Sheila McGregor
SUPPORT FOR
MUSEUMS
ARTISTS
AND
EDUCATION
What I do
I'm an art historian and curator, now mainly working in museums and the wider heritage sector.
I specialise in organisational planning, audience development, education and evaluation.
In the course of my career I've done many things: collections care, curating exhibitions, working with schools, community outreach, business planning, capital development and digital strategy.
I serve on the National Lottery Heritage Fund's Register of Support Services as an adviser on public engagement with museums and heritage sites.
Evaluation and research
I'm a seasoned researcher, with a track-record of producing well-evidenced and readable reports for funders and policy-makers. Recent clients include Scarborough Museums and Galleries, Wentworth Woodhouse, Tate and the National Galleries of Scotland.
Organisational planning
In the current climate many organisations are looking to increase their resilience and sustainability. I work closely with staff teams and trustee boards to support new thinking around governance, audience development and business planning. If required, I can also bring together a team of trusted associates with commercial, digital and fundraising expertise.
Mentoring and training
I enjoy acting as a critical friend for individuals and organisations embarking on something new. An external perspective can be helpful, especially if it is offered with plenty of encouragement and practical support. I also run one-off training sessions on evaluation, with the emphasis on making it robust and easy to implement.
Recent feedback
"Sheila mentored me during the development of The New Immortals project and exhibition. In fact, it was knowing I had Sheila's support that gave me the confidence to take on such an ambitious curatorial project. She was a great person to turn to in moments of doubt - always generous with her time and thoughtful with her guidance. Our conversations were, and are, something I value and look forward to."
Judith Alder, artist
"Thanks for all your hard work over the last few months. You were all invaluable in guiding us through the process of developing MK Collection’s second stage strategy. I know all the partners found it very useful in helping us to shape our future plans. Your work in facilitating our discussions was excellent and your patience admirable!"
Iain Standen, CEO, Bletchley Park Trust
"Working with Sheila on our Resilient Heritage National Lottery Heritage Fund project evaluation has been great. She's provided advice on how to set up frameworks and write reports. Her training for staff and volunteers showed how evaluation can help drive an organisation forward and, most importantly, how to do it effectively. I would highly recommend Sheila for evaluation training and/or support on funded projects. It has been a pleasure!"
Grace Chapman, Community Engagement Co-ordinator, Selby Abbey
"Sheila was my first thought when considering someone objective but knowledgeable and sympathetic to evaluate our three-year programme. Her approach was methodical and thorough, resulting in a compelling and comprehensive report with a set of well-observed recommendations. She was extremely easy to work with and genuinely interested in helping us get to where we want to go next."
Elizabeth Hawley-Lingham
Director CVAN EM
Contact me
If you'd like to discuss a particular brief or piece of work, please get in touch with me on: sheilamcgregor8@gmail.com