Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery, Exeter, Devon UK

Being back in the Museum and seeing visitors enjoying the results of the redevelopment.

Julien Parsons - Senior Collections Officer

Taking a great big, sigh of relief while gently sipping a glass of cool beer (at the opening I mean, not at my desk).

Ruth Randall - Audience Development Lead

Lots and lots of people.

Certainly the Local History galleries for me. Having lived in Exeter all my life and having a reasonably good knowledge about its history from an awful lot of reading, I am excited to see all our colourful history be brought to life once more.

All the new gadgets to play with.

Meeting and greeting visitors and eating in the new cafe.

Everything – I hadn’t visited the museum before the redevelopment as it was shut while I was at University.

I'm looking forward to helping move all the items back and seeing the refurbished museum.

Getting a complete look at the new extension and the new displays.

I can't wait for the main building to be open and watch everyone enjoying their visit.

I am looking forward to facilitating people’s enjoyment and experience of the refurbished museum and seeing their eyes light up when they see how amazing the building will look and the variety of the fabulous collections that will be displayed. I also quite fancy doing the Mummy’s organs demonstration at some point.

Plenty of people coming in to enjoy the galleries and the exhibitions.

I look forward to seeing the battle artefacts and seeing if they are displayed differently.

The Ancient Civilisations and World Cultures galleries – especially the mummy.

 I am looking forward to seeing the whole museum when everything is in its place. I haven’t seen the museum before the redevelopment and so far just as a building site.

All the objects that I am familiar with on display in a new setting. Its amazing what a difference a good display case and nice lighting can make

I'm particularly looking forward to seeing objects from our collections which have not been on show before such as our fabulous 18th century harpsichord and newly acquired portrait by Pompeo Batoni

Seeing World Cultures come to life again in a new exciting environment and watching members of the public examining the items on display.

Helping to set up the new displays and seeing the reactions of the first visitors and asking them their views. 

Visitors! The museum building seems sad without lots of people in it.

I’m really looking forward to seeing all the specimens and artefacts out on display and seeing the public enjoying the new galleries.

Seeing elements of the dress collection on display at last! Seeing the lace collection accessible.

Seeing the new galleries and trying out the software interactives

I'm looking forward to seeing all of the new museum! Having never lived in the South West before getting this post, I hadn't visited RAMM before the redevelopment…it will be great to see what all the case layouts look like in 'real life'.

Compelling new public spaces, breathtaking objects and a rather interesting shade of paint…

Showing visitors more of what we do behind the scenes in conservation

It will be great to see costume and textiles on display at last, it has been a long time since any was on permanent display. There will also be a rotation policy to allow vulnerable textiles to have a rest.

Helping people to understand why objects deteriorate and how to protect and preserve their family treasures.

Being proud to say I conserved that object! Also, being able to stand in the museum and look at the gallery as a whole, I have never been in RAMM and have only seen case layouts it will be good to see it as a whole.

Seeing: Happy visitors would be good. Doing: My job to the best of my ability.

Installation of the new exhibits, in the refurbished museum, is going to be hectic but a hugely rewarding time. I am looking forward to a sense of pride in what we have achieved and showing my kids around when it is completed.

George Hunt - Assistant Technical Assistant

Seeing everyone’s hard work under one roof.

Claire Bailey - Administration Officer

Everything - orginal features of the building which have been revealed. The Core Gallery sounds spectacular. I'm also curious to see my old office which is going to be a bird gallery.

Seeing my old office now it has been turned into a gallery full of birds.

Even though I know the collections, going into the refurbished RAMM will be like visiting a new museum. I love visiting new museums and I can’t wait to see the new galleries. It’s all very exciting.

Completely wowed visitors and the newly revealed architecture of what was originally a palace of learning.

Getting more families and children enjoying and working creatively throughout the Museum.

Seeing how our new learning packages in new RAMM are received and enjoyed. Working more closely the curators. Having the time to personally deliver more sessions to the school parties.

Seeing my old office reincarnated into an insect gallery, and saying hello again to the stone corbel heads in the entrance hall

Having wonderful new exhibition spaces as blank canvases.

Working with the new displays and the new temporary exhibition spaces.

New facilities providing better and bigger opportunities for great exhibitions and events. Welcoming back old friends and partners, creating new friendships and opportunities for people to enjoy RAMM so much they keep coming back.

Apart from the final invoice, the core gallery with its giant display of 150 objects

Visiting as a retiree.

I am looking forward to seeing the new displays, especially the archaeology galleries.

I can't wait to see the new bridge in the Core Gallery, which will be going through the wall from my old office, it will be a bit strange! I also cant wait to celebrate the opening with my colleagues!

I'm looking forward to seeing those objects that I have spent many hours of work on and pointing these out to to friends, relatives and anyone who'll listen.

Continuing to work with the collections and discovering new information about them.

Seeing the look on peoples faces as they discover and re-discover the RAMM collections!

Gill Moore - Museum Assistant - left March 2010

I'm looking forward to seeing all the new displays and gallery spaces and meeting hundreds of thrilled and excited visitors.

Seeing so many artefacts brought out of store and put on display for the first time - I love to be surprised by collections, and every time I walk through RAMM I see something that I hadn't noticed before.

Rachel Ackerman - Volunteer & Gallery Guide Co-ordinator - left June 2011

Obvious, but Gerald.

Bev Parr - Deputy Operations Supervisor - left Feburary 2011

Getting to know a new layout and learning something new about the refurbished museum every day.

Mark Neathey - Documentation Assistant - left March 2010

 I am especially looking forward to seeing the new bird and insect galleries - it will be great to see the museum's amazing specimens being put back onto display.

Seeing some exceptional works of art in permanent position.

Being a part of the exciting process of shaping the museums for future generations.

Seeing the objects I have worked on and treated come out of their grey boxes, and come to life in their new display cases to be seen by the world.

Spring Xu Cui, Museum Trainee - left 2011

I hope children and families can have fun when visiting the new RAMM.

I am excited to be part of this major refurbishment programme and, having recently had a site visit, I am really looking forward to visiting the new museum and having a close look at all the beautiful .... mounts

Claudia Hildebrandt - Assistant Curator of Natural History - left August 2010

Seeing people's faces when they come to the new museum.

I am looking forward to doing more Egyptology activities.