August Issue 2002

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

• AIMs advocacy with government agencies has paid off, with the announcement of a fund of £500,000 unexpectedly and suddenly available from Resource, the Council for Museums Archives and Libraries.  The money will be spent on the appointment of vital museum development officers to help fill the advice gap left by the demise of area museum councils. Another similar amount is expected to be available for the following financial year. AIM chairman Sam Mullins called the initiative “a significant start on investment in regional museums.”  AIM “was proud to be associated with it.”   Pages 1& 2.
  
  
• The parlous state of many of the UKs museums is confirmed by a new report – UK Museums Needs Assessment – jointly commissioned by Resource and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF). The report reinforces the recent appeal to Government for £267 million to back the recommendations of the report Renaissance in the Regions .  HLF has already incorporated some of its findings into its criteria for grant applications.  Among museums’ needs are: better physical infrastructure, improved management of existing collections, better IT facilities, skills and training improvement, increased resources, financial and human and promotion of marketing skills. Page 3.
  
  
• The Heritage Lottery Fund is waiting for more grant applications from smaller and voluntary museums for its Your Heritage programme – which caters for projects needing between £5,000 and £50,000.  Nearly 300 Your Heritage projects have been awarded nearly £10 million, but HLF is still desperate for more bids. In the meantime HLF has launched a new application pack for its main Heritage Grants Programme designed to be shorter and easier to complete. Contact 020 7591 6042, www.hlf.org.uk   Page 5
  
  
• Advice on volunteering is now at the end of a helpline.  The National Centre for Volunteering offers a free telephone service to anyone who would like information or advice about any aspect of good practice in working with volunteers.  They can help with such issues as retention and recruitment of volunteers, practical matters like expenses reimbursement and volunteer management.  For further information contact 0800 028 3304, email information@thecentre.org.uk.  Page 12.
  
  

Weald & Downland Open Air Museum’s innovative Downland Gridshell building opens and is short-listed for the Stirling Prize.

• Connected Earth gallery opens at Amberley Working Museum
• Charitable trust museums and business rating exemption decision
• Shire Publications celebrates 40 years
• Dundee Heritage Trust returns to crisis
• Modern apprenticeship framework launched for arts and heritage sector
  
  

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.