Ex-museum professionals join Fairlynch team: 1.Jenny Pride


 























Like many small provincial museums, Fairlynch operates successfully on a shoestring with help from volunteers. In recent years it’s introduced a number of positive measures, including free admission and all-weekend afternoon opening, while keeping its status as an accredited museum. 

Jenny Pride brings a wealth of transatlantic experience to Fairlynch, having been educated at a High School in Pennsylvania, USA, as well as at Badminton School in Bristol.  A seven-year stint in Canada involved work for two museums in British Columbia. 

Jenny started her career in museums at London’s V&A following a History of Art Degree from Manchester University. 

“I’ve had a variety of jobs in the heritage and arts sector”, she says. “Everything from marketing the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra to managing a 17th century historic house and 90-acre estate in Wales.   A highlight was hosting the Royal National Eisteddfod when we welcomed 140,000 visitors.” For seven years she was Marketing Manager for the London Borough of Croydon, where she helped to forge its first Economic Development Strategy.

Jenny is looking forward to ensuring that Fairlynch maintains high conservation standards, and is keen to use her strong curatorial and event management skills. She is also well qualified to welcome foreign visitors to Fairlynch, speaking Dutch, Italian, French and German.  

Inevitably, Fairlynch needs to meet 21st century challenges in terms of information gathering about its artefacts and documents, she believes. “Computerisation will help in the newly refurbished Priscilla Carter Room - it is also crucial for the Local History Records.”

A key factor in the Museum’s success has been the positive outlook of its volunteers. “It has a wonderful building and situation which make it a naturally attractive place to visit and explore,” she says. “Fairlynch should find itself a highly sought-after place to volunteer in, where contributing is both prestigious and rewarding, on all levels.”


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