NMDC publishes UK Museum COP report and decarbonisation case studies
NMDC has today published a report of the UK Museum COP event held at Tate Modern in October 2023. The aim of COP was to secure consensus across museums on urgent action to decarbonise the sector and mitigate the impacts of the climate and biodiversity crises. Following the event UK museum leaders issued their first ever joint commitment to collective action.
The COP report includes the presentations and panel discussions on the day, as well as results from live voting by attendees in response to questions on critical issues and proposals for collective action. NMDC’s new Climate Lead Maggie Appleton, CEO of the RAF Museum, said: ‘The UK Museum COP event was a real breakthrough in collective commitment to urgent action across the museum sector...We will continue working hard to deliver the commitments and proposals made at COP, as well as advocating to government and funders on how they can best support the museum sector in achieving its incredible potential to make a major contribution to national ambitions around the climate and biodiversity crises’.
Alongside the COP report are the findings of a series of decarbonisation case studies by Buro Happold and Flint+Partners, looking at the actions and costs required to make museum buildings more efficient and reduce carbon emissions. Each case study considers three categories: quick wins, maintenance, and capital projects, and within these demonstrates a range of measures for potential carbon savings.
NMDC has also published an accompanying briefing on how museums support UK national ambitions on climate, outlining the opportunities for government to work with and support museums on this vital agenda. Also now available on the NMDC website is the refreshed 'Bizot Green Protocol' endorsed at the COP event and by NMDC, which promotes environmentally sustainable practice across all areas of museum activity and the adoption of a 'greener practice first mindset'.
2024’s Art Fund Museum of the Year saw a strong shortlist of exciting, innovative museums including: Craven Museum, Skipton, Dundee Contemporary Arts, Manchester Museum and National Portrait Gallery, London, who were hoping to win the coveted £120,000 prize. Young V&A, originally named the V&A Museum of Childhood, opened just over a year ago after a £13m capital project that was co-designed with children and young people. Situated in Bethnal Green the museum received positive feedback from the judges for their ambitions child-centred approach to creating a unique museum experience and thoughtful consideration of visitor needs which includes a Changing Places Toilet. The runners up were awarded £15,000 for making the shortlist, whilst the Young V&A committed to investing the £120,000 prize in an early years community programme. Art Fund, BBC, Museums Association, Guardian, Independent
National Gallery announces £5m grant from The Julia Rausing Trust
The National Gallery has met its bicentenary fundraising target of £95m with a £5m grant from the newly established Julia Rausing Trust. The Trust was established by Julia’s husband Hans Rausing, following her death in April 2024 and will grant funds to organisations and causes which were important and meaningful to Julia Rausing. Director of the National Gallery, Gabriele Finaldi said: “This latest grant to honour Julia's memory enables us to look to the future, to a Gallery that serves its visiting public better and supports artistic creativity and research into the paintings in the collection. She wanted us to be our best and helped us to do that. We owe her a great deal.” National Gallery, Julia Rausing Trust
Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery announce the next phase of re-opening and launch UK's first Citizens' Jury
Following essential maintenance works several gallery spaces will open to the public on Thursday 24 October 2024. The Round Room Gallery, Industrial Gallery, Bridge Gallery and Edwardian Tea Rooms will reopen in time for October half-term. The Industrial Gallery will open with a new ‘Made in Birmingham’ display and the ‘Victorian Radicals’ exhibition in the Gas Hall has been extended to Christmas 2024. Birmingham Museums Trust also launched the first UK Citizens' Jury in a museum setting. The initiative aims to reshape the future of Birmingham's museums by directly involving local residents in the decision making process. 30 participants from across the city will be selected through a two-stage lottery process. The Jury will meet over six sessions in October and November 2024. Participants will receive £360 in vouchers as compensation for their time. BMAG (reopening), BMAG (Citizens' Jury) BBC
The National Archives, Pilgrim Trust and Wolfson Foundation announced that the National Lottery Heritage Fund has awarded £5 million to the Archives Revealed funding programme. It will increase the value of the programme to £6 million over three years allowing more archives to benefit. Archives Revealed is the only national funding programme dedicated to unlocking archive collections. Archives Revealed will give around 160 grants over the next three years, continuing the offer of cataloguing grants of up to £50,000 and scoping grants of up to £3,000. In addition the programme will offer larger Consortium Grants of up to £150,000 for projects spanning multiple archives and collections that have the potential to create wider regional or thematic impact. Details on each programme’s time frame will be published in August with a Webinar on 2 September with more details. National Archives, webinar, Heritage Fund
‘Fern’ is unveiled as the new star of the NHM’s reimagined gardens
The new gardens, which opened on 18 July, cover five acres of green space that wrap around the Natural History Museum and feature the Evolution Garden with an evolution timeline and the Nature Discovery Garden for visitors and scientists. The museum also unveiled a new bronze Diplodocus statue named Fern, supported by the Kusama Trust. The garden development has been part of the Urban Nature Project which has been supported by a wide range of trusts, foundations, companies and individuals, and has been working in partnership with organisations across the UK to help communities connect with nature in their towns and cities. Dr Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum, said: “We are incredibly excited for visitors to get lost in nature and the story of our planet, stretching back 2.7 billion years, as they explore our completely transformed gardens this summer. Beneath the graceful gaze of our newest dinosaur Fern, two immersive outdoor galleries are already teeming with wildlife. It’s the perfect place for all to connect with and learn about the nature on our doorsteps.” NHM, Independent, Euronews Culture (YouTube), Museums Association, Observer (review), Guardian (architecture)
V&A purchase rare 12th century ivory statue following export licence bar
The medieval sculpture titled ‘Deposition from the cross’, dates from 1190-1200 and was bought for just over £2 million. The walrus ivory carving was cited as one of the finest and most important examples of English Romanesque ivory carving to survive today. The acquisition was supported with a £700,000 grant from the National Heritage Memorial Fund and a grant of £350,000 from Art Fund alongside a national public appeal. The sculpture will be on public display in the V&A’s Medieval and Renaissance galleries later this year. V&A (press release), Art Newspaper (£), Guardian, M+H Advisor
National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) secures development funding for historic boathouse
The National Lottery Heritage Fund have awarded Round 1 Development Funding for a total of £4.9m to progress NMRN’s ‘Reimagination of Boathouse 6’ project at Portsmouth Historic Dockyard. Transforming the 1840s Grade II* building will provide a home for the new Royal Marines Museum. The NMRN has now secured pledges and funds totalling over £6m. Boathouse 6 will also house a dedicated Special Exhibition Gallery which will be run in partnership with the Mary Rose Trust. NMRN, M+H Advisor
This month features some of the many family activities happening in museums and galleries across the UK this summer. At Brighton & Hove Museums become a Dragon Detective to solve a Royal Pavilion mystery, and at the RAF Museum Midlands and RAF Museum London see a Flying Theatre Show. Art Fund have launched 'Kids Aloud' with over 20 venues running events or drop-in time slots especially for families to explore galleries and when children can be as loud or energetic as they like! Finally, Cambridge University Museums have taken the lead to offer a 'Summer at the Museums' with a full range of events with over 20 museums across Cambridgeshire taking part.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy sets the tone for a new era
In her first speech to staff at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on the 8 July, Culture Secretary, Lisa Nandy announced the ‘era of culture wars is over’. Nandy said: “For too long, for too many people, the story we tell ourselves, about ourselves as a nation, has not reflected them, their communities or their lives. This is how polarisation, division and isolation thrives. In recent years we’ve found multiple ways to divide ourselves from one another. And lost that sense of a self-confident, outward-looking country which values its own people in every part of the UK. Changing that is the mission of this department. The era of culture wars is over.” Guardian
Nandy’s first speech to sector leaders declares culture, media and sport sectors crucial to national growth
Lisa Nandy’s first speech to the sector was on 30 July at Manchester’s Science and Industry Museum. Nandy spoke of the importance of museums and how they shape and define us as well as mentioning her favourite museum, the People’s History Museum in Manchester. She mentioned Labour’s curriculum review and intention to put more focus on creative and sports opportunities.
Nandy also stated that DCMS would “ensure the public appointments we make truly reflect our country in all its glorious diversity. Not to fulfil a quota, but to ensure that our government draws on the creative might of all of our people.” Gov.uk (press release), Gov.uk (speech), Museums Association, M+H Advisor
For a deep-dive on Lisa Nandy listen to ‘The Rest is Politics Podcast’ with Alastair Campbell and Rory Stewart from 15 July 2024, including a discussion on culture wars, Brexit, Nandy’s journey into politics and the challenge of funding and appointments to art and culture boards.
The full ministerial team for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport has been finalised. Sir Chris Bryant MP becomes Minister for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism, with a portfolio including museums and cultural property, arts and libraries, creative industries, cultural diplomacy and soft power, tourism and heritage. He is also Minister of State for Data Protection and Telecoms at the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. Stephanie Peacock MP has been appointed Minister for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth, with Baroness Fiona Twycross as Minister for Gambling. Gov.uk (ministerial appointments)
Also: The Shadow Culture team has also now been confirmed: Julia Lopez MP, who was appointed Shadow Culture Secretary following the General Election is joined by Lord Parkinson as Shadow Minister for Arts, Heritage and Libraries, Dr Luke Evans MP as Shadow Minister for Media, Creative Industries and Tourism, and Louie French MP as Shadow Minister for Sport, Gambling and Civil Society. Parliament.UK, BBC
Other opinion pieces include 'Nandy wasn’t supposed to head up culture, but could her level-headed approach be just the ticket?' by Charlotte Higgins in the Guardian. The Telegraph also gave its views ‘Conservatives can’t afford to ignore the culture war – Kemi Badenoch gets this’ while Prospect magazine asks ‘Can Labour really kill the culture wars?’.
Campaign for the Arts highlights perilous state of arts funding with new report
A new report from the Campaign for the Arts and the University of Warwickshire has revealed the UK has one of the lowest levels of government spending on the arts and culture among European countries. The report looks at five ‘health metrics’ covering funding, provision, engagement, education and employment. Key statistics include:
The total culture budget in the UK has been cut by 6% since 2010.
From 2009-10 to 2022-23, local government revenue funding for culture plummeted by 48% in England, 40% in Wales and 29% in Scotland.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)’s core funding of cultural organisations decreased by 18% to 0.17% of total public spending per person.
The Arts Council’s core Government funding decreased by 18% in England, 22% in Scotland, 25% in Wales and 66% in Northern Ireland.
A 50% cut in funding for arts and creative courses in higher education. CFTA (press release), CFTA (report, pdf, 59pgs), Observer, Art Newspaper (£)
Funding infographic shows the challenge of Local Authority funding landscape
The Local Government Association has commissioned three infographics which help illustrate the challenges in cultural funding that local authorities are facing. The first infographic shows the pressures on council spending on culture and leisure. Another infographic clearly shows the complex nature of available funding, it mentions the often limited capacity for councils to bid for different pots with 90% of funding sources providing funds for 3 years or less. The final infographic depicts the complex cultural governance jigsaw which includes the many competing governance structures including Creative Clusters, Local Cultural Education Partnerships and Combined Authorities. LGA
Welsh Government announces £3.7m additional funding for Welsh national treasures
On the 10 July the Welsh Government announced additional funding for Wales’ cultural institutions to ensure they are protected and preserved. £3.2 million is earmarked for repairs to National Museum Cardiff and National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth. A further £500,000 will improved storage facilities and protect important collections at local and independent museums and archives in Wales. Amgueddfa Cymru Chief Executive, Jane Richardson said: "We are so pleased that Welsh Government are providing additional funding to start critical maintenance work at National Museum Cardiff. The Museum is over 100 years old and was specifically built to house and showcase Wales' very special national collection.” Wales.gov, Museums AssociationAlso: Uncertainty for Welsh museums following government resignations, Museums Associationand Government bail-out for National Museum Cardiff ‘won’t go far enough’, says chair of museum group, Art Newspaper (£)
Also: Lottery funding down for third consecutive year, Arts ProfessionalAlso: University museums highlight impact of Scottish Council funding cuts, Museums AssociationAlso: Act now to avoid irreparable damage to the fabric of our society, opinion – Darren Barker, Museums Association
Designated status scheme reopens with refreshed process
Arts Council England have re-opened the Designation scheme, which recognises collections of national and international importance with a more streamlined process following feedback. The scheme which is open to non-national museums asks applicants to demonstrate the place-based significance of their collections with specific focus on how local audiences engage with the collection and how it creates a sense of identity for local people and communities. The deadline for Stage 1 applications is 17 September 2024. ACE, M+H Advisor
Arts Council England are launching a new digital portal for those applying for export licences to permanently or temporarily export cultural objects from the UK. The site will go live on Tuesday 13 August, with digital licenses replacing paper ones for new applications received on or after the 13 August. There are also a number of Webinars in August to help new users navigate the portal:
Consultation event - Strategic Framework for Heritage Science in the UK
The National Heritage Science Forum (NHSF) is now refreshing their Strategic Framework to cover the period 2024-2027. We welcome input from all its users, (e.g. researchers, training providers, curators or policy makers) on the proposed changes. Heritage science is the scientific study of cultural and natural heritage. It's used to understand how collections deteriorate, protect buildings from the impact of climate change and find new ways to engage audiences with objects. The strategic framework helps to coordinate this work. Please join us at one of the two consultation events which will take place on the 15th and 21st August. Further information including sign-up links and the consultation draft are available on the NHSF website. NHSF
NEMO opens anonymous survey to capture European museum views on political influence
The Network of European Museum Organisations has launched an anonymous survey to help understand and get an overview of political influence and the effects of polarisation on museums in Europe. The short questionnaire asks if museums feel free to steer and develop their institutions, programmes, positioning and public actions, or if they feel under any kind of pressure – socially, economically or politically. The results of the survey will be shared at the NEMO European Museum Conference – ‘Can we talk? Museums facing polarisation’, which takes place in Romania from the 12-14 November. The survey is open until 6 September and all replies will be considered and processed anonymously. NEMO (survey), NEMO (conference)
Art Fund publish insight paper into local cultural decision making
A new insight paper has been produced by Art Fund in collaboration with Culture Commons as part of a major open policy development programme. The programme is exploring how new policies and local governance models might interact with the creative, cultural and heritage sectors to deliver more equitable and sustainable growth in local communities. The paper provides views from across the independent museum and gallery sector, it discusses the benefits and challenges of devolved decision making, emphasising the need for strategic, inclusive and well-resourced approaches to support independent museums.
Key findings include:
Relationships between museums and local authorities look very different from place to place and there is room for improvement in how museums are supported and involved strategically.
Political churn at the local level can be a major barrier to the effective involvement of independent museums in the local cultural decision-making process.
A focus on the hyper-local in deciding how budgets are spent could pose a threat to the support for independent museums, particularly without increased resources, as museums tend to have a wider remit. Art Fund (press release), Culture Commons (insight paper, pdf, 14 pgs)
Economic impact of UK Cities and Capitals of Culture
The Centre for Cultural Value (CCV) has produced an evaluation report that looks at the impact of UK Cities and Capitals of Culture on the local and visitor economy. Whilst there are many positive impacts it is interesting to note that evidence about immediate economic impacts is short-term, raising questions on the sustainable legacies of these cultural programmes. Cultural practitioners also had significant concerns on the negative impacts of future funding levels and infrastructure once the year of culture had passed. CCV
Welsh museums report shows impact of museums on wellbeing
The Welsh government commissioned an independent consultant to research the impact of museums on wellbeing using the UCL Museum Wellbeing Measures Toolkit. The study concluded that museums greatly improve visitor wellbeing regardless of the type of museum, geographical location and collection type. The report is complimented with a number of case studies of museum projects in Wales that look at how collections can create a sense of community, offer a diverse volunteer programme, support people with dementia and reach refugees. Gov.Wales (report, pdf, 16pgs), Gov.Wales (case studies, pdf, 33pgs)
This interesting global report from AEA Consulting is a measure of the major investments in in capital projects in the cultural sector with budgets of more than US$10m that were either announced or completed in 2023. In its 8th year the report tracks global trends on investment in culture. 192 major cultural infrastructure projects were completed and 198 were announced with sustained growth in renovation and adaptive reuse. Museums and galleries remained the most popular form of infrastructure project. Across all categories building sizes dropped by one third. AEA (press release), AEA (report), Artnet
Creative Education report highlights looming creative economy skills shortage
The latest Creative Industries PEC State of the Nation report looked at student participation in creative further education (FE) across all four UK nations. It shows a severe drop in participation indicating a pipeline shortage for the UK’s growing creative economy. Key findings include:
A 57% drop in creative subject FE enrolment in England between 2014/15 and 2022/23 (aged 19+) – compared with a 31% drop across all subjects.
Apprenticeship take up remains very low in the creative industries in all four nations.
Creative education is highly concentrated in urban cities and regions.
Data suggests that creative learners tend to be less ethnically and socioeconomically diverse than the wider FE population. Creative PEC (press release) Creative PEC (report, pdf, 99pgs)
Published by Professor Ian Baxter in association with The Heritage Alliance and the Built Environment Scotland, the Heritage Careers Guide lists a range of places to check for vacancies in the heritage sector. It also lists career development resources. Heritage Careers Guide (pdf, 16 pgs)
Launch of 'Kids Aloud' at Dulwich Picture Gallery. Image courtesy Art Fund.
DCMS Participation Survey shows increased engagement with museum for 2023/24
The latest Participation Survey data from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport shows an increase in engagement with museums for 2023/24 compared to the previous year. The Participation Survey provides nationally representative estimates of physical and digital engagement with the arts, heritage, museums & galleries, and libraries, as well as engagement with tourism, major events, live sports and digital. Total engagement across the culture sectors (physical and digital) was higher in 2023/24 than in 2022/23 except for the Heritage Sector which remained the same. Museums and galleries saw the largest increase in engagement compared to the other culture sectors with an increase of 10%. The Museums and galleries sector saw a physical engagement increase from 33% to 43% and digital engagement increase from 9% to 13%. Gov.uk (headline findings), Gov.uk (main report), Museums Association
Visit England produce the yearly Visitor Attraction Survey which monitors trends in the visitor attraction sector. A total of 1,334 English visitor sites took part, of which 474 were classed as museums / art galleries. Key findings include:
Admissions to attractions continue to grow with an increase of 11%, however visits were still down 28% on 2019 levels.
Museums/Art Galleries received the highest increase in visits year on year at 20%.
Overseas visitors were up 80% on 2022 figures.
The British Museum was the most visited free attraction with 5.8m visitors, up 42% on 2022.
The Tower of London was the most visited paid for attraction in 2023, with 2.8m visitors, up 38% on 2021.
Two in three historic attractions felt the impact of rising energy costs in 2023 and this resulted in reduced income for 47% of England’s historic attractions.
Rising supplier costs are affecting most historic attractions (70%), and this has led to a third of attractions needing to increase costs to visitors (35%).
Sites typically use 3 forms of social media, with Facebook (90%) being the most commonly used, followed by Instagram/ Pinterest (74%). Visit England (news story), Visit England (full trends report, pdf, 91pgs), Historic England, M+H Advisor
Horniman Museum to return 10 Warumungu objects to Australia
The Horniman Museum and Gardens has agreed to transfer the ownership of 10 objects to the Warumungu community, of Northern Territory, Australia. The objects of cultural and spiritual significance will be returned later this year. They include a ngurrulumuru (stone axe) and two wartilykirri (boomerangs), one from the Horniman's Handling Collection. Two of the objects – a marttan (knife) and a murkutu (sheath) – have been removed from display in the Horniman's World Gallery in preparation for their return. Their place in the display will, for now, be left empty with an explanatory label. Following their return the objects will be housed at the Nyinkka Nyunyu Art and Culture Centre in Tennant Creek, Northern Australia. Horniman, Museums Association
‘Who owns the past? The role of the universal museum in future’ debate available online
You can catch up on a panel debate that was held at the British Museum on the 5 July on YouTube. The Times and British Museum debate included panellists: Mary Beard, Munira Mirza, David Olusoga and Rory Stewart, it was chaired by Matthew Parris. Topics of discussion included the Parthenon marbles and issues around restitution and repatriation. YouTube, Art Newspaper (£)
Nicholas Cullinan, the new Director of the British Museum, gave his first interview on BBC Radio 4. He discussed the sponsorship of the planned British Museum redevelopment plans and said there were only around 15 objects from a collection of 8 million that were subject to discussion around repatriation. On the topic of the Parthenon marbles he said: “I would hope a partnership of some form is possible and that is something I think we will definitely want to take forward. It's a bit too soon for me to get into the particulars around how that could work, but I'm hopeful.” BBC Radio 4 (from 1:32:00), Independent, Museums Association
Museum of London and London Transport Museum launch new logos
The Museum of London has rebranded as London Museum in preparation for its move to Smithfield Market currently due to open in 2028. They also launched a new pigeon and ‘splat’ logo which replaces the coloured layers map logo first introduced in 2008. Reception on the new image seems to be split. BBC, M+H Advisor, Museums Association Another London museum which has had a much less controversial re-brand is the London Transport Museum which has adopted a multicoloured London Transport roundel with ‘Museum’ at the heart. LTM
Vagina Museum founder writes guide for creating your own museum
Florence Schechter, the former Director and founder of the Vagina Museum, has published a guide to support those who want to create their own museum. Schechter took the Vagina Museum from a pop-up venue to permanent premises in Bethnal Green backed by a £85,000 crowd funding campaign. The resource titled ‘So You Want To Build A Museum’ is a toolkit to build a new museum or develop one that already exists with sections on refining your museum’s purpose, writing your first exhibition brief and finding the perfect location. Florence Schechter (personal website with toolkit), M+H Advisor
The Department for Work and Pensions have updated their guide for recruiting, managing and developing disabled people in the workplace. Disability Confident and the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development have worked together on the guide which aims to support managers and anyone who leads another individual or team, it is also for HR professionals or anyone with an interest in the management of people with a disability or long-term health condition. Gov.uk
The Network of European Museum Organisation are hosting a webinar on 10 September from 11-12 CEST with members of the team at the University of Leicester’s Research Centre for Museums and Galleries to introduce participants to their resource ‘Trans-Inclusive Culture: Guidance on advancing trans-inclusion’. The webinar will looking at providing a warm welcome for trans visitors and developing trans-inclusive displays. The session is free. NEMO
Also: ‘Food For Talk’ Dementia Resource from the Sainsbury Archive, Sainsbury Archive
Glasgow Life awarded £1.5m to transform energy efficiency
Glasgow Life have been granted just over £1.5m from Scotland’s Public Sector Heat Decarbonisation Fund which will help upgrade energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions at Glasgow Museums Resource Centre. The vast purpose built facility houses around 1.4 million objects as only 2% of the Collection can be displayed at the city’s museums at any one time. The work will include replacement of gas boilers with air source heat pumps, the installation of solar panels and replacement of windows. Glasgow Life
Whipple Museum of the History of Science - Summer at the Museums - University of Cambridge Museums.
More than 630 charities contributed to the Charity Digital Skills Report. Key findings include:
61% of charities are using AI (Artificial Intelligence) in day-to-day operations.
The most popular uses of AI are for developing online content (e.g. social media content and generating images).
Charities still lack confidence with data, 31% are poor or not engaging with collecting, managing and using data. In addition 34% are poor or not using data to inform decision making.
52% say increasing digital fundraising is a priority for them this year.
Growing staff/volunteer digital skills is a priority for 46% of charities.
68% of charities are struggling to progress digitally due to their finances, headspace and capacity.
There is a huge amount of detail in the report which also covers responses to climate change, trustee/leadership skills and funding needs. Charity Digital Skills Report
This report looks at the audiences that engage with a range of immersive work which includes theatre, escapes rooms, AR and VR as wells as experiential and immersive art. It breaks down audiences by age, diversity, education level and geographic location as well as highlighting the most important parts of an immersive experience. Immersive Experience Network
Also: AI (Artificial Intelligence) governance, Doug Gurr, Director of the Natural History Museum discusses the importance of AI and how it can be utilised by the arts and culture sectors, Clore LeadershipAlso: Auschwitz museum working with AI start-up to stop hate speech on social media, BlooloopAlso: GenZ dumping Google for TikTok, Instagram as social search wins, Forbes
6 Museums share funding from Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS)
£315,767 from the Museum Development Fund distributed by MGS has been shared by six museums. The projects will allow Scottish museums to better connect to audiences, increase their resilience and reveal untold stories and explore local identities. The Scottish Football Museum and National Mining Museum Scotland will host a partnership exhibition on the links between mining and football, the Gairloch Museum will explore and celebrate local identity in the region, Ullapool Museum will undergo a collection stories refurbishment, the West Highland Museum will be taking history out of the museum to local communities and schools, the Outer Hebrides Forum will highlight and build awareness of the heritage venues of the Outer Hebrides, and the Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons of Glasgow will be focussing on the work of John James Audubon’s (1785-1851) ‘The Birds of America’. MGS (funded projects), MGS (more on the Museum Development Fund)
New Historic England funding to work with youth groups
The History in the Making grant scheme aims to help young people uncover and celebrate the history of their local area focussing on young people aged 13-25 from deprived areas in England. Funding is available for up to 15 projects with grants of up to £15,000. Projects must be co-created with young people and at least one partner must have a proven track record of working with young people. The deadline for applications is Monday 2 September. Historic England
Fixing Our Broken Planet funding from Natural History Museum
Fixing Our Broken Planet: Interconnected is a programme connecting people and planet through exhibitions, displays and events. Run by the Natural History Museum the programme is offering micro-grants across three strands of activity: 1 – Generation Hope – grants for 2-3 organisations up to £2,500 on an annual rolling basis for events aimed at a youth audience. 2 – Interconnected-Light – One-off grants of up to £3,000 for 10 organisations to host displays from the Fixing Our Broken Planet exhibition alongside items from your own collection. 3 – Interconnected-In-depth – One-off opportunity for grants up to £10,000 for 4 organisations for bigger projects with scientific and curatorial support plus access to a larger pool of Fixing-Our-Broken-Planet-related content to be adapted to your local context. Applications close on 23 September 2024. NHM
Collection Management Capital Improvement Programme for Welsh museums
This funding programme from the Welsh Government is for capital costs only which can include building and engineering work, professional fees, and fittings / additional equipment which are integral to wider development. Examples of projects include those focussing on decarbonisation, external repairs to eliminate the risk of water ingress, retrofitting collection stories and insulating collections environments. Museums and archives wishing to apply have to be accredited or working towards accreditation. The maximum grant is £100,000 and minimum is £20,000. The deadline for applications is 30 August 2024. Please contact [email protected] with any enquiries.
Connections Through Culture grants from the British Council
You have till 2 September to apply for Connections Through Culture grants from the British Council which support creative collaborations between Asia-Pacific and the UK. The grants support artists and cultural organisations working across all art forms to create new connections and collaborative projects. Collaborative projects can include digital, face-to-face, and hybrid artistic projects. Grants are offered up to £5,000 and £10,000 focussing on themes of diversity and inclusion, and Climate Change. British Council
Cambridge University Botanic Garden Family Trail. Credit Joe Higham. Summer at the Museums - University of Cambridge Museums.
International Heritage Law Short Course this September
The British Institute of International and Comparative Law (BIICL) are once again offering their International Heritage Law Short Course on the 23 September 2024. This online course across five two-hour sessions will include discussions on key threats to cultural heritage at present including trafficking, armed conflicts and development. It will also include a special session on restitution by considering past return processes. The course cost is £300 per person. BIICL
Collections Trust online conference will look at ‘Putting collections data to work’
The online conference from the Collections Trust will be on Thursday 3 October from 10.30-4pm and will focus on using collections data in new and interesting ways. The conference will offer a mix of presentations, case studies and discussions, topics will include the use of AI in making use of collections data, and how the Museum Data Service will be a game changer for the sector. Individual tickets cost £36 with team tickets for three or more people at £81. The Collections Trust are also offering 100 free inclusive tickets on a first-come-first-served basis. Collections Trust
Museum X Machine X Me Conference this October at Tate
The Museum X Machine X Me Conference aims to share some of the practice research insights and findings from a 3 year project run by the University of the Arts London and Tate. Running across two days the in-person event will explore how machine technology can be used to transform the way we understand museum collections. The event runs on 2 October from 1-7pm and 3 October from 9.30-5pm. Tickets cost £30 with concessions £20 and Tate Collective (16-25 year olds) priced at £10. Tickets cover both days. Tate
This year’s Museums Association Conference will be held in-person and online at the Royal Armouries Museum in Leeds from 12-14 November. ‘The Joy of Museums’ will celebrate the innovation, inventiveness and creativity that make museums such incredible places. The keynote speech will be from Michelle Charters, the Director of the International Slavery Museum. Prices start from £50. MA (conference website), MA (programme), MA (fees)
Registration now open for ‘Towards a National Collection’ final conference
‘Towards a National Collection’(TaNC) final conference will be on 20-21 November 2024 at the Contact Theatre in Manchester. The in-person and hybrid event will be a celebration of the five major Discovery Projects aiming to investigate and harness digital technologies in order to break down the barriers between different cultural heritage collections. TaNC will also launch their policy recommendations, aiming to help and inspire the UK cultural heritage sector and its funders to transition to a common set of standards which will make collections more visible, discoverable, inter-operable and secure. Conference tickets are free and cover in-person attendance at the two-day conference and evening reception at the Whitworth Art Gallery on 20 November. TaNC
Online Cultural Heritage Data School open for applications
The Online Cultural Heritage Data School from Cambridge University runs from 25 November to 3 December and provides an intensive online teaching programme that aims to bring together participants from the wider GLAM (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums) sector. The curriculum will be structured around the digital collections and archives pipeline, covering the general principles and applied practices involved in the generation, exploration, visualisation, analysis and preservation of digital collections and archives. The Data School comprises of daily live sessions from 1-5pm. Fees cost £245 per person with a £145 per person concessions rate. The deadline for applications is 1 September. Cambridge Digital Humanities
Governance Now 2024: Imagine it Different, the flagship conference from Clore Leadership and the Cultural Governance Alliance will be held on 6 November at Senate House in London. The conference programme includes keynote speeches from Tonya Nelson, ACE, Dr Doug Gurr, NHM and Councillor Liz Green who is Chair of the Local Government Association’s Culture, Tourism and Sport Board. Topics will include exploring the ethics of artificial intelligence, citizen assemblies and reimagining cultural investment in local government. Tickets cost £106.58 for individual tickets, £177.18 for small organisations up to £283.06 for large organisations. There is also an online ticket available for £71.29. Clore Leadership (programme), Tickets (eventbrite)
Matthew Sheldon appointed as CEO at National Museum of the Royal Navy
The National Museum of the Royal Navy (NMRN) have announced the appointment of Matthew Sheldon as Chief Executive Officer at a time of a series of strategic projects and capital investment. Sheldon's career spans 30 years with early career roles at Bodleian Library and Historic Monuments of England, he has been with NMRN since 1994 when he joined the organisation as a Curator of Manuscripts. Sheldon replaces Dominic Tweddle who was in post for 14 years. NMRN, M+H Advisor
The Horniman Museum and Gardens have appointed two senior leadership roles with Annie Duffield joining as Director of Audiences and Income and Peronel Craddock taking on the role of Director of Content on a permanent basis. Duffield was previously Head of Marketing and Communications at the Postal Museum. Craddock joined the museum in 2022 and was previously Head of Programmes at Bletchley Park. Horniman, M+H Advisor
Following the appointment of Sir Patrick Vallance to Minister of Science, the Natural History Museum has named Tony Hall (Lord Hall) as replacement Chairman. Hall was previously Director General of the BBC and Chair of the National Gallery. NHM, Arts Professional
Yasmin Kahn joins Arts Council England in a new role to support creative freelancers across all artforms and regions. From September she will take up the role of Director, London & Individual Practitioners. Arts Professional
The new Chief Executive of the Paul Hamlyn Foundation has been named as Halima Kahn who replaces outgoing CEO Moira Sinclair. Kahn was previously Executive Director at Nesta. PHF
Duncan Dornan has announced his intention to retire as Head of Glasgow Life Museums and Collections. Dornan has been in role for 9 years, he joined initially as Senior Museums Manager. During his tenure the Burrell was named Art Fund Museum of the Year in 2023 after a £68.25m refurbishment. Dornan will step down on Friday 23 August. Glasgow Life, Museums Association
Manchester Jewish Museum’s Curator and Deputy Chief Executive, Alex Cropper, is stepping down after 16 years in post. Cropper has taken the decision in order to complete a Masters in Sustainable Heritage Building Management. She will be replaced by Joshua Jones who joins from the National Science and Media Museum in Bradford. Manchester Jewish Museum, M+H Advisor
Book – Collections Management as Critical Museum Practice, Edited by Cara Krmpotich and Alice Stevenson, UCL Press published 22 July 2024 available for free open access download.
White Cube in London lets go of 38 invigilators – most of them artists and students, 31 July 2024, Art Newspaper (£)
From the courts to the British Museum – it’s time to stop hiding from the realities of climate change, 26 July 2024, Art Newspaper (£)
Prepare for jail, judge tells Just Stop Oil’s Van Gogh protestors, 25 July 2024, Times (£)
Liverpool FC Museum at Anfield relaunches with immersive and interactive exhibits, 24 July 2024, Experience UK
‘Political’ search for next V&A chair mired in accusations of cronyism, 13 July 2024, Observer
‘We want to ruffle a few feathers’: Liverpool gallery confronts colonial past, 8 July 2024, Guardian
