April Issue 2005

The AIM Bulletin is the main communication channel for the UKs 1000+ independent museums and heritage organisations - half the total provision for the British Isles - which have been in the forefront of the museum movement for over 25 years.

IN THIS ISSUE

• AIM’s 2005 Annual Conference will be on 5-7 May in York, hosted by the York Museums Trust.  The theme will centre on trusts, governance, sustainability and commercialism and highlights will include the annual dinner at The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall and an evening tour of the Archbishop’s Palace. Sponsorship for AIM Conference comes from Continuum Group and 13 other product and service providers in the museum and heritage sector Further information: contact Rob Shorland-Ball on 01904 632751. Page 1
  
  
• AIM has written to Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell urging the Government to offer reassurances about the future of the Heritage Lottery Fund.  Two clauses in the National Lottery Bill could threaten the viability of capital projects funded by HLF by reducing and removing balances for redistribution throughout all Lottery distributors.  Any disruption to cash flow in a very competitive fund-raising situation would threaten museums’ viability, AIM says. It also points out that of the 10 short-listed contenders for this year’s Museum Prize, nine have received HLF funding. Page 1
  
  
• The Waterways Trust has had its campaign for Government funding rebuffed.  Its request for £11 million over 10 years to safeguard the designated collections in its museums at Ellesmere Port, Gloucester and Stoke Bruerne, was turned down by Arts Minister Estelle Morris.  The Trust says it needs the money to compete with free entry museums which receive government funding and to address a conservation backlog and pay for day-to-day management.  However, Estelle Morris advised the trust to continue making the case.  Meanwhile there are seven other major independent museums who do not receive direct government support who will be watching the situation with interest.  Page 2
  
  
• AIM is a leading member of a new group set up to liase with the Treasury and the Inland Revenue over the future of the Gift Aid on day admission charges scheme.  The Attractions Gift Aid Liasion Group (ALGAG) aims to develop a ‘branded’ approach to assist public recognition of the new scheme when the new Government rules come into operation in April 2006.  From then attractions will only be eligible if visitors give more than 10% above the normal admission price.  Attractions are considering the benefits and possibilities of offering annual admission, bringing in an ‘opt-out’ clause and asking visitors to donate extra for a specific project.  Page 3
  
  
• The Rural Museums Network (RMN) was formally constituted as a self-governing body at a launch in London where most of the leading rural museums in the UK were represented.  The new body will concentrate on developing its Building Relevance Programme, with the help of an MLA (Museums, Libraries and Archives Council) grant under its Subject Specialist Networks support scheme. The programme aims to develop audiences for rural museums, consider interpretive themes based on collections, tackle marketing and business services issues and involve countryside stakeholders.  The RMN will also continue work on the Distributed National Collection for agricultural heritage collections.   Page 4
  
  
• The Government has set out its vision for museums in the 21st century, although much of what it espouses is already going on.  Arts Minister Estelle Morris calls on museums to ensure more of their collections are seen by the public, share their objects with other institutions, modernise the workforce and speak with one voice. AIM chairman Sam Mullins says much of this is already happening. AIM was particularly concerned about the way in which Government had promoted free entry in its own-funded museums whilst ignoring the challenges faced by those who charge and indeed the innovation they have demonstrated. Page 8
  

Also in this issue 

• Adam Hart-Davis supports ss Great Britain appeal
• Getting CRB disclosures for staff and volunteers
• MDA launches new services
• Bentley Motor Museum lives to fight another day
• Adrian Babbidge’s Bottom Line column – Freedom of Information Act 2005
• MuseumProfile: The Tank Museum, Bovington Camp, Dorset
  

Plus

Information on AIM’s latest events, AIM’s Trading Survey, the Bob Harding Training Fund Bursaries and FOCUS information papers, and the two-page AIM Directory – 30+ providers of products and services for the museum sector.

Further information contacts:  Sam Mullins, AIM chairman - Tel 020 7379 6344.  Fax 020 7565 7250.   Email  samm@ltmuseum.co.uk.  Diana Zeuner, AIM Bulletin editor - Tel/Fax 01243 811364.  Email  heavyhorse@mistral.co.uk.