April Issue 2007

2007 – AIM’s 30th Anniversary

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 nearly 30 years.

IN THIS ISSUE –


•AIM celebrates its 30th anniversary this year and the annual conference will be hosted by Ironbridge Gorge Museums Trust, Shropshire, a leading independent museum, on 21-23 June 2007. The theme will be Local Authority – Friend or Foe? and will focus on the relationship between independent museums and local authorities. Despite their inherent independence these museums often have close links with their local authorities – and many local authorities turn to the independent model to transform their own museums. Culture Minister, David Lammy, will give the keynote speech. A highlight of the conference will be the presentation of new AIM-commissioned research into the relationships between independents and local authorities from Adrian Babbidge of Egeria Heritage Consultancy. Other subjects central to the conference include social enterprise companies, legal update for charitable museums, corporate hire, catering and governance. Updates on the AIM Sustainability Scheme and the AIM-hosted Museum Development Officers’ (MDOs) Conference will be included, while social events include the 30th anniversary annual dinner at Coalbrookdale and a behind-the-scenes tour of Ironbridge Gorge Museums sites. Page 1/2

•A new grant scheme to help AIM members is to be launched at the 30th Anniversary Conference. This new partnership follows the very successful AIM Sustainability Scheme, supported by the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, which has now assisted 42 members with their sustainability projects. In another move to underpin AIM’s assistance for its members a second MDO (Museum Development Officer) Conference will be held on 20 June, the day before the Conference, and also at Ironbridge Gorge Museum. The MDO Conference organised by AIM in Birmingham last year was the first time MDOs from across the country had met together. Once again the event is to be supported by MLA (Museums, Libraries & Archives Council). Page 1/2

•New museum service providers have joined the AIM Conference exhibition, organised for the fifth year by Tony Baker of AJB Designs on the Friday of the AIM Conference (22 June). The exhibition provides valuable sponsorship for the conference as well as opportunities for delegates to make direct contact with companies working in the sector. Participants are -

•Continuum Group (leisure and tourism specialists), AIM’s premier Conference sponsor
•Adlib Information Systems (collections management)
•AJB Designs (collection surveys and storage design)
•Blackwall Green (fine art insurers)
•Britannia Storage Systems (specialist storage and display equipment)
•ColourMatch (design and print)
•Development Partners UK (fundraising and marketing)
•European Route of Industrial Heritage (network of European industrial heritage sites)
•Hayes Parsons Ltd (insurance)
•ICON (leading voice for the conservation of cultural heritage)
•Jarrold Publishing (guidebooks, postcards, brochures)
•Lista (UK) (museum drawer storage)
•LME Ltd (digital signage)
•MDA (Museum Development Association)
•MLA (Museums, Libraries & Archives Council)
•Red Camel (showcase manufacturers)
Page 2

•AIM has welcomed MLA’s (Museums, Libraries & Archives Council’s) recognition of the importance of local government to independent museums in its discussion paper on the Local Government White Paper, Strong and Prosperous Communities. AIM stressed that independent museums receive a wide range of types of support from local government, and indeed has chosen the theme of engagement with local government for this year’s Conference. The Association believes investment in establishing long-term relationships with all levels of local government can bring lasting benefits to independent museums. It also enables them to demonstrate the relevance of their contribution to developing strong local communities and supporting education. Page 3

•The director of Gainsborough’s House, Sudbury, Suffolk, Diane Perkins, gives her Ten Tips for Survival for museums engaged in major capital projects. Having just completed Phase II of a project involving cottage conversion, a new entrance, gift shop, coffee shop and education centre, Diane Perkins advises keeping the project team small, keeping volunteers and staff up to date with information and explaining what is happening to visitors. Page 6

•AIM’s concerns about the impact of Renaissance on smaller museums was taken straight to the heart of the Department for Culture, Media & Sport in March. AIM feels the programme largely fails to demonstrate an understanding of the value of the sector’s diversity and the role played by smaller museums within their communities. Support and investment is needed in many places where Renaissance is currently not reaching, including medium-sized independent museums which have been described as “the lost generation.” Good practice does exist but this should be rolled out across other regions. Page 16

Also in this issue –

•Gift Aid: members urged to complete questionnaire
•Comment: Michael Tambini on Museums & Galleries Month
•Brooklands commissions a centenary painting
•Visitors flock to new Cold War exhibition at RAF Museum Cosford
•Bottom Line: Charities Act changes begin
•AIM establishes its own archive
•London’s Transport Museum leads the way with solar power
•Museums & Heritage Show (9/10 May) – latest news
•New online funding directory launched
•Effective Collections programme begins
•Online shopping – friend or foe?
•MuseumProfile: Scottish Mining Museum, Newtongrange, Midlothian
•AIM Sustainability Scheme case studies – the latest awards