This just to make sure that those reading the Forum, and who are interested in the history of our sport, know that the trustees of the RCCC Charitable Trust are looking for input into the curling museum project. See here:
http://curlinghistory.blogspot.com/2009/05/rccc-charitable-trust.html

Bob

Well, Bob, I can still recall the discussion we had about the inclusion of a museum in the new Kinross facility, and our combined enthusiasm for this. When we adapted the plans for the Circle I gave the matter considerable thought, especially regarding the specifications, which said:

whilst the museum including archive room would be approximately 100/150m2

This is not a very large area. Any museum aspiring to be better than a store room will become a magnet for donations of all kinds, and the better the museum the more donations. For this reason our plans allowed floor space of some 367m2, which is a large area, but can easily be partitioned to provide an archive room, store room and display space of a significant nature. For those who struggle to visualise such an area, it is only slightly larger than the space of one sheet of curling ice. The plans can be seen here:

http://www.scottishcurlingicegroup.org/circle/CirclePlans.pdf

When we were thrown off the project, space had to be found for an extra sheet of ice so that the facility could host large competitions (which was never in the specifications). To make room the museum had to shrink and also incorporate a shop for souvenirs, curling equipment and so on (which we had placed in a different area accessible by curlers and the public, and staffed by the desk at the main entrance as needed).

I don't know what they plan to build now, but I remain convinced that it will not be large enough and will not be able to fulfil its purpose. Careful study of our plan will show that our museum would be secure, easily manned by RCCC staff as needed until funds can be found for a full-time individual, accessed from both levels with ease and even provide toilets. Considering that our design was thrown out because of an extra sheet of ice, I wonder if the sheet will now be used on occasion to display artifacts. I suppose the RCCC will have to decide which they want more: a decent museum, which they do need, or a sheet of ice they don't need. I certainly don't think it would be a good use of my time to be involved with something that doesn't make a lot of sense.