Contents:

• West Midlands Museum Development Update
• West Midlands Museum Development Events
• News
• Other Events
• Opportunities

Small Grants Scheme to Open Next Week

The Small Grant Scheme is part of the WMMD Programme, funded by Arts Council England (ACE) and underpinned by ACE’s 10 year strategic framework ‘Great Arts and Culture for Everyone’.

The scheme can support projects to help museums in the West Midlands increase access to and engagement with their collections.

Applications for the 2019/20 Small Grants Scheme will open w/c 14 January 2019.  Grants of up to £3,000 will be available for projects commencing from 1 April 2019.  

Grants will support museums who demonstrate how they use their collections and planning to reflect the diversity of their current and potential audiences.  They need to show evidence of how the ‘Creative Case for Diversity’ is at the heart of everything they do, from consulting with diverse and underrepresented groups to diversifying their programmes, collections and exhibitions.

In the Spotlight

WMMD will be running a series of four workshops looking at getting your museum in the news and on to radio and TV.

The workshops will be led by television journalist Sarah Bishop who has worked as a regular reporter and newsreader for BBC Midlands Today in the West Midlands region.

• 20 March - In the Spotlight: What is News?
• 17 April - In the Spotlight: Handling the Media
• 22 May - In the Spotlight: Interviews
• 18 June - In the Spotlight: Live Television

Full details about each workshop can be found in the WMMD Events section.

West Midlands Museum Development Conference

28 March

We are pleased to announce our conference will be held on Thursday 28 March at Enginuity, Coalbrookdale.  Hosted by Sarah Bishop, BBC Midlands Today, you can expect a jam-packed day filled with inspirational speakers, thought provoking workshops and an evening reception.

Details to follow shortly.

"An excellent day and VERY valuable to those of us working in museums in the West Midlands - a rare opportunity to engage with everyone!" Conference delegate 2018

WMMD Resources

www.mdwm.org.uk/resources has a wide range of presentations, handouts and guides covering Audiences, Collections, Resilience, Workforce and Young People drawn from our programme and workshops.  The resources are available to Accredited museums and those officially Working Towards Accreditation.  If you would like to access these resources please email wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk for a password.  Remember to check back regularly for new content. 

All WMMD events are free

Priority will be given to delegates from non-NPO museums which are Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation.

16 January – Make the Most of Meeting and Event Hire

9.15am-4.30pm, Hilton Garden Inn, 1 Brunswick Square, Birmingham B1 2HW

Whether hiring out a small space or catering for large conferences, proceeds from room hire and events is an important source of income for many museums. 

Amy Kirkland, Welcome to Excellence, will share the practical steps museums and galleries can take to maximise bookings and income by introducing the principles of good event management which apply to museums small and large.    

FULLY BOOKED

Please email wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk if you wish to join the waiting list for this event.

22 January - Trust Fundraising - Getting it Right

10.30am-4.30pm, YMCA, Harding Road, Stoke on Trent ST1 3AE 

Do you need to raise funds from Trusts for your projects?  Do you know how to make your application stand out from the crowd?  This interactive session will give you the skills to develop a strong application, offering top tips and application templates.  You will develop confidence in your own skills and be able to effectively use your time to fundraise for your work.

The session is interactive and designed to support you to shape an idea into a practical proposal, so please come along with an idea in mind. 

The session will include: 

• Is it for me?  The pros and cons of Trust funding 
• Research - where's the money?
• Avoiding the bin - what do funders want to see? 
• Avoiding common mistakes
• Is there a standard application format?  And if so, what is it?
• Practical problem solving - a hands on session (bring a project idea)
• Bootcamp - specific problem solving

Priority will be given to delegates from non-NPO museums which are Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation. Maximum of one delegate per museum.

30 January - Exceeding Visitor Expectations

9.30am-4.30pm,  Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Lichfield Street, Wolverhampton WV1 1DE

This is a one day customer service course designed specifically for visitor attraction front-line staff that combines the expertise of VisitEngland’s Visitor Attraction Quality Scheme and the experience of the renowned Welcome to Excellence training programmes.

Participants will discover everything they need to know about being an ambassador for your attraction and delivering great service to your visitors.  The course features a variety of activities and quizzes, and is supported by a participant guide that can be taken away and used as a customer service resource.  It is brimming full of practical tips and learning point reminders on how to make your visitors feel really special.

Participants will learn about:

• Creating great visitor experiences 
• Identifying, meeting and exceeding visitor expectations
• Delivering high quality service 
• Connecting with visitors 
• Engaging and inspiring visitors 
• Resolving challenging situations 
• Promoting your attraction 
• Planning for success 

FULLY BOOKED

Please email wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk if you wish to join the waiting list for this event.

31 January - Project Grants - Funding for Museum Projects

9.45am-12.40pm, John Lewis Community Hub, Grand Central, Birmingham B2 4AU

Accredited museums are now able to apply to Arts Council England National Lottery Project Funds to deliver museum based activities.  Museum projects should be focused on museum practice.  In other words, a museum’s collections, or other activities linked to its core mission or developing the museum or staff expertise.

With grants available from £1k to £100k you can expect a decision in six weeks for applications up to £15k and a decision in 12 weeks for applications up to £100k.

Come along (9.45am-10.30am) and hear a short presentation about the scheme.  You will then have the opportunity to discuss a potential project in more detail with Wendy Parry, Relationship Manager Museums, Arts Council England by booking a one to one 20 minute appointment.  These appointments must be booked in advance, they will be allocated on a first come first served basis by emailing wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk.

Afternoon appointments are now available, email wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk.

31 January - Business Planning

1pm-5pm, John Lewis Community Hub, Grand Central, Birmingham B2 4AU

Dawn Langley will lead this practical half day session to introduce effective tools, techniques and frameworks that will help you create a business plan to guide your organisation.

A Business Plan (also known as a Forward Plan) is an essential element of an Accreditation return and should be a useful document which sets out goals, actions and what you’ll need to achieve these goals including people, equipment and money.  A well-researched and clearly written business plan will be a useful communication tool to staff, volunteers and stakeholders.

4 and 5 February - Project Management 

9am-5pm, Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery, Market Street, Shrewsbury SY1 1LG

This two day ILM-Accredited training programme is based around a model – the Systems Model – which is especially suitable for ‘messy’ problems and situations.  The programme covers all the key skill and knowledge areas for planning and managing projects.  Much of the work is based around case studies and real life projects and covers the hard and soft skills you need to make projects successful.

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course, you will be able to:

• scope out projects more effectively for better results
• set measurable success criteria
• use project management tools to gain control over projects
• assess and respond to risk
• identify and prioritise stakeholders
• monitor and evaluate projects

Programme profile

• emphasises how you as a manager or team member can help your team to work through projects
• draws on different learning experiences – there is a strong emphasis on action based learning and reflection
• introduces you to major project planning tools including Gantt charts and Work Breakdown Structures

We will be working on real projects so please come with a project in mind.  This can be a project you are currently managing, a recent project or a project idea that you would like to develop.

This training is delivered by Management Centre =mc.  Priority will be given to delegates from non-NPO museums which are Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation

Tea and coffee will be provided and the museum has an excellent café where you’ll be able to purchase lunch.

13 February - Museum Constitution and Governance Workshop

1pm-5pm, The Hive, Sawmill Walk, Worcester WR1 3PD

ACE has refreshed their Accreditation guidance on eligible constitution and governance types to cover new emerging models in an increasingly complex area.  This session will help organisations understand the range of different models and implications for Accreditation, help identify risks and identify work to prioritise in support of their next Accreditation return.

During the afternoon we will cover:

• Pros and cons of the different constitutional models
• The connection between constitutional form, culture, structure and risk
• Models of governance and Accreditation
• Understanding different approaches to governance 
• Funder and governance relationships 
• Governance health checking 

There will be opportunities to look at different constitutional and governance case studies and share your experiences with others.

26 February - Preparing for Emergencies: Prevention and Protection

Handsworth Community Fire Station, 41 Rookery Road, Birmingham B21 9QU

West Midlands Museum Development in partnership with Historic England, English Heritage and West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service is offering two courses to help those caring for historic assets.

This course concentrates on prevention and protection aspects of preparing for emergencies.  The modules will help you understand: 

• fire risks in heritage properties and museums and how to manage risks through effective prevention, protection and management practices
• security related threats facing historic assets, how to spot hazards and ensure best practice processes are in place
• key flood threats including prevention and protection best practice
• the range of building services found in many historic sites and the importance of effective maintenance and inspection regimes. You’ll also understand what utility information to include in emergency plans

This course is only open to staff, Trustees and volunteers from Accredited museums and those officially Working Towards Accreditation in the West Midlands.  Delegates are encouraged to attend both events (26 and 27 February) but will still benefit from attending either course.

The training supports the revised Accreditation Standard 
Organisational Health: 3.3 A Clear, Workable Emergency Plan 

Lunch and refreshments will be provided at this free event. Only one delegate per organisation.

FULLY BOOKED

Please email wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk if you wish to join the waiting list for this event.

27 February - Preparing for Emergencies: Creating an Emergency Plan

Handsworth Community Fire Station, 41 Rookery Road, Birmingham B21 9QU

West Midlands Museum Development in partnership with Historic England, English Heritage and West Midlands Fire and Rescue Service is offering two courses to help those caring for historic assets.

This course concentrates on creating an emergency plan.  The modules will help you understand:

• how to identify risks and where to direct efforts to address those risks
• how to prepare and present an emergency plan
• how to prepare grab sheets and floor plans
• how to prepare a desktop exercise and keep your plan up to date

Places are limited and the closing date for bookings is 9am, 4 February 2019.  If you have any questions please contact wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk.

This course is only open to staff, Trustees and volunteers from Accredited museums and those officially Working Towards Accreditation in the West Midlands.  Delegates are encouraged to attend both events (26 and 27 February) but will still benefit from attending either course. Only one delegate per organisation.

The training supports the revised Accreditation Standard 
Organisational Health: 3.3 A Clear, Workable Emergency Plan 

Lunch and refreshments will be provided at this free event. 

6 March - Volunteers in the Workplace - Creating a More Diverse Volunteer Base

10am-1pm, Newman Brothers at The Coffin Works, 13-15 Fleet Street, Birmingham B3 1JP

Winners at the 2017 West Midlands Volunteer Awards, the Coffin Works Front of House Team were praised for their outstanding work as a collective and for the diversity of their volunteers, both young and old.

How do they recruit their diverse volunteer team and give them a unique and rewarding experience?  How do they offer so many varied opportunities within the museum and why do the volunteers have so much fun?

Museum Manager Sarah Hayes and her volunteer team will share the work they do at The Coffins Works.  Sarah will highlight how the different volunteer roles are central to the delivery of the programmes and the running of the visitor attraction. 

Suzanne Carter will talk about engaging local residents and workers as 'active citizens' without the pressure of a regular volunteer commitment or lots of paperwork.  She will share her experiences of proactively recruiting volunteers who are deaf, disabled and autistic.  She will also showcase how different organisations in the Jewellery Quarter are working together to create a 'pool' of volunteers who can work across different heritage projects and museums benefitting the whole area, rather than just one venue.

This event is free and refreshments will be provided.

Priority will be given to delegates from non-NPO museums which are Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation. 

20 March - In the Spotlight: What is News?

9.45am-2pm, RAF Museum, Cosford TF11 8UP

The first in a series of workshops on how to get your museum in the news and on TV.  Each session will be led by television journalist Sarah Bishop who has worked as a regular reporter and newsreader for BBC Midlands Today in the West Midlands region.

During a jam-packed four hours we will consider:

• Museums in the news
• What do you have in your museum that could make the news? 
• The importance of people and stories; of timing and milestones; links to the outside world
• Being proactive and making your own news 
• Past successes and experiences

Tea and coffee will be provided at this free event.

Priority will be given to delegates from non-NPO museums which are Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation.  Maximum of one delegate per museum.

28 March - WMMD Conference

Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Coalbrookdale TF8 7DQ

Join the WMMD team for our fourth annual conference.

Hosted by Sarah Bishop, BBC Midlands Today, you can expect a day filled with inspirational speakers, thought provoking workshops and an evening reception.

Details and how to book will be available shortly.

11 April 2019 - Digital Storytelling

10am-4.30pm, Birmingham Hippodrome B5 4TB

Join Culture24 to explore how your museum can make the most of its digitised collections content online. 

Finding the right channel, tone, voice and techniques to reach and connect with audiences online isn’t easy.  The workshop is rooted in practicalities but brings in strategic considerations too.  We’ll look at mission, identity and purpose; explore the specific tensions and challenges that digital storytelling with collections content brings and also focus on the many advantages that museums and collections have.

We’ll share a wide range of examples from museums, galleries and beyond, looking at social media, websites and other platforms.  We’ll give you plenty of food for thought, practical tips and ideas to take away and try.  Our workshops are friendly and informal, encouraging active learning and plenty of discussion.

Whether you’re just beginning to tell your museum’s stories online or looking for ways to improve an existing offer and levels of engagement this workshop is for you.  It’s suitable for a wide range of practitioners at all skill levels, from beginners to more advanced, whether your focus is curation, learning, marketing, engagement or something completely different.

Priority will be given to delegates from non-NPO museums which are Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation.  Maximum of two delegates per museum

17 April - In the Spotlight: Handling the Media

9.45am-2pm, Museum Resource and Learning Centre, Hereford HR4 0AS

The second in a series of workshops on how to get your museum in the news and on TV.  Each session will be led by television journalist Sarah Bishop who has worked as a regular reporter and newsreader for BBC Midlands Today in the West Midlands region.

During a packed four hours we will consider:

• What to expect from difference news genres (different treatments for press/ radio/TV/online news)
• How to choose the right outlet and adapting the offer to the opportunity 
• Jargon busting: what is 'down-the-line?', 'as-live?', 'package?', 'NIB?' 
• How to get your message across - being creative and the importance of the right language and tone 
• Future media opportunities and campaigns

Tea and coffee will be provided at this free event.

Priority will be given to delegates from non-NPO museums which are Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation.  Maximum of one delegate per museum.

22 May - In the Spotlight: Interviews

9.45am-2pm, Walsall Leather Museum, Littleton Street West, Walsall WS2 8EW

The third in a series of workshops on how to get your museum in the news and on TV.  Each session will be led by television journalist Sarah Bishop who has worked as a regular reporter and newsreader for BBC Midlands Today in the West Midlands region.

In this session we will work on how to be a good interviewee for radio and for TV and how to get your message across.

To get the most from this session delegates are encouraged to also attend In the Spotlight: Live TV on 18 June at the Museum of Carpet, Kidderminster.

Tea and coffee will be provided at this free event.

Priority will be given to delegates from non-NPO museums which are Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation.  Maximum of one delegate per museum.

18 June - In the Spotlight: Live Television

9.45am-2pm, Museum of Carpet, Stour Vale Mill, Green Street, Kidderminster DY10 1AZ

The last in a series of workshops on how to get your museum in the news and on TV.  Each session will be led by television journalist Sarah Bishop who has worked as a regular reporter and newsreader for BBC Midlands Today in the West Midlands region.

During a packed four hours we will consider:

• Live broadcasts
• 'Show and tell' live broadcasts – why do they work so well in museums?
• TV screening
• Practical session for live broadcasts

To get the most from this session delegates are encouraged to also attend In the Spotlight: Interviews on 23 May at Walsall Leather Museum.

Tea and coffee will be provided at this free event.

Priority will be given to delegates from non-NPO museums which are Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation.  Maximum of one delegate per museum.

29 January - Volunteer Management Conference 2019

Victoria Park Plaza, 239 Vauxhall Bridge Road, London SW1V 1EQ

The Volunteer Management Conference 2019 will provide the latest updates and guidance in supporting outstanding recruitment, retention and management of volunteers across the voluntary sector.  Participants will hear from policy experts and leading practitioners in developing a successful volunteer management strategy, attracting volunteers through effective marketing and enhancing the volunteer experience.  

For more information click here.

29 January - Digital Basics Boot Camp

Science and Industry Museum, Manchester M3 4FP

The Museums Association’s Digital Basics Boot Camp is a fast-paced one-day conference covering all the essential digital skills that museums need today, including:

• Practical social media: Thinking strategically about social media activity, including effective tools and approaches, and useful case studies 
• Effective content: Identify content in your organisation, writing for the web, and planning and commissioning for the best results
• Measuring success: Using Google Analytics, surveys and user testing to work out who is using your website, how they are using it, and how you can respond
• Digital surgery: Do you have specific questions about working online? Delegates may submit questions, and a selection will be answered by the day’s speakers

This event is for any museum professional who wants to polish their digital skills, find out what to spend their time and money on, and gain the confidence to pursue their own digital projects back at their museum.

For more information and to book click here.

14 February - Implementing the Museum Action Plan 2018: Curating attractive and diverse museums and galleries

11am-3.30pm, Central London 

The new Museum Action Plan has set out specific criteria for museums and galleries to improve, building on the Mendoza review published last year.  In order for museums and galleries to flourish successfully, there is a need to collaborate more effectively with governments and funding bodies, diversify audiences and the workforce and to successfully utilise digital platforms.

Attend this Westminster Briefing for an overview of the government's new plan and to assess the most effective way to move forward in response.  Explore dynamic forms of good practice when curating attractive and widely-engaging museums and galleries.

For more information and to book click here.

27 February - Moving on Up: Making an Impact with your Career

Nottingham Contemporary NG1 2GB

Do you want to advance your career and have greater impact in your work, in your community and in achieving your ambitions? Then this Museums Association conference is for you.

At Moving on Up you will:

• hear from inspirational leaders
• learn how to network successfully
• get top tips on navigating job opportunities
• discover how to raise your profile in the sector
• take part in interactive workshops and panel discussions
• ask and be asked the essential questions for taking your career to the next level

To find out more and to book click here.

14 March - Agents of Change: Driving and Dealing with Change as a Freelancer in the Cultural Sector

10.30am-4.30pm Manchester Art Gallery, Manchester M2 3JL

Join other museum freelancers for this insightful, valuable and practical day of training and networking, aimed at freelancers working across all disciplines in the museums and heritage sector and those considering embarking on a freelance career.

Speakers will share their journeys, practical lessons and tips and will explore many aspects of ‘change’ relevant to freelancers, including:

• How can freelancers who aren’t attached to any particular organisation inspire and deliver change as ‘outsiders’?
• How can individuals be the change they’d like to see? What power do they have?
• How can freelancers be more resilient and prepare for or learn to embrace change?
• How can freelancers cope and deal with change when it’s not change they were expecting, or perhaps wanting? 

This year there is also a fringe conference programme which includes a group visit to the People's History Museum and facilitated networking.

For the full programme and to book please click here. 

1 April - Creative & Cultural Skills National Conference 

11am-4pm, Cardiff City Hall, Cardiff CF10 3ND

The conference is a key moment in the calendar for employers, educators and policy-makers in the creative and cultural industries.  Early-bird rates are available until 31 December, and special discounts are available for apprentices and interns. Buy tickets here. 

The Lace Guild Museum Receive Arts Council Project Grant

The Lace Guild has been awarded an Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grant of £12,250.

The project ‘Hidden in Stores’ enables the museum to borrow eight pieces of amazing lace from the V&A for its exhibition running 6 April to 21 June 2019.  The museum will buy two display cases big enough to display the two largest loaned pieces of V&A lace and in the future display more and larger pieces of lace from its own collection.  Part of the grant will be used for marketing, advertising to a much wider audience than the Lace Guild would normally be able to finance.

The Project Grant complements the Ready to Borrow grant of £18,250 awarded in March 2017 which provided the opportunity to make the necessary changes to the Lace Guild Museum to bring the building and exhibition space to the standard required for loans from a national museum.  The improvements included a security upgrade, fire doors and alarm upgrade and the completion of upgrading all windows.

Liz Muncey on behalf of the Lace Guild Museum said ‘We are thrilled and excited to receive the Arts Council National Lottery Project Grant which for the first time will allow us to borrow items from the V&A for our forthcoming exhibition. ‘Hidden in Stores’ will give the general public locally and into the West Midlands and beyond the opportunity to seek out The Lace Guild Museum and see these pieces of lace.  Our aim is to put The Lace Guild and Museum ‘on the map’ and reach out to as many new audiences as possible through advertising activities such as open evenings and a mix of free and self-financing workshops using social media and the website along with traditional press and PR’.

Museums Worcestershire Awarded an Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund Grant

Museums Worcestershire has been awarded £113,100 to review its glove collection and create a community-based project that reconnects people to their past. The project, 'A Glove Affair: Worcester’s hand in the global gloving industry', aims to promote a better understanding of the collection’s international significance and leave a legacy of glove-making in the county where it was once a thriving industry.

Art Fund Museum of the Year 2019

The biggest museum prize in the world, Art Fund Museum of the Year seeks out and celebrates innovation and exceptional achievement in museums and galleries across the UK.

Art Fund awards one outstanding winner £100,000 and each of the other finalists £10,000 to support future activity.

It’s a moment to spotlight the originality and creativity of the museum sector.  During the process each year’s finalists – selected from applications from museums of all kinds and sizes – typically see a major boost in attendance and profile, strengthened support from stakeholders and wider public recognition.

The prize also helps to reinforce finalists’ relationships with their audiences both locally and nationally and to make new, lasting connections.

Application deadline: 12 noon, 6 February 2019
Shortlist announcement: May 2019

For more information and to download the application pack click here.

The Museums + Heritage Awards 2019 Open For Entries

Could you join the Awards Hall of Fame?  There are 14 different categories to choose from, including the NEW category Partnership of the Year supported by Arts Council England, offering an opportunity for everyone, regardless of the scale or size of project and budget.  Cost-effectiveness is at the heart of these awards as is creativity and resourcefulness and entries are welcomed from everyone.

Have you got some great volunteers?  Take a look at the FREE to enter Volunteer(s) of the Year Award in association with AIM, which gives this sector the chance to honour and celebrate the invaluable volunteers!  So, if you work in a local authority museum, a national or independent museum, a gallery or a heritage or cultural visitor attraction or perhaps you are a supplier to this sector, this is your chance to have your hard work recognised.  Give yourself the very best chance for success by watching the two minute video on 'How to Compile Your Entry' and also get top tips from Chair of the 2019 Judging Panel Diane Lees, Director General of the Imperial War Museum.  Find out more about the awards and how to enter here. 

Deadline for entries is Friday 1 February 2019.

Creative & Cultural Skills National Conference and Awards

Creative & Cultural Skills has launched the ticket sales for its National Conference and Awards, which will take place on 1 April.  The conference will take place from 11am-4pm in Cardiff City Hall and the awards dinner and ceremony will take place in the evening from 6.30pm-10pm in the National Museum Cardiff.  The conference is a key moment in the calendar for employers, educators and policy-makers in the creative and cultural industries.  

They have also opened the nominations for their annual Creative & Cultural Skills Awards.  The Creative & Cultural Skills Awards shine a light on the individuals and organisations that have shown an outstanding commitment to skill development and learning in the creative industries, ensuring the next generation have the skills they need so that the creative sector continues to thrive. 

For more information about the conference and the awards click here. 

AIM Prospering Boards

Could your board benefit from expert support?  AIM Prospering Boards works with boards to help them strengthen their leadership, work more strategically or deal more effectively with emerging challenges.

It offers one-to-one consultancy advice to boards and trustees from a group of highly skilled specialists.  Boards can access up to 8 days support from a specialist governance consultant, to work on the aspects of board development that matter most to them.

Each package of support is designed around the needs of an individual museum, so Prospering Boards can help the most experienced boards, as well as those at a more challenging stage of development.

AIM is able to work on this programme with museums that aren't yet formally working towards Accreditation, if they can show that working with AIM will help move them closer to being able to start the process.

Prospering Boards also offers a short ‘microconsultancy’ option of 1 – 2 days which can be used for a simpler project.

For more information and to apply visit the AIM website.  Alternatively if you are thinking of applying contact Helen Wilkinson. 

Data Protection and Documentation

The Collection Trust's object entry, object exit and transfer of title forms, which help museums follow best practice and meet Spectrum standards, have been revised to take account of the 2018 changes to data protection law.  A key change is that those signing the forms now indicate that they have been made aware of the museum's privacy notice.  You can read more about the revisions here.

You can continue to use previous versions of these forms, but your procedures need to ensure that those signing them have been shown your privacy notice.

Subject Specialist Networks

The new Subject Specialist Networks website can be found at https://subjectspecialistnetworks.org.uk/.

Museums and Resilient Leadership Programme

Don't miss your opportunity to apply for the Museums and Resilient Leadership Programme (MRL) - a unique year-long development course fully funded by Arts Council England.

Described as "life changing", it is designed to help you become a cultural leader for the 21st Century, resilient and entrepreneurial.

Participants receive £7,500 worth of leadership training, comprising:

• An overseas study visit to cultural organisations in a country of your choice
• 2 x 3 day residential workshops
• 8 workshops and masterclasses on leadership, governance, finance, skills and models
• An online leadership resource bank
• A personal mentor and coach

The Programme draws on a wealth of knowledge and insight about leadership in the cultural and commercial sectors. It puts this learning at your disposal in inspirational settings.

Go to the MRL website to find out more and follow the link to apply for the Programme.

To find out more, call MRL’s Directors now: Stephen Feber 07515 338535 Nick Winterbotham 07775 774539

Applications are open until 5pm, Thursday 31 January.

MRL is a project of Black Country Living Museum as part of its National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) programme.  

Stand for Election to the MA Board

Help to shape the future of the museum sector 

Nominations for elections to the Museums Association (MA) board are now open. 

There are three vacancies on the 14 person board in the next election.  The MA is looking for talented, motivated and creative people to drive the strategic direction of the MA.

Becoming a board member is a great opportunity to shape the future of the sector by helping the MA to develop new policy and initiatives, and to lobby government and other stakeholders on behalf of museums.

Duties include monitoring performance against the MA's Business Plan 2017-20; approving annual budgets and monitoring progress against them; contributing to and approving the annual report and accounts; and appointing the director and monitoring his/her performance.

If you feel qualified to do this, or have particular expertise you can offer, then please consider putting yourself forward.

Each board member will serve a three year term.  Candidates must be individual members of the MA, and need two other members to support their nomination to be able to stand.

The closing date for nominations is 31 January 2019 at 23:59.  Voting will commence early February and the election results announced at the beginning of March.

Put yourself forward via the Mi-Voice online nominations website.

Grants Now Available From The Elizabeth Hammond Conservation Award

The Costume Society has announced that the Elizabeth Hammond Conservation Award currently has £5,000 available for grants to support the conservation of costume or costume related textiles. The award promotes museum conservation and display of clothing and clothing related textiles of all periods, styles and places of origin, held in the permanent collections of Accredited museums in the United Kingdom with an annual gross turnover of about £750,000.

For more information and to apply click here.

Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund Round 17

The Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, run by the Museums Association (MA), funds a range of projects that demonstrate the significance, distinctiveness and power of collections to people. 

Currently nearly £1.2m is awarded per year to around 10-16 projects, so the projects are choosen projects carefully, looking for where the support might have the most impact in the context of the grant criteria. Since the fund began in 2011, 101 projects have been awarded grants totalling nearly £7.9m. 

Museums, galleries and partnerships from across the UK can request sums of between £20,000-£120,000 for projects lasting up to three years. There are two application rounds each year in March and September, with a short initial application form. The process from initial application to being awarded funds takes around four months.

The criteria and guidance for the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund have recently been updated to support applications that - in meeting the grant criteria - have a strong link between relevant collections and audiences; are able to use the project to contribute to the long-term plans of the organisation(s); and are ambitious, interesting and sometimes exploratory. 

The deadline for the current grant round is 5pm, 6 March 2019.

Full guidance and the application form can be found here. 

The Sandford Award for Heritage Education

The Sandford Award recognises and celebrates museums, galleries and historic sites that provide high quality heritage learning.  Now in its 40th year over 500 sites have received this prestigious quality mark from sites small and large, and run by national institutions and local authorities to volunteers and private owners.  The award is non-competitive and is managed by the Heritage Education Trust in partnership with Bishop Grosseteste University. It is independently judged by a panel of heritage sector experts and applicants receive a detailed consultancy report as part of the judging process.

Hear what Dr Tracy Borman, Chief Executive of the Heritage Education Trust and joint Chief Curator for Historic Royal Palaces has to say about the award.

To find out more and to download the application form, criteria and judging information click here  or email sandford@bishopg.ac.uk.

Deadline for entries is 15 February 2019.

Want to Make your Collection more Accessible? 

Arts Council National Lottery Projects Grants scheme is open and waiting for your applications!

Arts Council England (ACE) want to support exciting and diverse work that brings great art and culture to people across the country through their new funding programme. 

Accredited museums can apply for grants that help people engage with their collections or their work.  The grants typically range from £1,000 to £100,000.

If you have a project in mind which will help to make your collections more accessible download their handy guide or look at the Project Grants page on the ACE website.

If you have questions before, during or after making an application contact ACE by email enquiries@artscouncil.org.uk or telephone 0161 934 4317. 

Should you want to hear more about the grant please come to the WMMD event on 31 January.

The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour 2020 – Invitation to apply

In 2020 the National Gallery will tour Degas’s Hélène Rouart in her Father's Study, and is currently inviting proposals from UK venues to display this masterpiece.

Three successful venues will receive the masterpiece for a period of up to three months (during 2020) alongside a contribution (£5,000) towards marketing and outreach.  Full details, including application guidance, can be found here.

Application is open to all non-London UK museums and galleries who meet the required standards of loan, security and environmental conditions.  The National Gallery is particularly interested in working with venues who have not previously or recently borrowed from their collection, or who are located in areas of cultural or socioeconomic deprivation.

The National Gallery Masterpiece Tour is made possible through the generous support of Christie’s.

Beecroft Bequest 

The Beecroft Bequest is a fund administered by the Museums Association, for the purchase of pre-19th century works of art.

Under the terms of the will of the late Walter G Beecroft, the residue of his estate was bequeathed to the Museums Association as a foundation for the fund.

Grants of up to £10,000 are available to Museums Association institutional members for the acquisition of pre-19th century works of art.  Applications are considered on a case by case basis.  The application process is very simple, and they are always happy to answer any questions you may have prior to submission.

For more information, please click here.

Volunteer Portal

The regional Volunteer Portal offers Accredited museums and those officially Working Towards Accreditation the opportunity to advertise for volunteers. 

Please click below if you would like to register your museum. You don't need to have any current opportunities to register. 

Images © Lee Allen Photography

Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, Breaking Boundaries Conference, Potteries Museum and Art Gallery, The Pen Museum, Nuneaton Museum and Art Gallery

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