The Crieff & Strathearn Museum

Advisory Group

Ewen Smith
Ewen is retired but seems to be no less busy, as a longstanding Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries and following his own particular interests. Ewen has a Certificate in Field Archaeology from the University of Glasgow, where he then worked in The Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery, latterly as Director (1995 – 2009)

While in that capacity, Ewen was also Treasurer of the Scottish University Museums Group, was elected to the Board of Museums Galleries Scotland and was invited to join the Scottish Government’s Museums Think Tank

Following retirement Ewen continued engaging in the areas of museums and field archaeology, became a Trustee and Treasurer of the Assoc. of Certificated Field Archaeologists, a Member of the Recognition Panel of Museums Galleries Scotland and Councillor and finally Vice-President of the Society of Antiquaries (Scotland).

Latterly, Ewen remains a member of most of these bodies, as a member only, but is also now involved as an enthusiastic volunteer in the Scotland's Rock Art Project!
Ewen Smith
“I believe strongly that museums should care for and help to interpret a community’s heritage, whether tangible (principally artefacts) or intangible (collected memories and stories). As such, they must be places where the aim is to serve all the public, allowing visitors to explore their collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. In conserving the history of this community, we expect to collect objects and stories (broadly interpreted), that are of significance to Crieff & Strathearn, and to its wider community, while also collaborating with like-minded institutions and initiatives.”
John Pelan
John Pelan is currently Director of the Scottish Council on Archives and has worked in the culture and heritage sectors in Scotland for over twenty-five years. Prior to joining SCA he was Director of the Scottish Civic Trust and Director of the Built Environment Forum Scotland. In both roles, he supported community engagement in the planning process and advocated on behalf of local heritage groups and amenity societies. John held senior positions with the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland including Depute Secretary and Director of Communications from 1993 to 2005 before running his own specialist architectural communications consultancy from 2006 to 2010.

In his current role John and his team at SCA provide leadership and support for Scotland’s archives and records management sector. He is passionate about archives and the role they have in fostering a sense of identity and engagement with the past.
John Pelan, Director of the Scottish Council on Archives
“I am very supportive of the objectives behind establishing a new museum and heritage centre in Crieff. Engaging with the community, sharing stories, involving people of all ages, promoting tourism and caring for Strathearn’s historic environment all underpin this important initiative which deserves to be supported and promoted widely.”
Daniel Postma
Born in Aberdeen and raised in the Netherlands, Daniel returned to Scotland with his family in 2018. He is based in Madderty where he runs his own business in traditional and natural building.

Daniel began his professional career as a settlement archeologist and later trained in technical building conservation. He continues to extend his knowledge and skills through the recording and repair of Scotland's traditional buildings. He is particularly interested in the interaction between small vernacular buildings and their surroundings.

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Andrew Rodger
Andrew has lived most of his life in Perthshire. He is a chartered architect with a particular interest in museums and the heritage sector. He is affiliated to a number of architecture and heritage bodies and has been working with the C&SM group since 2016, first as a consultant, then as a trustee for three years. He is now an advisor on a number of design fronts, including the development of the brief and initial design development for the museum, currently planned for the town hall in Crieff. All work undertaken by Andrew to date has been voluntary.
Andrew Rodger
" The original motivation for the Crieff & Strathearn Museum was the need of a home for the Murray Collection, which is a nationally and locally important set of artefacts and documents. However, the brief we set was to make the best of a lack of space and a lack of funds and to try, in the process, to update the meaning of a provincial museum, thanks in part to the opportunities which advances in technology provide.

The Crieff & Strathearn Museum could exist as a wholly on-line entity, at least initially, and it could be an awareness-raising body, unburdened by buildings and overheads, which mounts exhibitions and pop-up museums in perpetuity, as a voluntary outreach of Perth’s museum. Though it may prove to be necessary to function in this way initially, the board of trustees feel that it can be more. A building should shape itself to accommodate a museum, not the other way round and a building which presents the kernel of the area’s heritage should be important to how the people of Strathearn feel about themselves, their community and how best to show it to others.

I have been very pleased to help develop this idea over the last few years and I look forward to working with C&SM, CPK and others to bring about a unique outcome which will help to centre the community, to become more than the conventional notion of a museum and to be a catalyst for everyone to engage with and celebrate their place in Scotland’s heritage.

History is not an inert lump of information, to be dressed in different clothes to suit the fashion of the time. It is an active process with which we all engage, whoever we are, regardless of wealth, age or gender. The process of discovery of who we are exposes our commonalities and underscores our sense of community. "