Feedback with chocolate biscuits

Members of staff from Hereford Museum and Art Gallery have been braving the cold to talk to the people of Hereford about their leisure activities.

Members of the public were asked the question: “Have you visited the museum?”

The Museum and Art Gallery in Broad Street attracts about 28,000 visitors every year. Visitors are encouraged to let the Council know what they think of the facility through visitor feedback forms, visitor books and staff log compliments and complaints.
However, there is a large unheard voice - those that do not visit or who have not visited for a long time.

“We’re interested in talking to people who don’t use our services,” said Visitor Services Officer, Lara Latcham.
“It’s important to find out why they don’t visit.  Perhaps they don’t know we exist, or they think we charge admission. “The responses so far have been very interesting.  Lots of people are not aware that there is a lift to the museum and art gallery, quite a few did not know that we exist and some visit the library but think that the stairs leading to the museum look uninviting. “We’ve gained a lot of valuable and useful information,” added Lara.

Museum staff have been stationed in High Town, an ideal place to catch a cross-section of Hereford’s people.

To try and persuade reluctant passers-by to spend five minutes answering questions they have been offered chocolate biscuits as a reward.
“The chocolate biscuit is often the deciding factor,” said David Stevens, Museum Assistant. “Somebody who is not too keen to answer our questions can usually be bribed by the power of chocolate biscuits!” he added.

“The responses have been a mixture of some of the things we already thought knew and some real surprises. It’s been particularly interesting to hear people’s ideas for possible exhibitions.”

Museum staff will continue to collect information over the coming week. The results of the survey will be presented later in the year.

Hereford Museum and Art Gallery is open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 5pm (closing at 4pm on Sundays.)  Admission is free. 

For more information contact Heritage Services on (01432) 260692, herefordmuseums@herefordshire.gov.uk or check out the website at http://www.herefordshire.gov.uk/  (click on Leisure and then Museums.)