One Year On: a message from the Director
Liz Power with the Museum’s new discovery box
Tuesday 15th October sees my one year anniversary as Director of the London Museum of Water & Steam. When I joined the Museum I knew I was in for an adventure, and I was not wrong.
The year seems to have flown by, and I have learnt so much. Understanding how the Museum works has been like unwrapping a present, with each layer taking time and thought to understand. This has brought many challenges as I have explored how and why we doing things. This work has laid the foundation for our forward planning and the new business plan which is currently under development.
I have also been learning about our local area and the communities within it. I have met lots of people from other cultural organisations, residents and community leaders. Opening up the Museum more to our local community has been one of my biggest joys of the year.
There have been so many people to get to know, staff, trustees, volunteers and most importantly our audiences. Everyone has made me feel so welcome, putting up with my millions of questions. Everyone’s passion for the Museum has shone through every conversation I have had.
One of the most wonderful things about joining a new Museum is that you get to learn the history and dive into the subject matter. I have worked my entire career in industrial history, and so I feel very at home in my new subject and trying to keep up to speed with the incredible knowledge of the site and history has been a joy.
Looking back, I have many highlights of the year. I will never forget seeing my first school arrive, and very excited nursery groups. The Museum’s engines that I have been able to see in action, even being allowed to turn a handle on a couple! Meeting the many happy families of the schools holidays, and getting to enjoy that wonderful feeling of a full, lively Museum at our December Steam Up.
Thank you for all your support and encouragement over the past year, I am so happy that I’ve joined the team and I am looking forward to my second year.