Introducing: Iain Watson & Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums
For this month's interview we are introducing Iain Watson, director of the Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums. TWAM are a museum, art gallery and archives service, working to preserve, promote and make accessible arts and culture in the North-East. From a vast range of invaluable projects run by the organisation in the local community, to the wider impact of Covid-19, Iain gave DUAS some insight on arts and culture in the North-East and beyond. Amana: Please could you start by telling me a bit about you? Iain: I’m director of Tyne and Wear archives and museums... until the end of March! I’m actually retiring at the end of March 2021. I will still do lots of cultural and creative things but in a different format. My job involves running 9 museums, art galleries, heritage sites – a complete range across Tyneside, from Roman forts to contemporary art galleries, galleries of design, industrial museums, one railway… it’s a very varied heritage portfolio. My first degree is in Arch