A Masters Degree student who raised global awareness of Ruddington’s Village Museum has been recognised regionally for her achievements.
Feixue Huangdu, who studies at Nottingham Trent University (NTU), was taken by guides on a tour of our compact and bijou museum in St Peter’s Rooms earlier this year whilst “live streaming” the whole experience to an internet audience back in her native China. An astonishing 438 thousand visitors logged on to watch her webcast!
At the prestigious 2019 ‘Regional Heritage Awards’ ceremony in Newark this week, Feixue was given the ‘Judges’ Special Award’ for ‘using digital technology to initiate a global reach’. The awards are organised and funded by Museum Development East Midlands and recognise excellence and innovation in museums, historic houses and heritage sites across the region.
Feixue told us: “I was so shocked and surprised, I was not expecting the award. I am so very happy that the museums of the East Midlands appreciate my work. I will keep doing it to help them grow their audiences.”
Museum Curator Gavin Walker added: “Feixue’s live stream project has raised the Village Museum’s profile beyond our wildest dreams. More importantly, working with Feixue has been great fun – we’ve gained a new friend, an international ambassador and some unusual insights into Chinese culture.”
Feixue has recently taken on a new role as an influencer with JGOO, the Chinese equivalent of Paypal, which will enable her to continue and expand the scope of her heritage live streams. Gavin revealed: “I had interesting discussions at the awards with JGOO’s UK head of Sales who is very keen to put Ruddington on the map for up-market group tours from China. They are currently working with 200 Chinese tour operators and see the village as an ideal stopping off point on the current London – York – Lake District itinerary!”
The Village Museum itself did not win a gong this time, although it was shortlisted for the ‘Building New Audiences Award’. However all the volunteers’ attention is currently focused on welcoming visitors to its ‘Objects and Stories’ exhibition which is now on for two weeks in the Old Chapel at the nearby Framework Knitters’ Museum. This Saturday (28th September) if you own an object with an interesting story, but have not yet come forward, there’s still chance to do so. You can take it in for an interactive session from 11am to 2pm. It may then even be featured in a future exhibition!
This Saturday’s session at the former Methodist chapel has the added attraction of a chance to meet Feixue herself – who is planning to be around for most of the day. She’ll be doing a Framework Knitters’ Museum live stream over lunchtime and then some ‘Objects and Stories’ short videos after lunch.
Gavin jokes that she (and others from the now world famous Village Museum team) will be available for selfies and autographs, too!
{Main photo: Feixue with two of the judges, Dr Abi Hunt and Chris Keady}
