MICRO-BIO

• Alex Woodall started in post as Head of Learning at the Sainsbury Centre in September 2016, where she managed the learning programme and a team that includes 3 learning programme managers, 2 administrators, about 30 artists, and 60 volunteer guides...More

  Alex Woodall started in post as Head of Learning at the Sainsbury Centre in September 2016, where she managed the learning programme and a team that includes 3 learning programme managers, 2 administrators, about 30 artists, and 60 volunteer guides. Her PhD is from the School of Museum Studies at the University of leicester, and is entitled 'Sensory Engagements with Objects in Art Galeries: Material Interpretation and Theological Metaphor'. It is interdisciplinary in nature, combining museum studies, anthropology, and theology, and emerged directly from professional practice. It was supervised by Dr Sandra Dudley and Professor Richard Sandell, and examined by Professor Helen Rees Leahy (University of Manchester) and Dr Suzanne MacLeod. Alex is particularly interested in topics including enabling imaginative response to objects, materiality, artists working with collections, and creative approaches to interpretation. She is involved in a research project entitled 'Things Unound', an international partnership between the School of Museum Studies at the University of Leicster, and the National Museum Institute in New Delhi, India, which aims to explore what it is that objects do at the moment of encounter (and indeed whether this is possible to research). This has included fieldwork in different museum settings including City Palace Museums in Jaipur, several Buddhist monasteries in Ladakh, and Ely Cathedral and its Stained Glass Museum). Prior to moving to Norwich, Alex lived in Sheffield and worked in various museums and galleries in learning, interpretation and exhibitions roles, including at the Royal Arnouries in Leeds, Manchester Art Gallery and Museums Sheffield. She has worked as a freelance consultant for museum and gallery interpretation, and started her museum career as a volunteer at Kettle's YArd. Following her BA and MPhil in Theology, she taught RE and Philosophy in schools before moving into the museums sector. She was a Yorkshire and Humberside Convenor for GEM before being a member of its board, is on the executive committee for Norfolk Arts Forum, and is a mentor for the Museums Association.

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EXPERIENCE

• Sainsbury Centre, University of East Anglia

  • Head of Learning
  • Sainsbury Centre
  • September 2016 to July 2018

• Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds

  • Special Projects Manager
  • November 2015 to June 2016

• Freelance

  • Interpretation Consultant
  • September 2010 to November 2015

• Manchester Art Gallery

  • Interpretation Development Officer
  • May 2007 to September 2010

• Museums Sheffield

  • Learning Projects Coordinator
  • June 2005 to May 2007

EDUCATION

• University of Leicester

  • PhD
  • September 2011 to September 2015

  Sensory engagements with objects in art galleries: material interpretation and theological metaphor. Supervised by Dr Sandra Dudley.

• University of Leicester

  • MA
  • September 2004 to June 2005

  Art Gallery Studies (Education)

• University of Cambridge

  • PGCE
  • September 2001 to June 2002

  Religious Studies and Philosophy

• University of Cambridge

  • MPhil
  • October 1999 to June 2001

  Medieval Theology (and Art)

• University of Birmingham

  • BA
  • September 1996 to June 1999

  Theology

Links

• Alexandra Woodall personal
• Alexandra Woodall Leicester
• Alexandra Woodall UEA