October Issue 2003

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 2004 Annual Conference will be on 6-8 May at the River & Rowing Museum, Henley-on-Thames
  
  
• Charitable trust museums throughout the country are examining the recent success of The Brönte Society which received a £596,000 VAT windfall in a victory over HM Customs & Excise.  The judgement representes VAT payments on admissions from which it should have been exempt since 1990 and follows the European Court of Justice ruling in the case of London Zoo and could represent excellent news for independent museums.  However it is not as straightforward as it seems.  If your organisation is likely to undertake capital projects you will need the VAT on visitor admissions to set against VAT on building work. It is not yet clear whether the Brönte Society ruling will mean a mandatory requirement for exemption on museums (and other charitable organisations). In this case some museums may be worse off.  An article on the subject by Daniel Barlow of Deloitte & Touche, advisers to The Brönte Society, is included in the Bulletin. Page 1& 5.
  
  
• The Scottish Executive’s Action framework for Scotland’s museums and galleries does not go far enough and fails to address the need for core funding of museums, says the Scottish Museums Council.  SMC director Jane Ryder says that while any progress is to be welcomed, the document was “much narrower in scope than we had hoped.”  The Action framework follows lengthy consultation with the entire sector throughout Scotland.  Principal disappointment is that there is no support for investment in museums and galleries, urgently needed if they are to deliver benefits in access, learning, tourism and regeneration. “Time is running out for many of the independent museums across Scotland who care for its irreplaceable heritage,” said Burns National Heritage Park director, Nat Edwards. Page 3.
  
  
• The British Motor Industry Heritage Trust at Gaydon raised half a million pounds through the sale of surplus exhibits, after following the strictly laid down procedure in which museums must offer them to other registered museums in the UK.  It is thought that this was the first public disposal sale of items from a registered museum.  Page 4.
  
  
• A new National Historic Ships Unit is proposed by the Government to advise on historic ship preservation.  The unit would co-ordinate the sector, assisting those directly engaged in preservation and promote public interest in historic ships.  However the Government sees no prospect of devoting new money to the repair and maintenance of historic vessels. In its report Ships for the Nation, the Government wants to encourage greater interest in smaller historic vessels and will include inland waterway boats in its remit. The report has now gone out for consultation and AIM will be formulating its response shortly. Page 16.
  
  

Also in this issue

• Radstock Museum benefits from Local Heritage Initiative
• Are we charging visitors too little? – Michael Tambini’s Personal View
• Gulbenkian Prize 2004 dates
• No change on charity trading, Government says
• Tenby Museum celebrates 125 years
• ISCA (International sailing Craft Association) being monitored by the Charity Commission
• How the Cookworthy Museum developed a local heritage resource centre
• Simpler procedures for setting up charitable trusts
• Museum Profile this issue – Museum of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society
  
  

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.