Contents:

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

Small Grant Scheme Open 

Would you like up to £3,000 to support a project?

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

The Small Grant Scheme supports West Midlands museums to deliver projects which increase access to and engagement with their collections.

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.

All projects should show how they seek to develop and respond to audience development opportunities; improving the services on offer, strengthening sustainability, building resilience and creating new conversations and activity around collections. 

Please read the guidance and contact your Museum Development Officer before completing the application form (pdf version available on request).

Applications must be submitted by: 9am, Monday 11 March

Successful applicants notified: w/c Monday 25 March

Conference 2019

WMMD is delighted to announce details of its fourth annual conference on 28 March.

Funded by ACE, the conference brings together the region’s museums, art galleries and heritage sites to network, share news and best practice from within and outside the heritage sector.

Our host:

• Sarah Bishop, broadcaster and former BBC Midlands Today presenter and reporter

Our speakers:

• Tony Berry, Visitor Experience Director, National Trust.  'Growing the Love' Tony will share what the National Trust has learned about building support for properties both large and small.
• Samuel Kasumu, Managing Director, Inclusive Boards.  Samuel will discuss the strong business case for diversity; how understanding your starting point and collecting meaningful data enables you to plan development and measure success.

Breaking News:

• New five year framework for the National Lottery Heritage Fund - Peter Morgan, National Lottery Heritage Fund
• Revised Accreditation Standard and what it means for you - Annette French, ACE Accreditation
• Funding stream for museum projects - Wendy Parry, ACE

Our workshops will explore...

• Mental Health in Museums - Debbie Shipton and Cara Sutherland, HSG
• Engaging with Young People - Anna Chrystal, Lapworth Museum of Geology and Jen Ridding, The Barber Institute of Fine Arts
• Energy Efficiency - Sam Lloyd, Carbon Trust
• Commissioning Contemporary Artists - Stephanie Allen, Arts and Heritage 

This will be followed by an evening reception concluding at 6.30pm.

With plenty of opportunities to network, surgeries available with sector partners including ACE Project Grants, Culture24, Collections Trust, Accreditation, The Audience Agency, Kids in Museums and West Midlands Emerging Museum Professionals this is a key date for your 2019 diary.

The conference is FREE and includes refreshments, lunch and evening reception. 

To book please select either the full conference option which includes the networking evening reception (finishing around 6.30pm) or the daytime option (finishing around 5pm).

Travel Bursaries for Conference 2019

A limited number of travel bursaries are available for conference delegates.  The bursary offered is part of Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust’s National Portfolio Organisation and Museum Development programmes.

Delegates can apply for up to £50 towards travel costs payable after the conference. Recipients of the bursary will be required to submit a short report afterwards about their conference experiences.  The bursary is only open to delegates from non NPO-museums in the West Midlands which are Accredited or Working Towards.  Only one bursary per organisation.

Application deadline: 5pm, Monday 25 February

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.

26 February - Preparing for Emergencies: Prevention and Protection

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

LAST MINUTE PLACES NOW AVAILABLE!

WMMD 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. 

27 February - Preparing for Emergencies: Creating an Emergency Plan

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

WMMD 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

This course is only open to staff, Trustees and volunteers from Accredited museums and those officially Working Towards Accreditation in the West Midlands. 

FULLY BOOKED

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

FULLY BOOKED

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

7 March - A Call to Adventure - Learning about Learning

10am-4pm, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, Lichfield Street WV1 1DE

Inspiring more impactful educational offers to schools

This three part course, led by Rebecca Bell, Director of Integrate Education, aims to train and support staff in the process of planning and delivering highly interactive, creative learning experiences in their setting, using a ‘Narrative Immersion’ approach.

During this first session you will engage with the core principles involved in the art of creative teaching and learning, appropriate for 21st century learners.  You will shape an understanding of what teaching approaches really engage, activate and excite learners, in a way that makes learning a memorable joy.

Places are limited and museums must commit to attending all three sessions when enrolling on the programme.

The other sessions are:

• 19 March - Session 2: Learning through Drama – the Narrative Immersion approach
• 9 April - Session 3: How to Plan a Narrative Immersion

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

Lunch and refreshments will be provided at all three free events.

19 March - A Call to Adventure - Learning through Drama – the Narrative Immersion approach

10am-4pm, Pen Museum, 60 Frederick Street, Birmingham, B1 3HS

Inspiring more impactful educational offers to schools

In this second session you will experience the ‘Narrative Immersion’ approach to teaching and learning.  You will develop your understanding of:

• Drama strategies
• The modes of a ‘teacher’ (workshop facilitator) in a Narrative Immersion
• Links to curriculum

Places are limited and museums must commit to attending all three sessions when enrolling on the programme.

The other sessions are:

• 7 March  - Session 1: Learning about Learning
• 9 April - Session 3: How to Plan a Narrative Immersion

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

Lunch and refreshments will be provided at all three free events.

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.

21 and 22 March - Fluid Collection Conservation Training

Ludlow Museum Resource Centre, Rear of Corve Street, Ludlow, Shropshire SY8 2PG

Ludlow Museum Resource Centre has been working with Lucie Mascord from the Lancashire Conservation Studio, as part of the WMMD Expert Eye programme, to review the fluid collections which form part of the natural history collections.  The work will result in better documentation, improved online access and interpretation.  

As part of the project Lucie is offering training on how to conserve the specimens which have suffered a loss of fluid over time and are at risk of becoming exposed.  This two day training session is being opened up to museums who have similar collections and will cover rehydration, mounting and labelling specimens, maintenance and documentation. 

Attendees will need to attend both days and are asked to make their own arrangements for lunch.

FULLY BOOKED

If you would like to go on the waiting list please email Helen Johnson.

28 March - Conference 2019

Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Coalbrookdale TF8 7DQ

Join the WMMD team for our fourth annual conference, full details can be found earlier in this newsletter.

The conference is FREE and includes refreshments, lunch and evening reception. 

To book please select either the full conference option which includes the networking evening reception (finishing around 6.30pm) or the daytime option (finishing around 5pm).

9 April - A Call to Adventure - How to Plan a Narrative Immersion

10am-4pm, The Hive at New Standard Works, 43-47 Vittoria Street, Birmingham B1 3PE

Inspiring more impactful educational offers to schools

This three part course, led by Rebecca Bell, Director of Integrate Education, aims to train and support staff in the process of planning and delivering highly interactive, creative learning experiences in their setting, using a ‘Narrative Immersion’ approach.

In this final session you will collaborate in a Narrative Immersion planning process and work as a team to shape a workshop experience.  The focus of this session is to prepare you for the bespoke planning of a Narrative Immersion for your museum.

Places are limited and museums must commit to attending all three sessions when enrolling on the programme.

The other sessions are:

• 7 March - Session 1: Learning about Learning
• 19 March  - Session 2: Learning through Drama – the Narrative Immersion approach

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

Lunch and refreshments will be provided at all three free events.

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 22 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.

22 February - Don't Settle Project Launch

6.30pm - 9.00pm - Birmingham Science Museum, Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG

Birmingham Museums is a partner in a three year project to empower 16 - 25 year olds from minoritised communities in Birmingham and the Black Country to change the voice of heritage through the arts, research and governance.
 
Heritage professionals are invited to join the launch of the Don’t Settle Project with Dr Kehinde Andrews, Suhaiymah Manzoor-Khan, Rachael Minott and Yasmina Silva. 

An evening of open discussion with artivists, educators and museum professionals on how to make all stories visible and how to change who tells these stories.

To find out more and book your place click here.

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

Nottingham Contemporary NG1 2GB

Moving on Up is the essential Museums Association conference for early career professionals who want to build a dynamic museum career, develop their networks and be inspired to have an impact in the sector.

Aimed at museum professionals in the first five years of their career, the event aims to empower and inspire a radical, challenging workforce.

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.

28 February - Money & Medals: Documentation and Photography Workshop

The British Museum

The first Money and Medals training session of 2019 will be held in the British Museum’s (BM) Department of Coins and Medals and will feature practical workshops on the documentation and photography of numismatic objects. Led by the BM’s Head of Documentation and a Senior Photographer from the BM’s Photographic Department, this event represents a chance to gain some practical experience of creating records for objects on a museum database and taking good quality images of numismatic material for use on catalogues or condition reports.

This event is free to attend but places are limited so please book early to avoid disappointment. A limited number of travel bursaries will be available to assist with attending this event.

Further details will be available shortly, but booking is open now so please email mmn@britishmuseum.org to register your interest or to enquire about travel bursaries.

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. 

18 March - Care of Metals

10am-3.30pm Buxton Museum and Art Gallery, Terrace Road, Buxton SK17 6DA

Buxton Museum and Art Gallery will be displaying the British Museum’s ‘Hoards: a hidden history of ancient Britain’ exhibition in the spring.

This training session forms part of a programme of activities linked to this exhibition and will explore how to care for, handle and display metal objects including coins.  Topics covered will include providing optimum environmental conditions, safe handling and packing, display techniques, cleaning and housekeeping.

The training is funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and will be led by Anita Hollinshead, Regional Collections Adviser for Museum Development East Midlands.  It will consist of a mixture of presentations, practical activities and informal discussions.  All participants will receive a pack of additional information and handouts. 

Who is this day for?

The course is suitable for staff and volunteers who are new to this area of collections care or those who would just like to refresh their knowledge. It is open to delegates outside of the East Midlands. To book your place, please click here.

27 March - Implementing the Museum Action Plan: Government responses to the Mendoza review one year on

11am-3.30pm Central London

Responding to the recommendations made by the Mendoza review in 2017, the Museum Action Plan provides targeted support from the Government and other Arm's Length Bodies for museums and galleries to flourish.

Attend this Westminster Briefing event for an overview of the government’s action plan and to assess the most effective way for your institution to gain support.  Explore dynamic forms of good practice to meet the conditions of the Action Plan from leading organisations.

For more information and to book click here.

1 April - Creative & Cultural Skills National Conference and Awards 

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

The Creative & Cultural Skills National Conference and Awards is a key moment in the calendar for employers, educators and policy-makers in the creative and cultural industries.

Buy tickets here. 

3 - 5 June - MuseumNext London

London

Now in it's eleventh year, MuseumNext is firmly established as a must attend event for those shaping the future of museums.

Join more than 650 museum professionals from 40+ countries for three days packed with inspiration, innovation and conversation. 

What makes MuseumNext different is the international audience, with delegates travelling from around the globe to be part of this event. This exposes you to new ideas, tactics and methodologies and connects you with people you'd never otherwise meet.

This year's theme is 'turning ideas into action'. How do you overcome obstacles in your museum to make change happen? Get real actionable advice from change makers who have successfully turned ideas into action in museums around the globe.

MuseumNext has a reputation as the best conference for networking, with social events, tours, workshops and plenty of coffee to help you to connect with new people. 

To book click here.  

Kids in Museums Launch New Website

Kids in Museums have launched their new website, take a look at it here.  It details changes that they have made to the programme such as introducing a second Takeover Day each year and introducing categories to the Family Friendly Museum Award.

The key dates for Kids in Museums activity in 2019 are:

• Monday 25 March - Nominations open for the Family Friendly Museum Award 2019
• Friday 31 May - Nominations close for the Family Friendly Museum Award 2019
• June - Shortlist announced for the Family Friendly Museum Award
• Friday 28 June - Takeover Day (Summer)
• Friday 16 August - Teen Digital Takeover
• October - Family Friendly Museum of the Year 2019 will be announced at their awards ceremony
• Friday 22 November: Takeover Day (Winter)

Come and meet Kids in Museums at the WMMD conference.

New Name, New Website, New Funding Framework

Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) has changed its name to National Lottery Heritage Fund, launched its new website and unveiled its plans to distribute more than £1bn of National Lottery money to the UK’s heritage over the next five years.

For more information about the new funding framework visit the new website.

Come and meet National Lottery Heritage Fund at the WMMD conference.

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.  

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.

Come and meet Collection Trust at the WMMD conference.

Subject Specialist Networks

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

Vacancy - Learning Officer

Tudor House Museum is seeking a part time Learning Officer.  The museum's offer to local schools is successful and well received.  The present volunteer Education Coordinator is retiring, and the museum will be recruiting a Learning Officer to develop the Learning programmes.  This person will also provide some general operations and collections support to the Museum Manager.  The Learning Officer will be responsible to the Museum Manager and indirectly to the Education Representative on Worcester Heritage and Amenity Trust Board. 

The role is for two days a week, with extra days as required, one of which must be a Friday.  Successful applicants should have experience in delivering high quality, imaginative and dynamic learning sessions in schools, museums or similar educational establishments.

Full details of the role can be downloaded from the website, and the present School Activity days can be viewed.

Applicants should submit their CV by email to manager@tudorhouse.org.uk, together with a covering letter describing their suitability for the position, details of two references and a brief outline of their ideas for developing the schools and learning programme.

Closing date for applications: 5pm, 1 March

Vacancy - Senior Visual Arts Officer

Rugby Art Gallery and Museum

£28,221 - £32,233

Rugby Art Gallery and Museum has an exciting opportunity to welcome a person with visual art curatorial experience to its friendly team.  As the cultural hub of Rugby it is a vibrant, well used service with a reputation for high quality contemporary art exhibitions with strong national partnerships and creative commissioning.

It is looking for an experienced individual to move this work forward through the art gallery exhibition programme.  It also has a nationally significant British Art Collection, which this post holder would be responsible for.  You will work with the team to create complementary interpretation programmes that engage wide audiences, and improves the wellbeing of Rugby's residents and visitors.

For an informal discussion about this role please contact Nikki Grange or Victoria Gabbitas, Arts, Heritage & Visitor Services Manager (job share) on 01788 533208.

You can view full details of this job here, where you can also apply online.  If you are unable to apply online please call 01788 533564, or email contact.centre@rugby.gov.uk for further assistance.

Closing date for applications: 24 February
Interview date: 12 March 

Industrial Heritage Network Co-ordinators

The Industrial Heritage Network (IHN) Co-ordinators are volunteer roles aiming to provide a professional development opportunity for staff and volunteers across the industrial heritage sector.

Co-ordinators will be trained and line managed by the Industrial Heritage Support Officer.
The key aim of the IHN Co-ordinator roles is to help address the skills shortage across the sector.

Purpose of the role:

• To support regional Industrial Heritage Network operations
• To provide a member of staff, or a volunteer (or other relevant candidate) from an IHN member site/organisation with a professional development opportunity
• To train that member of staff, or a volunteer in new, relevant areas and interchangeable skills which they will be able to apply at their usual place of work, or volunteering
• To assist IHNs in becoming self-sufficient

To find out more about the role and to apply click here.

Call for Papers for the 2019 Social History Curators Group Conference

The 2019 conference is being held in Edinburgh on 18 and 19 July with the theme of representation in museums.

The Social History Curators Group (SHCG) welcome paper submissions and workshop suggestions on this broad theme, with some ideas below:

• How do we better represent the demographic of our museum audiences?
• Are social history collections lagging behind other disciplines in addressing under-representation in the museum space?
• Does our regional identity affect the way we collect and interpret collections?
• How can we collect the present without over-rationalising past collections?
• Is there a fear in your organisation of disposing of too much of the past to make way for collecting the future?
• How can we better engage audiences with contemporary collecting practices?

The SHCG conference is an excellent opportunity to present to a friendly audience of museum professionals, and they welcome anyone working with or within museums - not just curators!  

More information on the conference and the submission documentation can be found here.

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. 

Come and meet Arts Council England at the WMMD conference.

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.

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.

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 chosen 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.

Full guidance and the application form can be found 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

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

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