civilizations ; Discovery Museum: This museum in Newcastle showcases the history of science, technology, and innovation. It's a family-friendly museum with interactive exhibits ; Seven Stories - The National Centre for Children's Books: Located in Newcastle, this museum is dedicated to children's literature. It's an interactive and engaging space for kids and adults alike ; Laing Art Gallery: Situated in Newcastle, this gallery features an impressive collection of art, including paintings, sculptures, and decorative art; Newcastle Castle: The Newcastle Castle consists of two historic buildings, the Newcastle Castle and the Black Gate. It offers a glimpse into the history of the city and is located in the city centre; Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art: While not a traditional museum, this art centre in Gateshead, just across the River Tyne from Newcastle, hosts exhibitions of contemporary art and has a stunning viewing platform offering panoramic views of the city; South Shields Museum and Art Gallery: Located in the town of South Shields, part of Tyne and Wear, this museum showcases the history and heritage of the local area; Sunderland Museum and Winter Gardens: While not in Newcastle, this museum in the city of Sunderland, also in Tyne and Wear, features art, archaeology, and a beautiful glass conservatory with tropical plants” (Which Museum, 2023). 4 THE HISTORY OF THE DISCOVERY MUSEUM (1899 – PRESENT) The Discovery Museum located within the city centre of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (United Kingdom), is bounded by Blenheim Square and Summerhill Terrace to the West and by Westmorland Road to the South [refer to Figure 1 & 2]. The building currently has a Grade II listed status. It was originally constructed in 1899 as a Co-operative Wholesale Society Warehouse and offices. The Architects for this building were Oliver, Leeson and Wood. Built in the late Victorian style, Pevsner described the building as: “A striking symbol of commercial success.” The structure of the building features a cast iron internal frame, concrete floors and substantial brick external walls (Allan et al, 2006). The museum is highly accessible due to the city-centre location and in terms of building circulation is disabled-user friendly. The museum is also popular with families [with children], due to numerous interactive exhibition displays (Allan et al, 2006). In terms of collections the museum’s exhibits focus on the history and heritage of the Newcastle and the north-east region of the United Kingdom. In terms of museum topics the following is covered: Maritime history, science and technology, local industry and social history (Allan et al, 2006). A brief overview of the museum collections: The Turbinia: “One of the most iconic exhibits at the Discovery Museum is the famous steam turbine ship, The Turbinia. The Turbinia [refer to Figure 3] was built in 1894 and was once the fastest ship in the world. It played a crucial role in the development of steam turbine technology and is a highlight of the museum's collection [refer to Figure 3]; Science and Technology: The museum has interactive displays and exhibits related to science and technology, making it an engaging and educational experience for visitors of all ages. It explores innovations and inventions that have shaped the region's industrial heritage; Social History: Visitors can also explore exhibits that delve into the social history of Newcastle and the lives of its residents throughout the years. This includes displays on local communities, leisure activities, and daily life; Temporary Exhibitions: The Discovery Museum often hosts temporary exhibitions and events [refer to Figure 4], so it's worth checking their schedule for any special exhibitions or programs that may be running during your visit” . In summary, the museum is a valuable educational and information resource for the general public that is interested in Newcastle’s development as a city, offering detailed insights into the past history, social development as well as industrial and scientific developments. 5 THE TYNE & WEAR ARCHIVES PROJECT DESCRIPTION The Discovery Museum underwent major renovations during the period of 2000 – 2004, whereby the entire museum was renovated and modernised. The addition of the Tyne & Wear Archives comprised of a significant upgrade for the museum hence, it is of academic and architectural value to provide a written record of such building project. The basement of the Discovery Museum was originally built into the sloping site following Blenheim Square and Summerhill Terrace. The basement level therefore varies from fully underground at it’s most Southerly end to fully above ground at it’s most Northerly end. There are windows to the basement along the Eastern and Southern elevations. The eastern elevation windows are high level (Allan et al), 2006). A previous feasibility report prepared by City Design (Newcastle City Council, 2023) had identified that no planning application was required for the conversion of the Discovery Museum basement into the Archive and Storage Facility [Tyne & Wear Archives]. The primary reason for this is the fact that ‘no material change’ to the fabric or the use of the building. The listed status of the building means by definition that the entire building is listed. However, discussions with the City Council (Newcastle City Council, 2023) identified that the changes made to the fabric post 1980 are seen as ‘modern interventions’ and therefore they can, where this is safe, be removed (Allan et al), 2006). In the original Listed Building report [(dated 16 July 2007) (Allan et al, 2007)] the following areas were listed as a source of concern / interest: “Original structures and columns, partitions and features should be retained; Original fire doors are to be retained; Existing workshop spaces containing the timber partition are to be retained; The existing paint shop in the north west corner bay of the basement (originally a toilet) and the surrounding brick partition is to be retained; The north east corner of the building which has 7 storage bays. the bays have a central column with a flying buttress returning to the external wall. The columns and buttresses are to be retained; The store below these bays has existing partition walls which are to be retained. The existing basement and all other slab/structural arches are all listed. The installation of the de-humidifier units occupy the corridors of the basement (see appended photographs) and do not impinge in any way on the above list of items. (Allan et al, 2007) ” This project was intended to provide an Off-Site Storage Facility for the larger Great North Museum Project, which incorporates the Discovery and Hancock Museums. The project comprises the conversion of the Discovery Museum basement to form a new Museum Storage & Archive Facility [refer to Figures 5 & 6]. Newcastle City Council and Tyne & Wear Museums required additional space to house their non-exhibited collections of Natural History, Archaeological Excavation Archives, Library, Ethnography, and Geology (Allan et al, 2006). The primary requirement for the collections is that they are located within a storage facility within the centre of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The stored collections needed to be close to the respective Museums of Discovery and the Hancock. This proximity will reduce the damage caused, by transportation, to delicate objects and samples. In addition, members of the public are to visit the storage and archived collections and this requirement also restricted the location of a proposed facility to a city centre location (Allan at el, 2006). An additional consideration for the preferred location of these stored collections is that they required specific environmental conditions. The collections are unique and irreplaceable and therefore require specific environmental conditions and protection from extremes of moisture and temperature variation and from settling dust. It was considered [at the time] that the basement of the Discovery Museum provided suitable large open plan storage spaces. A store in the basement of Discovery also allowed for the close proximity to the actual exhibition spaces located upstairs within the Discovery and also with the Hancock Museum nearby [located 1.5 KM away] (Allan et al, 2006). The existing spaces within the Discovery Museum basement was converted to suit the needs of the above collections. The brief for the conversion of the existing space of the basement was split into about 90% storage, with the 10% of the remaining space allocated for display / study and administrative purposes. The small study areas are for members of the public to view items in the collection. There is also a classroom as well as other small stores and ancillary support spaces for the new main store. The stored objects are in general to be placed on 1 - 3metre high shelving. There are some larger objects that require more space. Additional items are very sensitive to moisture and require Relative Humidity (RH) levels of around 20 – 30 % [(refer to Figure 7) (Allan et al, 2006)]. 6 DISCOVERY MUSEUM: PRESENT DAY CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES Since the renovations undergone by the Discovery Museum in 2004, the Discovery Museum was recently (June 2022) reported to be in a “serious state of decline” (Holland, 2022), with “decades old exhibits requiring renewal” (Holland, 2022). The current state of the Tyne & Wear Archives is said to be in a good condition (Hill, 2016). Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 and before), the Discovery Museum was said to attract 350,000 visitors annually and the museum remains a much-loved symbol of Newcastle’s rich culture and heritage (Holland, 2022). The museum’s management [(Newcastle City Council) (NCC)] is currently considering options to renovate the museum or to relocate the museum to a city centre location [at present several city-centred locations have been tabled]. The Discovery Museum is a major cultural and heritage attraction within the North-East region of the United Kingdom and the NCC is investigating means to renew (renovation of existing building or relocation to new premises) to the museum and associated exhibits to ‘follow the times’ via the deployment of digital technologies [(Augmented Reality) (Virtual Reality)] to enhance exhibitions, as well as to increase general public outreach [(Public Relations and Digital Media) (Holland, 2022)]. In terms of the Tyne and Wear Archives, the NCC seeks to make the facility more accessible via improved digital access offerings (Hill, 2016). At present the Discovery Museum is operating on a non-profit basis and is dependant on NCC monetary subsidies and monetary donations from the general public. Although this is the de-facto business model, the museum operators are investigating alternative means to improve the commercial viability of the museum’s business operation (Holland, 2022). “What is absolutely a given that the Discovery Museum has a role to play and it will stay in the city… Does it need a refresh or a rest? It is not about the museum disappearing, it is just about it’s location, how is it operated and how we make that offer better and more accessible [physically & digitally] to all [members] of the city…We are looking at what other opportunities there are. It [Discovery Museum] might be able to stay [or], it might be able to move. (Perry & Holland, 2022)” Recently the NCC was awarded the monetary grant of GBP 150,000 to conduct the Feasibility Study of the potential options for the renewal or relocation of the Discovery Museum (Holland, 2022). At present the museum is in urgent need of monetary investment and the high costs involved for maintaining the Grade II listed building is impacting business operations in a negative way. The current challenges facing the Discovery Museum and Tyne & Wear Archives can be summarized as follows: 1) The need to maintain and increase visitor numbers substantially and sustainably; 2) To seek new and alternative means to boost the monetary income of the Discovery Museum and the Tyne & Wear Archives as a business; 3) To seek the correct means for the long-term viability and sustaining of the Discovery Museum and Tyne & Wear Archives operations; 4) Determination of the Discovery Museum and Tyne & Wear Archives to remain within the current premises or to relocate to a new premises; 5) To develop new means to increase public outreach (Public Relations & Digital Media); 6) To improve the general public’s digital access to the Tyne & Wear Archive facility. 7 DISCUSSION “Museums are democratising, inclusive and polyphonic spaces for critical dialogue about pasts and the futures. Acknowledging and addressing the conflicts and challenges of the present, they hold artefacts and specimens in trust for society, safeguard diverse memories for future generations and guarantee equal rights and equal access to heritage for all people. Museums are not for profit. They are participatory and transparent, and work in active partnership with and for diverse communities to collect, preserve, research, interpret, exhibit, and enhance and understandings of the world, aiming to contribute to human dignity and social justice, global equality and planetary wellbeing” (ICOM, 2019). The above museum definition (ICOM, 2019) holds true and all previous ICOM museum definitions (ICOM, 2019) have their own merits and value. Within this research case study, it has been shown that Discovery Museum is an important cultural and heritage asset for the people and community of the city of Newcastle. The museum plays an important social role due it’s unique collections, bespoke exhibitions and includes a high standard archive facility. In terms of Discovery Museum improvements, the author is inclined to propose the following measures: 1) To incorporate the “Culture and Local Development: Maximising the Impact (ICOM & OECD, 2019)” guide to serve as guiding principles for the current Discovery Museum and Newcastle City Council (NCC, 2023) Feasibility Study; 2) At present “Culture and Local Development: Maximising the Impact (ICOM & OECD, 2019)” principles three [catalyse culturally aware and creative societies] and four [museums as places for inclusion, health and well-being] are suitable to serve as relevant themes [guiding principles] for the improvement of the Discovery Museum and Tyne & Wear Archive; 3) The heritage building value (Grade II listed building) of the Discovery Museum is ‘priceless’ and forms part of the museum’s overall identity. Relocating the museum to a modern building setting, would lose the heritage building setting and therefore rid of the museum’s long established identity; 4) A city-centre location does have an appeal, ensuing ease of access to the general public and to increase visitor catchment of the general public, whom otherwise would not visit the Discovery Museum. It is thus proposed that a new Information Centre and revolving (3 months / quarterly) temporary exhibition be deployed at a city-centre location, in the very first instance to encourage and seed the notion of a “community-based museum (Alici, 2023 )”; 5) To improve the Public Relations (PR) and Digital Media (DM) offerings to the general public, with the sole aim to raise awareness of the Discovery Museum, Tyne & Wear Archives and associated events; the overall aim being the increase of visitor numbers; 6) To digitise the Tyne & Wear Archive’s collections and archive material and to create a digital platform for public access [paid per E-view / E-visit]; this is done to improve archive accessibility as well as to create a new means of revenue for the Discovery Museum and Tyne & Wear Archives. 8 CONCLUSION To conclude this paper, the author wishes to propose the near future vision for the Discovery Museum and the Tyne & Wear Archives: “The Discovery Museum acts as a ‘cultural and heritage’ anchor for the citizens of Newcastle city and [the museum & archive] serves as a catalyst to further involve and engage the community and visitors alike, via the showcasing (digitally & physically) it’s unique museum collections and bespoke exhibitions. In terms of the archive facility, the Tyne & Wear Archives aims to digitise the archive in order to increase it offering(s) to the general public [paid per E-view of archive materials and E-visits], hence improving accessibility as well as to create a new source of revenue stream”. In this case, although this research case study is relatively short, the author does wish to expand the research study of the Discovery Museum, firstly by questioning: “To what extent does the Discovery Museum and the Tyne & Wear Archives benefit the community of Newcastle and society as a whole?” . And secondly to question: “What are the recommended measures that the Discovery Museum and the Tyne and Wear Archives can undertake in order to ensure its long-term viability to serve the local community and the museum and archive visitors?” . The challenges faced by the Discovery Museum and Tyne and Wears Archives is challenging and perplexing and should not be assessed purely on face value [one-sided judgements and / or determinations]; simply because both subjects are long running public institutions and is here to stay and will continue to serve future generations [local community & visitors]. Such challenges should be investigated thoroughly and considered carefully, with the application of the right conceptual frameworks (ICOM & OECD, 2019), consultation of all key stakeholders and inclusion of community views (Alici, 2023 ), to arrive at optimal solution(s) to ensure that Discovery Museum and Tyne and Wears Archives can adapt to the changing times and be ‘future-proofed’ for generations ahead to enjoy and cherish. Abbreviations COVID-19 = Corona Virus Disease (SARS=CoV2 virus). GA = General Arrangement. GBP = British Pound Sterling. ICOM = International Council of Museums. NCC = Newcastle City Council. OECD = Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development. PLC = Public Limited Company. RH = Relative Humidity. Declarations ETHICAL APPROVAL “Not applicable.” FUNDING This research article has not received research funding support and is the contribution of the main author, arising from the current PhD research studies at Silpakorn University (Thailand). AVAILABILITY OF DATA & MATERIALS The author(s) confirm that the data supporting the findings of this research article are available from the main author, upon reasonable request. Author Contribution Declaration： - Availability of data: The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this research article are available from the main author, upon reasonable request.- Competing interests: The authors hereby confirm that there are no competing interests. - Funding: This research article has not received research funding support and is the contribution of the main author, arising from current PhD research studies.- Author’s contributions: The main author created the research article and the co-author acted as a mentor and editor.- Acknowledgements: The main author would like to thank Prof. Antonello Alici (Associate Professor at Marche Polytechnic University & Visiting Professor at Silpakorn University) for the inspiration and academic guidance for the creation of the research article. Acknowledgement Acknowledgements: The main author would like to thank Prof. Antonello Alici (Associate Professor at Marche Polytechnic University & Visiting Professor at Silpakorn University) for the inspiration and academic guidance for the creation of the research article. References Allan, S. Fuller, Grant. J, D. Whelan, J. (2006). Atkin’s Project Report for the Discovery Museum and Tyne & Wear Archives. Allan, S. Fuller, Grant. J, D. Whelan, J. (2007). Atkin’s Listed Building Report for the Discovery Museum and Tyne & Wear Archives. Alici, A. (2023). Silpakorn University: Management of Archive & Museum Collections lecture presentation slides and lecture notes. Atkins. (2023) Atkins Realis company website. [cited 2023 Oct 1]. Available from: https://www.atkinsrealis.com/ Discovery Museum. (2023).Discovery Museum website [Internet]. Available from: https://discoverymuseum.org.uk/about-us/about-discovery-museum Hallemann C. (2019). Who Was Henry Cole, Prince Albert’s Right-Hand Man in Launching the Great Exhibition? [Internet]. Town & Country. Available from: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a26473065/sir-henry-cole-prince-albert-great-exhibition-victoria/ ‌Hill, L. (2016). What is happening with Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums? [Internet]. Chronicle News. 2016 [cited 2023 Sep 26]. Available from: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/what-happening-tyne-wear-archives-12199855 Holland, D. (2022). Newcastle’s Discovery Museum in line for major renovations [Internet]. Chronicle News. 2022 [cited 2023 Sep 26]. Available from: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/discovery-museum-renovations-newcastle-decline-24174635 Holland, D. (2022). Newcastle’s Discovery Museum could be relocated to empty shops [Internet]. Chronicle News. 2022 [cited 2023 Sep 26]. Available from: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/newcastle-discovery-museum-could-relocated-25400764 International Council of Museums (ICOM). (2019). The museum definition. The backbone of museums. Museums International, vol. 71, n. 281-282. ‌International Council of Museums (ICOM) & Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development (OECD). (2019). Culture and Local Development: Maximizing the Impact. Newcastle City Council. (2023). Newcastle City Council [Internet]. Available from: https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/ Tyne & Wear Archives. (2023). Tyne & Wear Archives website [Internet]. twarchives.org.uk. [cited 2023 Oct 1]. Available from: https://twarchives.org.uk/ ‌Which Museum. (2023). Top 10 Best Museums in Newcastle upon Tyne [Internet]. whichmuseum.co.uk. [cited 2023 Oct 1]. Available from: https://whichmuseum.co.uk/place/newcastle-upon-tyne-2024/best-museums Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Editor assigned by journal 03 Apr, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 03 Apr, 2024 First submitted to journal 02 Apr, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4209584","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":287096466,"identity":"0e675d56-d11d-40fe-ae27-c5bd18b677ff","order_by":0,"name":"Yann Hui","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAzklEQVRIiWNgGAWjYLACxgYGOQkQ+QDM5SFOizFQS2NDAojHRqSWxBkgiigtBsfPHnvAuONw+sxph9sfJDDYyTPI9x7Ar+VMXroB45nDubOlE0EOSzZsYONLwK/lQI6ZBGPb4dx5EC3MCUCHGeDXcv4NWEu6HERLPRFabkBsSZCGaDlMWIvkDaAtiW3phjNnJzbOSDA4btjGloNfC995oC0f26zlJW6nP/jwoaJanp/5DH4tCgeARALCncBowaseCOQbCKkYBaNgFIyCUQAAKSFCrojZPW0AAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Yann","middleName":"","lastName":"Hui","suffix":""},{"id":287096467,"identity":"7c4ffebe-d87d-457b-9da1-5f78c189597e","order_by":1,"name":"Michael Mak","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"University of Newcastle Australia","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Michael","middleName":"","lastName":"Mak","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-04-03 03:14:52","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4209584/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4209584/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":54322377,"identity":"c32013cc-648e-4a63-86f0-4c2cd1ed17dd","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-04-08 19:49:34","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1297978,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eLocation plan depicting the Discovery Museum in Newcastle (United Kingdom). 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(Source: Discovery Museum 2023)\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage4.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4209584/v1/a2529127762350ec907d80e2.png"},{"id":54322380,"identity":"96818f5d-6645-4b55-9542-8e25522c8791","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-04-08 19:49:35","extension":"png","order_by":5,"title":"Figure 5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1568625,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eGeneral Arrangement (GA) plan depicting the Tyne \u0026amp; Archive Facility within the Discovery Museum in Newcastle (United Kingdom). (Source: Atkins 2007)\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4209584/v1/a1ee15638543cc03536954a9.png"},{"id":54322382,"identity":"c69e91a4-f002-4266-a9ca-d63cea3bfbe1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-04-08 19:49:35","extension":"png","order_by":6,"title":"Figure 6","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1532486,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003ePhotograph showing the rack storages within the Tyne \u0026amp; Archive Facility in Newcastle (United Kingdom). (Source: Discovery Museum 2023)\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage6.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4209584/v1/1261b10f09de2c1c61adfe3a.png"},{"id":54323115,"identity":"52f132a9-5a3d-4a92-8998-76774b0a5ae9","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-04-08 19:57:35","extension":"png","order_by":7,"title":"Figure 7","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":1734489,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003ePhotograph showing the installation of mechanical systems for the environmental control purposes within the Tyne \u0026amp; Archive Facility in Newcastle (United Kingdom). (Source: Atkins 2007)\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"floatimage7.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4209584/v1/334ea2a4695a389c73925239.png"},{"id":54323619,"identity":"d2a67f75-a3bd-4976-8515-691692a348f2","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-04-08 20:13:42","extension":"pdf","order_by":0,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":12343610,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"manuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4209584/v1/95ed21a1-2944-459c-abeb-f95020cfadb9.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Research case study of the Discovery Museum and Tyne \u0026 Wear Archives in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (United Kingdom).","fulltext":[{"header":"1 INTRODUCTION","content":"\u003cp\u003eFirstly the overview of the museum scene within the city of Newcastle will be presented; secondly the history and developments of the Discovery Museum building will be provided; thirdly the renovation of the Discovery Museum and the addition of the Archive Facility \u0026amp; Museum Storage is provided; fourthly to summarize the present day challenges the Discovery Museum faces from a management perspective [archives \u0026amp; museums]; fifthly a discussion to address present day challenges [management related] via the establishment of links to relevant effective management [archives \u0026amp; museums] strategies; sixthly to provide certain recommendations that the Discovery Museum can undertake to further bolster it\u0026rsquo;s popularity amongst visitors [local, national \u0026amp; international].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe focus of the paper is grounded within the \u0026ldquo;Culture and Local Development [Maximizing Impact] policies (OECD \u0026amp; ICOM, 2019)\u0026rdquo; conceptual framework and in tandem to question the social role of the museum within society and it\u0026rsquo;s constantly evolving identity and image, for example Cole\u0026rsquo;s vision of \u0026ldquo;museums as a schoolroom for everyone\u0026rdquo; (Hallemann, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). A new metaphor for the Discovery Museum\u0026rsquo;s near future vision will be provided within the conclusion of the paper.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe research presented is pre-dominantly based on desktop research, review of academic literature as well as re-visiting past architectural project information concerning the renovation of the Discovery Museum. The author intends to visit the Discovery Museum [and to liase with museum staff to gather further research] in the near future [post completion of paper] and will update the paper accordingly as follow-up research paper, this to further enrich the paper and to provide new research information in the form of an addendum.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eKeywords: Museums; archives; heritage buildings; architecture; sustainability; building adaptive reuse.\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"2 CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe conceptual framework deployed for this paper is International Council of Museum\u0026rsquo;s (ICOM) \u0026amp; Organisation for Economic Co-operation \u0026amp; Development\u0026rsquo;s (OECD) \u0026ldquo;Culture and Local Development: Maximising the \u0026nbsp;Impact (ICOM \u0026amp; OECD, 2019)\u0026rdquo; guide for local governments, communities and museums. The guide serves as a development tool and can be used by: Local \u0026amp; regional government, museums, key stakeholders and also serves as learning tool for persons [general public] interested in leveraging culture and heritage as a valuable public asset (ICOM \u0026amp; OECD, 2019).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe following are the key themes within the mentioned guide:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e1) \u0026ldquo;[To] leverage the power of museums for economic development;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e2) [To] build on the role of museums for urban regeneration and community development;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e3) [To] catalyse culturally aware and creative societies;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e4) [To create] museums as places for inclusion, health and well-being;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e5) [To] mainstream the role of museums in local development (ICOM \u0026amp; OECD, 2019)\u0026rdquo;.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"3 OVERVIEW OF MUSEUMS IN NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE (UK)","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe city of Newcastle has a well-developed museums and art galleries scene and the following is a list of the most prominent institutions:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eGreat North Museum [ The Hancock]: \u003c/u\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis museum, located in the heart of Newcastle, offers a wide range of exhibits, including natural history, archaeology, and ancient civilizations\u003c/em\u003e; \u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eDiscovery Museum:\u003c/u\u003e \u003cem\u003eThis museum in Newcastle showcases the history of science, technology, and innovation. It\u0026apos;s a family-friendly museum with interactive exhibits\u003c/em\u003e; \u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eSeven Stories - The National Centre for Children\u0026apos;s Books:\u003c/u\u003e \u003cem\u003eLocated in Newcastle, this museum is dedicated to children\u0026apos;s literature. It\u0026apos;s an interactive and engaging space for kids and adults alike\u003c/em\u003e;\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eLaing Art Gallery: \u003c/u\u003e\u003cem\u003eSituated in Newcastle, this gallery features an impressive collection of art, including paintings, sculptures, and decorative art;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eNewcastle Castle:\u003c/u\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Newcastle Castle consists of two historic buildings, the Newcastle Castle and the Black Gate. It offers a glimpse into the history of the city and is located in the city centre;\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eBaltic Centre for Contemporary Art:\u003c/u\u003e \u003cem\u003eWhile not a traditional museum, this art centre in Gateshead, just across the River Tyne from Newcastle, hosts exhibitions of contemporary art and has a stunning viewing platform offering panoramic views of the city;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eSouth Shields Museum and Art Gallery:\u003c/u\u003e \u003cem\u003eLocated in the town of South Shields, part of Tyne and Wear, this museum showcases the history and heritage of the local area; \u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cu\u003eSunderland Museum and Winter Gardens:\u003c/u\u003e \u003cem\u003eWhile not in Newcastle, this museum in the city of Sunderland, also in Tyne and Wear, features art, archaeology, and a beautiful glass conservatory with tropical plants\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e (Which Museum, 2023).\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"4 THE HISTORY OF THE DISCOVERY MUSEUM (1899 – PRESENT)","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe Discovery Museum located within the city centre of Newcastle-upon-Tyne (United Kingdom), is bounded by Blenheim Square and Summerhill Terrace to the West and by Westmorland Road to the South [refer to Figure 1 \u0026amp; 2].\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe building currently has a Grade II listed status. It was originally constructed in 1899 as a Co-operative Wholesale Society Warehouse and offices. The Architects for this building were Oliver, Leeson and Wood. Built in the late Victorian style, Pevsner described the building as:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;A striking symbol of commercial success.\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe structure of the building features a cast iron internal frame, concrete floors and substantial brick external walls (Allan et al, 2006).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe museum is highly accessible due to the city-centre location and in terms of building circulation is disabled-user friendly. The museum is also popular with families [with children], due to numerous interactive exhibition displays (Allan et al, 2006).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn terms of collections the museum\u0026rsquo;s exhibits focus on the history and heritage of the Newcastle and the north-east region of the United Kingdom. In terms of museum topics the following is covered: Maritime history, science and technology, local industry and social history (Allan et al, 2006).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA brief overview of the museum collections:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cu\u003eThe Turbinia:\u003c/u\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;One of the most iconic exhibits at the Discovery Museum is the famous steam turbine ship, The Turbinia. The Turbinia [refer to Figure 3] was built in 1894 and was once the fastest ship in the world. It played a crucial role in the development of steam turbine technology and is a highlight of the museum\u0026apos;s collection [refer to Figure 3];\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cu\u003eScience and Technology:\u0026nbsp;\u003c/u\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe museum has interactive displays and exhibits related to science and technology, making it an engaging and educational experience for visitors of all ages. It explores innovations and inventions that have shaped the region\u0026apos;s industrial heritage;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cu\u003eSocial History:\u003c/u\u003e\u003cem\u003eVisitors can also explore exhibits that delve into the social history of Newcastle and the lives of its residents throughout the years. This includes displays on local communities, leisure activities, and daily life;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cu\u003eTemporary Exhibitions:\u003c/u\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Discovery Museum often hosts temporary exhibitions and events [refer to Figure 4], so it\u0026apos;s worth checking their schedule for any special exhibitions or programs that may be running during your visit\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn summary, the museum is a valuable educational and information resource for the general public that is interested in Newcastle\u0026rsquo;s development as a city, offering detailed insights into the past history, social development as well as industrial and scientific developments.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"5 THE TYNE \u0026 WEAR ARCHIVES PROJECT DESCRIPTION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe Discovery Museum underwent major renovations during the period of 2000 \u0026ndash; 2004, whereby the entire museum was renovated and modernised. The addition of the Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives comprised of a significant upgrade for the museum hence, it is of academic and architectural value to provide a written record of such building project.\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe basement of the Discovery Museum was originally built into the sloping site following Blenheim Square and Summerhill Terrace. The basement level therefore varies from fully underground at it\u0026rsquo;s most Southerly end to fully above ground at it\u0026rsquo;s most Northerly end. There are windows to the basement along the Eastern and Southern elevations. The eastern elevation windows are high level (Allan et al), 2006).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA previous feasibility report prepared by City Design (Newcastle City Council, 2023) had identified that no planning application was required for the conversion of the Discovery Museum basement into the Archive and Storage Facility [Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives]. The primary reason for this is the fact that \u0026lsquo;no material change\u0026rsquo; to the fabric or the use of the building. The listed status of the building means by definition that the entire building is listed. However, discussions with the City Council (Newcastle City Council, 2023) identified that the changes made to the fabric post 1980 are seen as \u0026lsquo;modern interventions\u0026rsquo; and therefore they can, where this is safe, be removed (Allan et al), 2006).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the original Listed Building report [(dated 16 July 2007) (Allan et al, 2007)] the following areas were listed as a source of concern / interest:\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Original structures and columns, partitions and features should be retained;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eOriginal fire doors are to be retained;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eExisting workshop spaces containing the timber partition are to be retained;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe existing paint shop in the north west corner bay of the basement (originally a toilet) and the surrounding brick partition is to be retained;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe north east corner of the building which has 7 storage bays. the bays have a central column with a flying buttress returning to the external wall. The columns and buttresses are to be retained;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe store below these bays has existing partition walls which are to be retained.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe existing basement and all other slab/structural arches are all listed.\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe installation of the de-humidifier units occupy the corridors of the basement (see appended photographs) and do not impinge in any way on the above list of items.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/em\u003e(Allan et al, 2007)\u003cem\u003e\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis project was intended to provide an Off-Site Storage Facility for the larger Great North Museum Project, which incorporates the Discovery and Hancock Museums. The project comprises the conversion of the Discovery Museum basement to form a new Museum Storage \u0026amp; Archive Facility [refer to Figures 5 \u0026amp; 6]. Newcastle City Council and Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Museums required additional space to house their non-exhibited collections of Natural History, Archaeological Excavation Archives, Library, Ethnography, and Geology (Allan et al, 2006).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe primary requirement for the collections is that they are located within a storage facility within the centre of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The stored collections needed to be close to the respective Museums of Discovery and the Hancock. This proximity will reduce the damage caused, by transportation, to delicate objects and samples. In addition, members of the public are to visit the storage and archived collections and this requirement also restricted the location of a proposed facility to a city centre location (Allan at el, 2006).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn additional consideration for the preferred location of these stored collections is that they required specific environmental conditions. The collections are unique and irreplaceable and therefore require specific environmental conditions and protection from extremes of moisture and temperature variation and from settling dust. It was considered [at the time] that the basement of the Discovery Museum provided suitable large open plan storage spaces. A store in the basement of Discovery also allowed for the close proximity to the actual exhibition spaces located upstairs within the Discovery and also with the Hancock Museum nearby [located 1.5 KM away] (Allan et al, 2006).\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe existing spaces within the Discovery Museum basement was converted to suit the needs of the above collections. The brief for the conversion of the existing space of the basement was split into about 90% storage, with the 10% of the remaining space allocated for display / study and administrative purposes. The small study areas are for members of the public to view items in the collection. There is also a classroom as well as other small stores and ancillary support spaces for the new main store. The stored objects are in general to be placed on 1 - 3metre high shelving. There are some larger objects that require more space. Additional items are very sensitive to moisture and require Relative Humidity (RH) levels of around 20 \u0026ndash; 30 % [(refer to Figure 7) (Allan et al, 2006)].\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"6 DISCOVERY MUSEUM: PRESENT DAY CHALLENGES \u0026 OPPORTUNITIES","content":"\u003cp\u003eSince the renovations undergone by the Discovery Museum in 2004, the Discovery Museum was recently (June 2022) reported to be in a \u0026ldquo;serious state of decline\u0026rdquo; (Holland, 2022), with \u0026ldquo;decades old exhibits requiring renewal\u0026rdquo; (Holland, 2022). The current state of the Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives is said to be in a good condition (Hill, 2016). \u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePrior to the COVID-19 pandemic (2020 and before), the Discovery Museum was said to attract 350,000 visitors annually and the museum remains a much-loved symbol of Newcastle\u0026rsquo;s rich culture and heritage (Holland, 2022). The museum\u0026rsquo;s management [(Newcastle City Council) (NCC)] is currently considering options to renovate the museum or to relocate the museum to a city centre location [at present several city-centred locations have been tabled].\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe Discovery Museum is a major cultural and heritage attraction within the North-East region of the United Kingdom and the NCC is investigating means to renew (renovation of existing building or relocation to new premises) to the museum and associated exhibits to \u0026lsquo;follow the times\u0026rsquo; via the deployment of digital technologies [(Augmented Reality) (Virtual Reality)] to enhance exhibitions, as well as to increase general public outreach [(Public Relations and Digital Media) (Holland, 2022)]. In terms of the Tyne and Wear Archives, the NCC seeks to make the facility more accessible via improved digital access offerings (Hill, 2016). \u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAt present the Discovery Museum is operating on a non-profit basis and is dependant on NCC monetary subsidies and monetary donations from the general public. Although this is the de-facto business model, the museum operators are investigating alternative means to improve the commercial viability of the museum\u0026rsquo;s business operation (Holland, 2022).\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;What is absolutely a given that the Discovery Museum has a role to play and it will stay in the city\u0026hellip; Does it need a refresh or a rest? It is not about the museum disappearing, it is just about it\u0026rsquo;s location, how is it operated and how we make that offer better and more accessible [physically \u0026amp; digitally] to all [members] of the city\u0026hellip;We are looking at what other opportunities there are. It [Discovery Museum] might be able to stay [or], it might be able to move. \u003c/em\u003e(Perry \u0026amp; Holland, 2022)\u0026rdquo;\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRecently the NCC was awarded the monetary grant of GBP 150,000 to conduct the Feasibility Study of the potential options for the renewal or relocation of the Discovery Museum (Holland, 2022). At present the museum is in urgent need of monetary investment and the high costs involved for maintaining the Grade II listed building is impacting business operations in a negative way.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe current challenges facing the Discovery Museum and Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives can be summarized as follows:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e1) The need to maintain and increase visitor numbers substantially and sustainably;\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e2) To seek new and alternative means to boost the monetary income of the Discovery Museum and the Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives as a business;\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e3) To seek the correct means for the long-term viability and sustaining of the Discovery Museum and Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives operations;\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e4) Determination of the Discovery Museum and Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives to remain within the current premises or to relocate to a new premises;\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e5) To develop new means to increase public outreach (Public Relations \u0026amp; Digital Media);\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e6) To improve the general public\u0026rsquo;s digital access to the Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archive facility.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"7 DISCUSSION","content":"\u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;Museums are democratising, inclusive and polyphonic spaces for critical dialogue about pasts and the futures. Acknowledging and addressing the conflicts and challenges of the present, they hold artefacts and specimens in trust for society, safeguard diverse memories for future generations and guarantee equal rights and equal access to heritage for all people.\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eMuseums are not for profit. They are participatory and transparent, and work in active partnership with and for diverse communities to collect, preserve, research, interpret, exhibit, and enhance and understandings of the world, aiming to contribute to human dignity and social justice, global equality and planetary wellbeing\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e (ICOM, 2019).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe above museum definition (ICOM, 2019) holds true and all previous ICOM museum definitions (ICOM, 2019) have their own merits and value. Within this research case study, it has been shown that Discovery Museum is an important cultural and heritage asset for the people and community of the city of Newcastle. The museum plays an important social role due it\u0026rsquo;s unique collections, bespoke exhibitions and includes a high standard archive facility.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn terms of Discovery Museum improvements, the author is inclined to propose the following measures:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e1) To incorporate the \u0026ldquo;Culture and Local Development: Maximising the Impact (ICOM \u0026amp; OECD, 2019)\u0026rdquo; guide to serve as guiding principles for the current Discovery Museum and Newcastle City Council (NCC, 2023) Feasibility Study;\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e2) At present \u0026ldquo;Culture and Local Development: Maximising the Impact (ICOM \u0026amp; OECD, 2019)\u0026rdquo; principles three [catalyse culturally aware and creative societies] and four [museums as places for inclusion, health and well-being] are suitable to serve as relevant themes [guiding principles] for the improvement of the Discovery Museum and Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archive;\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e3) The heritage building value (Grade II listed building) of the Discovery Museum is \u0026lsquo;priceless\u0026rsquo; and forms part of the museum\u0026rsquo;s overall identity. Relocating the museum to a modern building setting, would lose the heritage building setting and therefore rid of the museum\u0026rsquo;s long established identity;\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e4) A city-centre location does have an appeal, ensuing ease of access to the general public and to increase visitor catchment of the general public, whom otherwise would not visit the Discovery Museum. It is thus proposed that a new Information Centre and revolving (3 months / quarterly) temporary exhibition be deployed at a city-centre location, in the very first instance to encourage and seed the notion of a \u0026ldquo;community-based museum (Alici, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e)\u0026rdquo;;\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e5) To improve the Public Relations (PR) and Digital Media (DM) offerings to the general public, with the sole aim to raise awareness of the Discovery Museum, Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives and associated events; the overall aim being the increase of visitor numbers;\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e6) To digitise the Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archive\u0026rsquo;s collections and archive material and to create a digital platform for public access [paid per E-view / E-visit]; this is done to improve archive accessibility as well as to create a new means of revenue for the Discovery Museum and Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"8 CONCLUSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eTo conclude this paper, the author wishes to propose the near future vision for the Discovery Museum and the Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;The Discovery Museum acts as a \u0026lsquo;cultural and heritage\u0026rsquo; anchor for the citizens of Newcastle city and [the museum \u0026amp; archive] serves as a catalyst to further involve and engage the community and visitors alike, via the showcasing (digitally \u0026amp; physically) it\u0026rsquo;s unique museum collections and bespoke exhibitions.\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003eIn terms of the archive facility, the Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives aims to digitise the archive in order to increase it offering(s) to the general public [paid per E-view of archive materials and E-visits], hence improving accessibility as well as to create a new source of revenue stream\u0026rdquo;.\u003c/em\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this case, although this research case study is relatively short, the author does wish to expand the research study of the Discovery Museum, firstly by questioning:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;To what extent does the Discovery Museum and the Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives benefit the community of Newcastle and society as a whole?\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAnd secondly to question:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cem\u003e\u0026ldquo;What are the recommended measures that the Discovery Museum and the Tyne and Wear Archives can undertake in order to ensure its long-term viability to serve the local community and the museum and archive visitors?\u0026rdquo;\u003c/em\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe challenges faced by the Discovery Museum and Tyne and Wears Archives is challenging and perplexing and should not be assessed purely on face value [one-sided judgements and / or determinations]; simply because both subjects are long running public institutions and is here to stay and will continue to serve future generations [local community \u0026amp; visitors]. Such challenges should be investigated thoroughly and considered carefully, with the application of the right conceptual frameworks (ICOM \u0026amp; OECD, 2019), consultation of all key stakeholders and inclusion of community views (Alici, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e), to arrive at optimal solution(s) to ensure that Discovery Museum and Tyne and Wears Archives can adapt to the changing times and be \u0026lsquo;future-proofed\u0026rsquo; for generations ahead to enjoy and cherish.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"Abbreviations","content":"\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eCOVID-19 = Corona Virus Disease (SARS=CoV2 virus).\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eGA = General Arrangement.\u0026nbsp;\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eGBP = British Pound Sterling.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eICOM = International Council of Museums.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eNCC = Newcastle City Council.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eOECD = Organisation for Economic Co-operation \u0026amp; Development.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003ePLC = Public Limited Company.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eRH = Relative Humidity.\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e"},{"header":"Declarations","content":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eETHICAL APPROVAL\u003c/strong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u0026ldquo;Not applicable.\u0026rdquo;\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFUNDING\u003c/strong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis research article has not received research funding support and is the contribution of the main author, arising from the current PhD research studies at Silpakorn University (Thailand).\u0026nbsp;\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAVAILABILITY OF DATA \u0026amp; MATERIALS\u003c/strong\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u0026nbsp;\u003c/strong\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe author(s) confirm that the data supporting the findings of this research article are available from the main author, upon reasonable request.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAuthor Contribution\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eDeclaration： - Availability of data: The authors confirm that the data supporting the findings of this research article are available from the main author, upon reasonable request.- Competing interests: The authors hereby confirm that there are no competing interests. - Funding: This research article has not received research funding support and is the contribution of the main author, arising from current PhD research studies.- Author\u0026rsquo;s contributions: The main author created the research article and the co-author acted as a mentor and editor.- Acknowledgements: The main author would like to thank Prof. Antonello Alici (Associate Professor at Marche Polytechnic University \u0026amp; Visiting Professor at Silpakorn University) for the inspiration and academic guidance for the creation of the research article.\u003c/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eAcknowledgement\u003c/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eAcknowledgements: The main author would like to thank Prof. Antonello Alici (Associate Professor at Marche Polytechnic University \u0026amp; Visiting Professor at Silpakorn University) for the inspiration and academic guidance for the creation of the research article.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAllan, S. Fuller, Grant. J, D. Whelan, J. (2006). Atkin\u0026rsquo;s Project Report for the Discovery Museum and Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAllan, S. Fuller, Grant. J, D. Whelan, J. (2007). Atkin\u0026rsquo;s Listed Building Report for the Discovery Museum and Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAlici, A. (2023). Silpakorn University: Management of Archive \u0026amp; Museum Collections lecture presentation slides and lecture notes.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eAtkins. (2023) Atkins Realis company website. [cited 2023 Oct 1]. Available from: https://www.atkinsrealis.com/\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eDiscovery Museum. (2023).Discovery Museum website [Internet]. Available from: https://discoverymuseum.org.uk/about-us/about-discovery-museum\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eHallemann C. (2019). Who Was Henry Cole, Prince Albert\u0026rsquo;s Right-Hand Man in Launching the Great Exhibition? [Internet]. Town \u0026amp; Country. Available from: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/a26473065/sir-henry-cole-prince-albert-great-exhibition-victoria/\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026zwnj;Hill, L. (2016). What is happening with Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums? [Internet]. Chronicle News. 2016 [cited 2023 Sep 26]. Available from: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/what-happening-tyne-wear-archives-12199855\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eHolland, D. (2022). Newcastle\u0026rsquo;s Discovery Museum in line for major renovations [Internet]. Chronicle News. 2022 [cited 2023 Sep 26]. Available from: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/discovery-museum-renovations-newcastle-decline-24174635\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eHolland, D. (2022). Newcastle\u0026rsquo;s Discovery Museum could be relocated to empty shops [Internet]. Chronicle News. 2022 [cited 2023 Sep 26]. Available from: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/newcastle-discovery-museum-could-relocated-25400764\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eInternational Council of Museums (ICOM). (2019). The museum definition. The backbone of museums. Museums International, vol. 71, n. 281-282.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026zwnj;International Council of Museums (ICOM) \u0026amp; Organisation for Economic Co-operation \u0026amp; Development (OECD). (2019). Culture and Local Development: Maximizing the Impact.\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eNewcastle City Council. (2023). Newcastle City Council [Internet]. Available from: https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eTyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives. (2023). Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives website [Internet]. twarchives.org.uk. [cited 2023 Oct 1]. Available from: https://twarchives.org.uk/\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003e\u0026zwnj;Which Museum. (2023). Top 10 Best Museums in Newcastle upon Tyne [Internet]. whichmuseum.co.uk. [cited 2023 Oct 1]. Available from: https://whichmuseum.co.uk/place/newcastle-upon-tyne-2024/best-museums\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-global-society","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Global Society](https://www.springer.com/journal/44282)","snPcode":"44282","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44282/3","title":"Discover Global Society","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Architectural heritage, 20th century heritage, adaptive re-use, museums \u0026 archives, historical architecture, refurbishment","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4209584/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4209584/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe Discovery Museum [(built in 1899, Grade II listed) (Science \u0026amp; Technology Museum category)] underwent a major renovation (2004 completion), with the addition of the Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives (2008 completion) situated within the museum\u0026rsquo;s basement level. The Discovery Museum and the Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives project (Atkins, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR4\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e) is re-visited as a research case study, via the conceptual framework lens of International Council of Museum\u0026rsquo;s (ICOM) \u0026amp; Organisation for Economic Co-operation \u0026amp; Development\u0026rsquo;s (OECD) \u0026ldquo;Culture and Local Development: Maximising the Impact (ICOM \u0026amp; OECD, 2019)\u0026rdquo; guide for local governments, communities and museums and the \u0026ldquo;Management of Archive \u0026amp; Museum Collections\u0026rdquo; lecture series (Alici, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2023\u003c/span\u003e). The research paper seeks to question the functional and social role of the museum within society and it\u0026rsquo;s constantly evolving identity and image, for example Cole\u0026rsquo;s vision of \u0026ldquo;museums as a schoolroom for everyone\u0026rdquo; (Hallemann, \u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2019\u003c/span\u003e). A new metaphor for the Discovery Museum\u0026rsquo;s near future vision [post COVID-19 pandemic era] will be provided within the conclusion of the paper.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Research case study of the Discovery Museum and Tyne \u0026amp; Wear Archives in Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (United Kingdom).","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-04-08 19:49:30","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4209584/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2024-04-03T12:12:33+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2024-04-03T12:11:26+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Discover Global Society","date":"2024-04-03T03:13:37+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"discover-global-society","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"Learn more about [Discover Global Society](https://www.springer.com/journal/44282)","snPcode":"44282","submissionUrl":"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/44282/3","title":"Discover Global Society","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":true,"editorialSystem":"stoa","reportingPortfolio":"Discover Series","inReviewEnabled":true,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"8f37918f-cc54-4cce-b0be-dae6099740e3","owner":[],"postedDate":"April 8th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-04-08T19:49:30+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-04-08 19:49:30","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-4209584","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-4209584","identity":"rs-4209584","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}