HellO

I’m Amber, a museum curator with over 20 years of experience.

I especially love projects that combine social history & creativity.

I curated collections at Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives for many years before going freelance. I recently worked with Glenside Hospital Museum as a collections consultant. I’ve also collaborated with Bristol Libraries, as a researcher & events co-host.

My work

Projects & partnerships

  • PEOPLE

    I love connecting people with history. I’ve worked with a wide range of people including artists, families, donors, young people, & academics.

  • COLLECTIONS

    I’ve got years of experience with museum collections, including contemporary collecting, documentation, disposals & rehoming. I can provide bespoke guidance for your collection.

  • RESEARCH

    I’ve studied archives at Bristol Libraries, Bristol Archives, Bristol Theatre Collection, & Bristol Museums, amongst others. I’ve incorporated this work into events, displays & online content.

Exhibitions

Exhibitions I’ve curated include:

Poster for an exhibition at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery called 'death: the human experience'. 2015-2016. Bright pink background. Green foil Mexican skull. Death's head hawk moth (yellow & brown moth), and a drawing of a lady in mourning dress.
Poster for an exhibition called 'The Colston Statue: What Next?'. White background with pale blue speech bubbles overlapping each other at the centre. A statue with ropes attached is being pulled from its plinth and it is starting to lift from the ba
Poster for an exhibition called 'Real & Imagined Lives. What is fact? What is fiction?' M Shed museum display, 2012-2013. In partnership with National Portrait Gallery. Photo of actor Stephen Merchant next to a 1590s painting of (probably) Sir Rober
Exhibition poster for an exhibition called 'Clowns: the Eggs-hibition'. Black background with colourful writing. Three eggs with painted clown faces sit in bases decorated with clown outfits.

What people say about me

I had the opportunity to collaborate with Amber on numerous museum exhibitions and events, where she consistently demonstrated enthusiasm, commitment and creative thinking. Her dedication to each project translated into joyful experiences for our audiences, and displays that were both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. One notable instance of Amber’s exceptional abilities was her approach to tackling the challenging topic of death and dying. With her inquisitive nature, she navigated this subject with care and compassion while also curating a compelling experience that surprised and connected with people.

Becky, BRISTOL MUSEUMS

‘If anyone is looking for a super talented museum professional with an incredible track record in communicating and sharing the wonder of museum collections, as well as collecting the best things, check out Amber Druce’.

julie, MUSEUM DEVELOPMENT SOUTH WEST

In December last year, Amber took on the role of guest curator for one of the library’s Special Collections Sunday events, choosing the theme of British Folklore and Customs. She spent many an hour in the Reading Room searching through the vast collections, selecting interesting and obscure texts. It was an absolute pleasure working with Amber - her knowledge and enthusiasm shone through on every visit.  Amber’s curatorial experience, research skills and her innate ability to engage with visitors made the day a success and brought a new audience into the library. I hope we can work with Amber again at some point in the near future.

SOPHIE, BRISTOL LIBRARIES

Let’s work together