Museum calls on community to contribute display

Sam Harris, collections manager at Maidstone Museum

A Kent museum is calling on the community to contribute a display to its new gallery.

Maidstone Museum opened its Oldham Gallery in July to explore the town's history from the Tudors to the 21st Century.

Now it is asking groups to help curate a short-term exhibit in its Community Cabinet.

Councillor Stephen Thompson, Maidstone Borough Council's cabinet member for healthier stronger communities, said: "This rolling display captures what the Oldham Gallery sets out to achieve: to show the real, modern-day Maidstone."

Maidstone Museum is looking for a new display to fill this cabinet

It will be the second such display, following one highlighting the Polish community in Maidstone.

Dee Lukasik, who was responsible for that display, said: "Having my own memorabilia included meant a great deal to me.

"I have lived in Maidstone for many years and stayed close to my Polish roots.

"Even when the display had finished, I know that each time I visit the museum I was part of something that preserved and shared our history.

"It showed that our journey matters and that it has become part of the borough's story as the museum now looks to feature the next community."

Inside the OIdham Gallery

The council praised the Polish display, saying: "The work that the community thoughtfully gave to the curation of these objects, from the selection process, to displaying and writing interpretation boards, shows that even ordinary items can tell powerful and fascinating stories of settling and living in Maidstone."