Today's blog is something a bit different - we are featuring a recent interview by Aanchal a student at the University of Central Lancashire.
How long has it been since you became the curator of the True Crime Museum?
About five years. That includes the time spent setting up the Museum before we opened in August of 2014.
Pre-opening was the hardest part of curating the collection because it involved securing the White Rock Caves as a venue and making them suitable and safe for our visitors. There was so much financial and red-tape stuff to do, Land Registry, planning permission, lease agreements, fire certificates… I hate filling in forms but it just had to be done! We opened on the Bank Holiday weekend and it was just fantastic to see it all come together.
The True Crime Museum doesn't sound like a usual theme. How did the idea came to open one?
Yes, it is unusual, I think it’s a theme that either fascinates or repulses someone. It has always been a subject I have consumed voraciously, like my father before me. I love to study the morals of different eras, the depths of human desire and deception and the cunning of those who protect us from crime.
I moved from London to Hastings in 2002 and got a job in education. Previously I’d been working in exhibition and gallery design; I worked at The Museum of The Moving Image in London, The Photographers Gallery and others.
When I was made redundant from my job in Hastings I felt like getting back to exhibition work as a way of earning my living. Then I found the White Rock Caves on the seafront here and it further inspired me. I thought, ‘This is something that people will pay to come and see. (or at least I hope they will!)’
Thankfully I’ve been proved right so far, there is a sufficient number of weird people out there just like me who have an absolute obsession with the subject of crime!
What is so different about this museum? Any unique facts you could tell me about?
I think the significance, quality and diversity of the exhibits. We have the original acid containers used by John George Haigh to dissolve his victims, the last noose used at Lincoln Prison to execute two men, a bullet shown as evidence in the trial against the Kray Twins, artwork by serial killers, right through to the ashes of the fighting monkey Jacco Macacco. We add new exhibits and displays every month.
Our location in eerie caves on the seafront is also unique; so is the way in which we are able to present our exhibits. I’ve visited loads of official Police Museums and I adore them but I recognise that they are limited by what they can and can’t display. We are less restricted by bureaucracy I think.
How does it feel to become a curator? Can you tell me about your experience?
For me it’s a massive feeling of creative fulfilment. It’s a great sensation to complete something and have it stand up on its own feet and start to walk and then run.
I’m very proud that the Museum has created four full time jobs here in Hastings, one of which is mine.
No job is easy. Tell me more about your struggles and achievements?
Working in caves brings its own challenges! When we first opened, I just couldn’t handle the relentless maintenance required. It would be like; ‘Aaghh!! That wall we painted yesterday has started peeling already… that leak we spent hundreds of pounds fixing has started dripping again… Why do the drains smell today?’
After five years I’m just punch-drunk to it all. I arrive and think, ‘Okay what’s going to greet me today? Ahh we’re flooded, I’ll go and get the mop.’
It is worth it though, because one of the comments we get most on TripAdvisor is that the location really makes the attraction a winner.
Are there any events coming up in the Museum?
Yes there are, we have Crime Walks, Curator’s Tours, a quiz night in aid of the charity Victim Support, an Easter event to test your detection skills, Serial Killer week over Halloween…
For all our events go to www.truecrimemuseum.co.uk and click the events tab.
Do you think there is a future for museums when we are facing Brexit and lack of funding?
I think there is. We live in an age in which we’re always staring at a screen, phones, ipads etc and I think we crave the opportunity to get out and experience things ‘in the flesh’.
That is what The True CRIME Museum offers and so many of our visitors tell us they get a sensation that they would not get in any other way. Being close to objects connected to some of the most infamous events in criminal history makes your hair stand on end. I’ve worked here for five years and it still makes my hair stand on end!
Thanks to Aanchal for interviewing Joel - hope all goes well with your studies!
How long has it been since you became the curator of the True Crime Museum?
About five years. That includes the time spent setting up the Museum before we opened in August of 2014.
Pre-opening was the hardest part of curating the collection because it involved securing the White Rock Caves as a venue and making them suitable and safe for our visitors. There was so much financial and red-tape stuff to do, Land Registry, planning permission, lease agreements, fire certificates… I hate filling in forms but it just had to be done! We opened on the Bank Holiday weekend and it was just fantastic to see it all come together.
The True Crime Museum doesn't sound like a usual theme. How did the idea came to open one?
Yes, it is unusual, I think it’s a theme that either fascinates or repulses someone. It has always been a subject I have consumed voraciously, like my father before me. I love to study the morals of different eras, the depths of human desire and deception and the cunning of those who protect us from crime.
I moved from London to Hastings in 2002 and got a job in education. Previously I’d been working in exhibition and gallery design; I worked at The Museum of The Moving Image in London, The Photographers Gallery and others.
When I was made redundant from my job in Hastings I felt like getting back to exhibition work as a way of earning my living. Then I found the White Rock Caves on the seafront here and it further inspired me. I thought, ‘This is something that people will pay to come and see. (or at least I hope they will!)’
Thankfully I’ve been proved right so far, there is a sufficient number of weird people out there just like me who have an absolute obsession with the subject of crime!
What is so different about this museum? Any unique facts you could tell me about?
I think the significance, quality and diversity of the exhibits. We have the original acid containers used by John George Haigh to dissolve his victims, the last noose used at Lincoln Prison to execute two men, a bullet shown as evidence in the trial against the Kray Twins, artwork by serial killers, right through to the ashes of the fighting monkey Jacco Macacco. We add new exhibits and displays every month.
Our location in eerie caves on the seafront is also unique; so is the way in which we are able to present our exhibits. I’ve visited loads of official Police Museums and I adore them but I recognise that they are limited by what they can and can’t display. We are less restricted by bureaucracy I think.
How does it feel to become a curator? Can you tell me about your experience?
For me it’s a massive feeling of creative fulfilment. It’s a great sensation to complete something and have it stand up on its own feet and start to walk and then run.
I’m very proud that the Museum has created four full time jobs here in Hastings, one of which is mine.
No job is easy. Tell me more about your struggles and achievements?
Working in caves brings its own challenges! When we first opened, I just couldn’t handle the relentless maintenance required. It would be like; ‘Aaghh!! That wall we painted yesterday has started peeling already… that leak we spent hundreds of pounds fixing has started dripping again… Why do the drains smell today?’
After five years I’m just punch-drunk to it all. I arrive and think, ‘Okay what’s going to greet me today? Ahh we’re flooded, I’ll go and get the mop.’
It is worth it though, because one of the comments we get most on TripAdvisor is that the location really makes the attraction a winner.
Are there any events coming up in the Museum?
Yes there are, we have Crime Walks, Curator’s Tours, a quiz night in aid of the charity Victim Support, an Easter event to test your detection skills, Serial Killer week over Halloween…
For all our events go to www.truecrimemuseum.co.uk and click the events tab.
Do you think there is a future for museums when we are facing Brexit and lack of funding?
I think there is. We live in an age in which we’re always staring at a screen, phones, ipads etc and I think we crave the opportunity to get out and experience things ‘in the flesh’.
That is what The True CRIME Museum offers and so many of our visitors tell us they get a sensation that they would not get in any other way. Being close to objects connected to some of the most infamous events in criminal history makes your hair stand on end. I’ve worked here for five years and it still makes my hair stand on end!
Thanks to Aanchal for interviewing Joel - hope all goes well with your studies!