In the run-up to the General Election NMDC together with Art Fund, the Association of Independent Museums and the Museums Association published a joint response to the major party manifestos. Sector bodies were pleased to see that all manifestos included a commitment to the museum sector and welcomed pledges around creative education, tax incentives, free admission and museum lending.
The response also urges an incoming government to provide strategic public investment to the museum sector for core and maintenance costs, including an urgent reassessment of local authority funding for museums. It outlines why politicians and policymakers across education, communities, industrial strategy and culture should support museums, which deliver across multiple policy areas and are loved by the UK public. NMDC
British Museum reopens Reading Room, closed since 2013
From 1 July the British Museum’s Reading Room, first opened in 1857, will welcome general visitors again. From 2007 the Reading Room was used for special exhibitions including ‘The First Emperor: China’s Terracotta Army’, but following the opening of the World Conservation and Exhibitions Centre in 2014 the space was no longer needed for exhibitions. Visitors can now enjoy the domed ceiling inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. Although the majority of the books formerly housed in the Reading Room were moved to the British Library in in 1997 it still houses the museum’s archive. Times, Museums Association, Art Newspaper (£) Also: Canongate nabs a new account of the British Museum by Dominic Selwood, BooksellerAlso: Australian blockbuster Pharaoh show could inspire British Museum’s revamped Ancient Egypt galleries, Art Newspaper (£)
Repairs begin on Brighton Museum & Art Gallery’s 220-year-old roof
Funded by an Arts Council grant of £1,463,769 and £500k from Brighton & Hove City Council, the major building project will bring the Grade II listed building up to 21st century requirements with the restoration of two Georgian glass lanterns. The work will improve carbon performance and provide better access to the space for staff and contractors. Brighton Museum is expected to close completely for around one month in August but for most of the project the majority of the museum will remain open. Hedley Swain, CEO of the Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust said: “We are so grateful to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport and Arts Council England for this important award from the Cultural Investment Funds, including Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND) and Brighton & Hove City Council to whom we are also deeply grateful.” Brighton Museums
Science Museum Group’s international work recognised with award
The 6th annual UK India Awards, organised by India Global Forum, have recognised the Science Museum Group’s (SMG) work promoting science and technology ties with India by awarding the ‘Significant Contributions to UK India Relations’ award. Sir Ian Blatchford, Director of the Science Museum Group, collected the award on 27 June, previous recipients include the British Council and the Nehru Centre. India Global Forum
Also: The Science and Industry Museum, part of SMG, has submitted the first phase of plans that will improve accessibility of their outdoor spaces with a 1km walking loop that will create new entrances and connect to the newly opened Aviva Studios. Science and Industry Museum, M+H Advisor
The Dalmore, a Scottish whisky distillery, has donated all of the £75,000 hammer price from the sale of a rare whisky bottle and glass sculpture to V&A Dundee. The glass sculpture housing the bottle was designed by Zaha Hadid Architects. The Dalmore announced a four year partnership with the museum in 2020 to celebrate ‘design, creativity and vision’. Decanter Magazine, V&A Dundee (partnership)
Also: Two Van Gogh Sunflowers masterpieces reunited for the first time in more than a century at the National Gallery. Standard
Images this month come from the Museum of the Home and feature their refurbished Rooms Through Time which are due to open to the public on 23 July. The rooms which have been co-curated with community partners include: A Townhouse in 1878, A Tenement Flat in 1913, A Room Upstairs in 1956, A Terraced House in 1978, A High Rise Flat in 2005, A Terraced House in 2024 and A Converted Flat in 2024. Museum of the Home
Following the Labour General Election win you can read the Labour Manifesto from pg 86 for references to the creative industries and publicly funded national museums. A useful breakdown and analysis is available on The Campaign For the Arts website. Also catch up with ‘Creating Growth: Labour’s Plan for the Arts, Culture and Creative Industries’ which was published in March 2024. Kier Starmer gave a victory speech at the Tate Modern which can be seen in full on the BBC website. Labour (Creating Growth, pdf, 19 pgs)
Thangam Debbonaire, the Labour Shadow Culture Secretary, lost her Bristol Central seat to the Green Party’s co-leader Carla Denyer, and Lisa Nandy was appointed Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport on Friday 5 July.
Nandy has been the Wigan MP since 2010 and has held a number of roles in the Shadow Cabinet including most recently International Development Shadow Minister and previously as Levelling Up, Foreign and Energy Shadow Secretaries. She took an MSc at Birkbeck University in Politics and Government and there is an interesting profile of her on the Birkbeck University website. Gov.uk (biography), UK Parliament (previous positions, voting record), Labour (Nandy website), Social Media: ‘X’/Twitter @lisanandy, Instagram @lisanandymp, Facebook, Telegraph (profile from 2020)
Before the Election Thangam Debbonaire spoke about Labour's plans for the arts in this article: ‘She wants to save the arts in Britain if she can get elected’. Artdaily (original from New York Times).
On the 5 July the Art Newspaper spoke to a number of leading culture figures on their hopes from a new Labour government. Responses include comments from the V&A’s Tristram Hunt on the importance of financially supporting regional museums and including museum and gallery infrastructure and maintenance in the Green New Deal funding. Art Newspaper (£). John Kampfner gave an overview of the pressures on the arts and culture sector over the last 14 years published on 26 June in the Guardian. Another review of the last 14 years of Tory rule appeared in the Art Newspaper (£) on 28 June with a funding case study that looks at the Lightbox in Woking. On 2 July Peter Bazalgette, Co-Chair of the Creative Industries Council, wrote a piece in the Financial Times on how Britain could make much more of the creative industries.
A Bedroom Upstairs in 1956, Rooms Through Time, Museum of the Home.
Report and toolkit from Art Fund looks at emotional branding and engaging audiences
Art Fund’s new report looks at harnessing emotions in the branding process to increase public support. Covering two separate pieces of research carried out in 2020 and 2022, it shows that museums should appeal to three levels of emotion in audiences: pleasure, connection and purpose. The report also looks at how to turn positive emotions into long-term commitment. Art Fund (press release, emotional branding), Art Fund (report, emotional branding, pdf 24pgs), Art Fund /2022 research (Please, Connection, Purpose, press release), Art Fund /2022 research (full report, pdf, 52pgs), Art Fund (WOW Toolkit, June 2024, pdf, 15pgs)
GEM Museum Learning Report looks at the priorities for the museum learning sector
The 2024 GEM Museum Learning Report is based on 99 survey responses from 67 GEM members and 32 non-members, with contributions from across the UK. It highlights that some participants felt vulnerable (particularly freelancers) in the current fiscal context that museums are working under. In particular reference was made to the reliance on external project-based funding for roles and programmes, and the impact of cost of living pressures affecting the engagement of schools and family audiences. The report also looks at positive shifts in the sector including the benefits of flexible working and how the switch to digital over Covid has given practitioners the confidence to continue with hybrid programming. Headline recommendations for the sector include:
Recognise the value of the museum learning sector
Protect access to museums and heritage for children, young people and communities
Support Fair Pay and working conditions
Create a diverse and inclusive workforce. GEM (pdf, 28pgs)
The Scottish Refugee Council publish resource to support displaced artists
‘Where We Meet’ was commissioned by Cross Borders, a Scottish Refugee Council project. The document aims to be a practical resource for arts organisations and artists with lived experience of displacement, with guidance on co-creating inclusive spaces for healing and belonging. There are also resources on anti-racist practice. Scottish Refugee Council, Where We Meet (Google Doc, 50pgs)
Guidance published for filming in heritage buildings
Ecclesiastical Insurance has published guidance for heritage property owners who want to offer their buildings and grounds for filming purposes. It provides a quick look at some of the considerations and risks to think about including having robust contracts, the benefits of appointing a film conservator, security arrangements and location specific boundaries. Ecclesiastical (pdf, 6pgs), M+H Advisor
Also: The Association for Cultural Enterprises have also planned a one-day online conference on 30 July 9.30am-4pm which will focus on filming at cultural venues. Tickets cost £49 for members and £99 for non-members. ACE
A look at the recent articles on funding in the culture sector
The General Election has prompted more articles on the state of funding for the cultural sector. The Museums Association took a fresh look at calls for new admission models and the pros and cons of charging for museum entry. Arts Professional published the first in a series of articles looking at the decline in the financial health of organisations in the UK – ‘Arts finances in worst state for five years’. In Scotland the Scotsman reported on arts leaders warning of an ‘exodus’ of talent as artists and performers leave the ‘extremely precarious’ arts funding environment.
Sir Mark Jones steps into the museum charging debate
Sir Mark Jones, previously interim director of the British Museum and director of the V&A, sparked debate by saying in an interview that tourists should pay £20 to visit our national museums whilst they are kept free for British taxpayers. Times, Museums Association. The Spectator covered the counter argument on why the British Museum shouldn’t make visitors pay.
YouGov Poll gauges the public appetite for museum charges
On the 1 July YouGov ran a survey of over five thousand adults asking if they felt museums should continue to be free to access as many receive government funding. 55% felt they should be free to anyone, 31% felt tourists should pay, only 6% felt government funding should be withdrawn and all visitors should have to pay. You can also see a breakdown of the figures by age, gender, politics, region and social grade. YouGov
Baillie Gifford corporate sponsorship hits the news again with National Galleries of Scotland statement
Sources of funding for arts organisations have continued to attract headlines after the Edinburgh Book Festival ended their sponsorship with Baillie Gifford, the Edinburgh investment company, after pressure from climate change protesters. The National Galleries of Scotland put out a statement on their decision to continue their relationship with Baillie Gifford, confident that the funding they receive meets their strong ethical standards. The Times also wrote a piece on why the National Galleries of Scotland rely on Baillie Gifford funding. The Financial Times pondered if any funder of the arts can be deemed pure enough, with mentions of the Science Museum, Tate and National Portrait Gallery.
The British Museum National Programmes of touring exhibitions and partnership work is asking for organisations to complete a short survey to help them plan for the future. The survey aims to capture what the priorities are for organisations in working with the British Museum and also what survey participants would be interested in developing in the future around loans and working with young people. Survey, British Museum National Programme
The Mapping Museums Lab at Birkbeck and King’s College London are researching museum closures in the UK from 2000 to 2025. They have been trying to find out what happens to collections when the museums close and are asking for help in tracing the collections of lost museums. They have a list of 41 museums across the country that they would like to find out more about. Contact Mark Liebenrood, Mapping Museums Lab at [email protected]Mapping Museums Lab (project website), Mapping Museums Lab (list of museums), AIM
World Wars come out on top as UK’s favourite historical period
English Heritage announced the results of recent YouGov research that asked over 2,000 adults about their favourite historical periods and across all age groups school and education are shown to have a lasting impact on our historical interests. The World Wars proved the most popular period (15%) followed by the Roman and Victorian eras (10%) and Tudors in fourth place (9%). Although preferences differed across the UK, in the North East for example the Roman era came out on top. English Heritage, M+H Advisor
Insights into the public interest in history and heritage
Recent research from the Audience Agency’s Cultural Participation Monitor provide insights into the public interest in history and heritage. The Cultural Participation Monitor stated 80% of people had an interest in history and heritage with 72% wanting to know more about the history of their local area and 77% interested in their family history. Personal connection made history more relevant for participants with 73% visiting at least one heritage site in the last 12 months. Audience Agency
A Terraced House in 2024, Rooms Through Time, Museum of the Home.
RAMM returns ceremonial headdress to Siksika Nation
The Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery (RAMM) handed over the ceremonial bird bundle, in the form of a headdress, to the Canadian Blackfoot tribe of Siksika Nation. The headdress had been held at RAMM since 1920 although the exact means of acquisition was undocumented. Joset Melting Tallow, of the Siksika Nation said: “The ceremonial Buffalo Woman’s Headdress holds immense sacred significance to the Blackfoot people. Its return to Siksika Nation symbolizes not only the preservation of our cultural heritage, but also the recognition of our history and traditions, and is a profound testament to our ancestors’ spiritual and cultural practices. We are grateful to the Royal Albert Memorial Museum for their commitment to honouring and respecting the sacredness of this headdress by facilitating its repatriation.” Siksika representatives travelled to Exeter for the repatriation ceremony on 5 June at RAMM, it follows the return of Chief Crowfoot’s regalia in 2022. RAMM, BBC, Museums Association
Cambridge’s Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology (MAA) returns 39 objects to Uganda
On 24 June MAA, part of the University of Cambridge, returned 39 artefacts from the communities and kingdoms of Uganda to be placed on long term loan at the Uganda Museum in Kampala. The objects were chosen by staff from the Uganda Museum after a research visit in November 2022 and were acquired by the MAA via various means including confiscation, conversion, theft, gift and purchase. The ‘Repositioning Uganda Museum’ project has been sponsored by Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. MAA, Museums Association, Uganda Museum
Ashmolean supports claim for the return of 16th century bronze
The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford has supported a claim from the Indian High Commission for the return of a 16th century bronze sculpture of Saint Tirumankai Alva. The Ashmolean bought the sculpture at Sothebys in good faith in 1967 but new research has come to light which shows the same bronze in the temple of Shri Soundarrajaperumal Kovil in Tamil Nadu in 1957. The Ashmolean are awaiting approval from the Charity Commission to return the sculpture. Ashmolean, Museums Association, Independent
Decolonisation guidance published for museums in Northern Ireland
The guidance document was produced by Global Voices, Local Voices partners which includes National Museums NI, African Caribbean Support Organisation of NI, NI Museums Council and participating museums. It is designed to support museums in Northern Ireland and further afield who want to deliver decolonisation work. There are some interesting and honest reflections and lessons learnt from both the organisational side and the communities who participated. National Museums NI (pdf, 55pgs), Museums Association
Repatriation and restitution become the focus of a number of European museums
A number of museums have been returning objects to their country of origin. Altes Museum in Berlin returned 25 antiquities to Italy believed to have been illegally excavated and smuggles out of Italy. Art Newspaper (£) The Kunsthaus Zurich museum in Switzerland has removed five paintings from display while it investigates whether they were looted by the Nazis, including works by Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin. BBC Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has also reiterated a call for the return of Indigenous First Nation artefacts from the Vatican. Art Newspaper (£), Independent (from 2023)
ICOM publish results of international survey into museum storage
The report from ICOM summarises the responses from over a thousand institutions in almost a hundred countries. The report looks at off-site and on-site storage, contemporary storage management issues and the future of museum storage. A surprising statistic from the report is that almost 17% of museums have not designated anyone to be in charge of storage, and this responsibility, when it exists, is not included in the job description of the person in charge in over 20% of cases (pg 20). It also has some interesting statistics on the different groups who are able to access the storage (pg 32). The lack of storage space is noted by more than half of all institutions. ICOM (press release) ICOM (pdf, 71pgs)
Export bar placed on table once owned by King Louis XIV of France
A table top made of 111 panels of worked glass from the 17th century, which was once owned by the French King Louis XIV, has been placed under a temporary export bar. The work has been attributed to one of the most prominent and inventive glassmakers in France in the second half of the 17th century, Bernard Perrot of Orléans, and it depicts mythological scenes alongside images of flora and fauna. The export bar runs until 18 October 2024. Gov.uk (table), ACE (summary list of objects currently under export bar), Art Newspaper (£) (table top)
Just Stop Oil protestors sprayed orange powder paint at Stonehenge on Wednesday 19 June which has prompted wider condemnation of climate change activities. English Heritage, who care for the ancient site in Wiltshire, put out a statement confirming the paint had been removed and no damage had been done but referenced the cost of cleaning up this type of vandalism. BBC, English Heritage, Museums Association, ‘Attacking art ‘should be criminal offence even if there’s no damage’ – Times, ‘How to deter the art vandals: punish them properly’ – Times, ‘Victory without damage: Just Stop Oil’s climate activism is one of the most successful disobedience campaigns ever’ – Art Newspaper (£)
Museum Development South East reported that there was an attempted burglary on the evening of Saturday 8 June at 11.10pm at Verulamium Museum, it was suspected the target was a gold hoard on display. There were significant similarities between this attempt and the theft at Ely Museum in May. Valentina Sabucco, Manager, Security and Protection Advice at Arts Council England issued a statement: “With the steady increase of gold prices since October 2023, golden items may continue to attract criminals interested in the metal value. Cultural venues that have on display jewellery, hoards, or any other item which can be targeted for their metal value, should review their security, making sure that access points are adequately protected with robust doors, shutters, bars, or other appropriate means.” Arts Council have recently updated their security advice documents which can be found on the Collections Trust website. Museum Development South East, Museums Association (Ely Museum theft), Collections Trust
Also: Repairs begin at North Tyneside museum damaged by copper theft, M+H Advisor
Also: London Transport Museum forced to cancel heritage event after vintage train vandalised, Standard, BBC
Conservation groups and climate campaigners come together at Restore Nature Now demonstration
The National Trust were one of a number of conservation groups that jointly organised a ‘Restore Nature Now’ demonstration in June. Around 60,000 people marched to Parliament Square in London to call for urgent action to tackle the climate and ecological crises. The campaigners have issued five challenges to politicians to take action on, these are:
A pay rise for nature – the nature and climate-friendly farming budget doubled.
Make polluters pay – new rules to make polluters contribute to nature and climate recovery.
More space for nature – to expand and improve protected areas, and ensure public land and National Parks contribute more to recovery.
A right to a healthy environment – an Environmental Rights Bill, which would drive better decisions for nature, improve public health and access to high-quality nature.
Fair and effective climate action – increasing home energy efficiency, supporting active travel and public transport, and replacing fossil fuels with affordable renewables. Restore Nature Now, Museums Association, National Trust, Guardian
Culture Takes Action toolkit for an emergency response
Culture Takes Action, a movement of individuals and organisations involved in arts and culture, have produced an emergency response toolkit aimed at practitioners and organisations in the arts, heritage and design sectors. The toolkit takes users through a three stage process to develop a policy and action plan in response to the climate emergency. Culture Takes Action (website), Culture Takes Action (Toolkit)
Also: Art can change the world, but can it save us from climate extinction? Katy Hessel, Guardian
A High Rise Flat in 2005, Rooms Through Time, Museum of the Home.
Major gift from the Clore Duffield Foundation marks 60th anniversary
The Clore Duffield Foundation has made a major gift of £30m which will benefit eight organisations by supporting arts education spaces. A new Clore Garden will open at Tate Britain alongside Clore Learning Spaces at Kensington Palace, Natural History Museum and Paisley Museum which will open this year. New spaces have also been announced at The Courtauld and V&A Storehouse. Learning spaces at Kettle’s Yard in Cambridge and the National Galleries of Scotland are also due to be refurbished. Founded in 1964, Clore Duffield has funded more than 70 Clore Learning Spaces since 2000. Clore, Museums Association, Times (Dame Vivien Duffield interview)
Horizon Europe funding for European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage
A number of funding strands that sit under the European Collaborative Cloud for Cultural Heritage funded through Horizon Europe are now open for applications.
Art Fund and Jerwood Foundation partner to support artist commissions
A new partnership between Art Fund and the Jerwood Foundation will support museums and galleries to commission artists to make work of exceptional innovation and quality with an aim of supporting artists at a pivotal stage in their careers, whilst also enriching public collections with contemporary art. The fund will support two commissions of £70-£100,000 per year over the coming three years, which will cover the costs of delivering and presenting the commissions with each partner museum. Commissions will then enter the permanent collection with a public UK museum or gallery. Partnerships between museums or other institutions that want to commission an artist are encouraged. The deadline for applications is 1 November 2024. Art Fund
Bursary funding for researchers and curators from the British Art Network (BAN)
Micro funding grants of £500 are available to researchers and curators who face barriers with their work. There are no fixed specifications on what the grants can be used for but could include paying for personal assistant costs to write a funding application or child care costs for a parent who wishes to attend a conference. Applications to the Research Barriers Fund must be from BAN members and are open on a rolling basis until 30 September, with bursaries to be spent by 30 November 2024. BAN
Scottish museums can now apply for the Small Grants Fund
Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) are offering any organisations that runs an accredited museum up to £15,000 from the Small Grants Fund. The fund can support small scale project work, acquisition of equipment and other resources to meet time specific needs and preparation and scoping work to inform future strategic development. You will have up to 12 months to use the funding. You must also be able to demonstrate compliance with the Scottish Government’s Fair Work First policy. The Expression of Interest deadline is 12 July with full applications by 20 September. MGS
The Welsh Government is supporting grants of up to £1,500 for accredited Welsh museums with an aim of encouraging innovative thinking, original practice and evaluation of new resources and Curriculum for Wales specific activities for museums to deliver to schools. Activities must take place between September-December 2024 and the deadline for application is 5pm on the 19 July. Nationally funded museums are not eligible to apply. For further information contact Robin Johnson - [email protected]
RAMM publish white paper on their open access strategy for digital collections
The Royal Albert Memorial Museum in Exeter has produced a white paper that explores their new approach to publishing images to Wikimedia Commons using a Creative Commons licence. They have tracked engagement data, impact and tested workflows to produce a business case for Exeter City Council on the use of open access. The paper goes into detail on copyright law, different types of licences as well as tackling the wider implications, including the financial implications of providing images for free. RAMM (executive summary), RAMM (pdf, 33pgs)
Also: IMF warns of ‘profound concerns’ over rising inequality from AI, Financial Times
The second year of birthday honours has recognised a number of leaders at heritage organisations across the country. Dame Jenny Abramsky, former Chair of the National Lottery Heritage Fund, becomes Dame Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) for services to Arts, Media and Culture.
A CBE was awarded to Ashmolean Museum Director Dr Alexander ‘Xa’ Sturgis for services to Culture and former Chair of the Imperial War Museum, Matthew Westerman, for services to Museums and Cultural Heritage. OBEs were awarded to Sally MacDonald, Director of the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester, for services to Arts and Heritage, and Michelle Charters, Head of Liverpool’s International Slavery Museum, for services to the community in Liverpool.
In the wider culture and heritage sector OBEs were awarded to Tracy Borman, CEO of Heritage Education Trust and Joint Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces, Emma Dagnes, MD and Acting CEO of Alexandra Park and Palace, with Francis Riley, the former Director of the National Firearms Centre at Royal Armouries also receiving an OBE.
MBEs were awarded to the former National Lottery Heritage Fund Midlands and East Committee Member, Heather Broughton, Nick Poole, the former CEO of CILIP and Collections Trust and David Rollinson, scientific associate at the Natural History Museum. Gov.uk, M+H Advisor, Museums Association, BBC
18 museums are shortlisted for the Kids in Museums Family Friendly Museum Award
The Family Friendly Museum Award celebrates museums, galleries, castles, historic homes and heritage sites that are the most welcoming for families. New for 2024 is the Best Museum Youth Group category which has shortlisted: Gallery of Modern Art, Glasgow, Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter, Tees Valley Museums and Wakefield Museum. The shortlisted museums are as follows:
Best Accessible Museum – Cooper Art Gallery Barnsley / Streelife Museum, Hull / Wakefield Museum.
Best Small Museum – Dylan Thomas Centre, Swansea / Museum of the Order of St John, London / National Civil War Centre, Newark / Nothe Fort, Weymouth / Story Museum Oxford.
Best Medium Museum – Discover Children’s Story Centre, London / Museum of the Home, London / Museum of Making, Derby / Turner Contemporary, Margate.
Best Large Museum – National Galleries Scotland – Modern One, Edinburgh / Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester / Young V&A, London.
Over the summer volunteer families will visit the museums and rate them on how well they meet the Kids in Museums Manifesto. The final winner will be announced at a ceremony in Yorkshire in October. Kids in Museums
Art Fund Museum of the Year Award announcement on 10 July
The winner of the Art Fund Museum of the Year Award will be announced at a ceremony at the National Gallery on Wednesday 10 July. A reminder of the five finalists:
Craven Museum (Skipton, North Yorkshire)
Dundee Contemporary Arts (Dundee)
Manchester Museum (Manchester
National Portrait Gallery (London)
Young V&A (London)
The winner will receive £120,000 with £15,000 going to each of the other four finalists. BBC Front Row have been featuring an in depth look at some of the shortlisted museums and you can catch up via their podcast. Craven Museum (from 20:22), Dundee Contemporary Arts (from 31:17). Art Fund
ICOM Award for Sustainable Development Practice in Museums opens for submissions
The International Council of Museums (ICOM) have called for applications to the Sustainable Development Practice in Museums award, it is the first global award organised by ICOM to specifically acknowledge and honour sustainable practice. Submissions are especially encouraged from small museums, small projects, and those that have pushed the boundaries of ‘standard’ museum practice. The award ceremony will take place at the 2025 ICOM General Conference in Dubai. The deadline for applications is 30 September. ICOM
Nominations open for Museums Change Lives Awards 2024
The Museums Association awards recognises and celebrates outstanding work by UK museums delivering social impact. The categories include: Best Museums Change Lives Project, Best Small Museum Project, Championing Social Justice Award and an individual award for Radical Changemaker. The deadline for entries is 19 August 2024 with the winner announced at the Museums Association Conference in November. Museums Association
A Tenement Flat in 1913, Rooms Through Time, Museum of the Home.
Roots & Branches: Museums taking action against climate change launches new programme
The award winning Roots & Branches project, a collaboration between Museum Development England (MDE), The Carbon Literacy Project and Manchester Museum, has launched a new programme covering 2024-2026. The online programme includes; Carbon Literacy courses, Trainer Support courses, Seeds for Action Connect & Co-Work sessions as well as case studies and resources. The programme supports environmental practice across museums in England. Priority places are for Accredited Museums and those Working Towards Accreditation that are not DCMS sponsored museums or ACE funded National Portfolio Organisations. For information and booking links please see the Roots & Branches website. MDE
Introduction to Net Zero Buildings a free programme from Julie’s Bicycle this July
Julie’s Bicycle are running an introduction to their Net Zero Building programme on 17 July from 10-11.30am via Zoom. The free light-touch programme is designed to support cultural organisations to reduce their energy emissions and work towards achieving net zero energy for their buildings. Following this introductory session, organisations can sign up to the programme of free resources, energy management training and webinars. Designed for anyone who looks after the management of buildings, for example facilities manager, operations manager and maintenance and energy consultants. Julie’s Bicycle
Preserving the past with V&A Culture in Crisis and ICOM UK
This ‘Preserving the Past: Strategies for Heritage in Crisis’ will focus on water and flooding, it is the second episode from the V&A Culture in Crisis series. Hosted by Maria Blyzinsky and Sam Johnson it features specialists who will discuss aspects of crisis management from their own experience. For those working in museums, galleries, archives, libraries or other heritage sites. The session will run online on 19 July from 3pm via Zoom. V&A Culture in Crisis
Data-Driven Marketing Campaigns – a Skillset webinar
The Audience Agency are running this practical session on Tuesday 23 July 1.30-3pm to help individuals who work in marketing or communications at cultural organisations to take a more data-focussed approach to campaign planning and monitoring. The session is a 90 minute online workshop-style webinar via Zoom. The session is free, if you are not able to access the session live a recording will be made available to those who sign up. Audience Agency
ARA Conference includes keynotes from Birmingham Museum’s Zak Mensch
The 2024 Archives and Records Association Annual Conference will be held in Birmingham from 28-30 August at the Birmingham Conference and Events Centre. The focus for the event is ‘Climate and Crisis: Tackling it Together’ sessions include looking at the power of AI to help with energy efficiency, virtual reading rooms and using historical collections to support climate education. Zak Mensch, Co-CEO of Birmingham Museums, will also be giving a keynote speech. The day rate for members is £225 with the full conference (including accommodation) costing £735, for non-members the day rate is £325 with the full conference costing £950. ARA
New and aspiring Scottish leaders are offered Developing My Leadership Programme
Museums and Galleries Scotland are running Developing My Leadership Programme this autumn (Sept-Nov). Delivered by Social Enterprise Academy, the 6 online sessions are an opportunity to develop leadership skills and enables participants to acquire the tools to help your organisations in the current climate. The deadline to apply is 1 September 2024. Fees are £450. Eventbrite
Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy have announced their autumn training programme
There are a number of training courses running from September to support organisations to improve their fundraising strategies and governance. Courses include:
Essentials in Fundraising - running across two half days with dates in Sept and December.
Trustee Leadership Programme – Arts, Culture & Heritage - which up-skills potential or existing trustees, it runs across two half day sessions with dates in September and January.
Essentials in Application Writing – which is suitable for all levels is across two half days with dates in September and October.
Prices are £60-£75 (VAT included). If you are an organisation based in an Arts Council England Priority Place you are entitled to purchase training at a concessionary rate. Arts Fundraising & Philanthropy
The Peace Museum, based at new premises at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Saltire, has announced a reopening date of Saturday 10 August. The museum, previously based in Bradford, will explore stories of peace, peacemakers, social reform and peace movements. Peace Museum, Museums Association
£2.5 million gallery to open at Holburne Museum in 2025
The Holburne Museum in Bath is looking forward to displaying more of their Renaissance treasures on permanent loan from the Schroder family collection in a new gallery due to open in 2025. The building work will convert an archive and picture store underneath their 2011 extension into a new public space. The work will begin in summer 2024 with the museum staying open throughout the project. Holburne Museum, Bath Newseum
The Bristol based science attraction, We The Curious, has reopened following the April 2022 fire that caused the closure of the building. The fire, caused by an electrical fault with the solar panels on the roof, resulted in significant water damage to the building. It took six months before the building had fully dried out and repairs could begin. We The Curious, ITV, M+H Advisor
Also: Beckford’s Tower reopens after £3.9m restoration and reinterpretation, M+H Advisor
Katerina Brown joins Historic Environment Scotland as Chief Executive
Katerina Brown, currently Chief Operating Officer at National Trust for Scotland, will be joining Historic Environment Scotland later this year after the resignation of Alex Paterson in December 2023 after more than seven years in the role. Historic Environment Scotland, M+H Advisor
Sir Richard Heaton to join the Fitzwilliam Museum Syndicate as Chair
Sir Richard Heaton, currently Warden of the University of Cambridge’s Robinson College, is a former Permanent Secretary in the Cabinet Office and Ministry of Justice. Heaton succeeds the outgoing Chair Catherine Arnold from October. Fitzwilliam
Sally Angel, Creative Director at Angelica Films, is replacing Acting Director Sue Shave at the Jewish Museum in London. The tv and film producer previously worked for the BBC as an arts producer. Angel’s remit is a renewed commitment to bringing the museum into the digital age connecting to audiences through storytelling. Jewish Museum, Museums Association
The Design Museum has announced Josephine Chanter will take on the position of Deputy Director. Chanter has been with the museum since 2008, most recently as Director of Audiences. LinkedIn
Zoë Colbeck has been named as Executive Director at Strawberry Hill House in Twickenham, she replaces Derek Purnell. Colbeck has over 20 years’ experience in the heritage sector including 18 years with the National Trust culminating as General Manager of the Chartwell Portfolio. Artdaily
James Purnell, the former Labour minister, has announced his intention of stepping down as President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of the Arts London. Purnell joined UAL in 2021, he leaves to join advisory group Flint Global. UAL, Art Newspaper (£)
John Sell CBE (1944-2024), one of the four founders of The Heritage Alliance passed away on 30 May after a short illness. Sell’s career was full of roles that highlight his dedication to the heritage sector including Chair of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) and Historic Environment Forum. He also took a leading role internationally at Europa Nostra serving as Executive Vice-President from 2009-18 and Chair of the 7 Most Endangered Advisory Panel. Europa Nostra, SPAB
Books – John Soane’s Cabinet of Curiosities: Reflections on an architect and his collection, Bruce Boucher, Yale University Press, published June 2024. Yale University Press
Pandemic Culture: The impacts of COVID-19 on the UK cultural sector and implications for the future, ed. Ben Walmsley (Centre for Cultural Value), Abigail Gilmore and Dave O’Brien, Manchester University Press, published June 2024. Manchester University Press
Welcome to the slow museum, where less is more, 24 June 2024, Art Newspaper (£)
Stephen Fry likens removing Parthenon marbles to Nazi Germany taking the Arc de Triomphe, 16 June 2024, Guardian
Shortlisted designs revealed for London’s transatlantic slavery memorial, 6 June 2024, Evening Standard
