AIM Latest News March 2010
Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon
Posted : 09/04/2010
Discover independent museums’ economic value at AIM’s Annual Conference
The results of new AIM-commissioned research into The Economic Value of the Independent Museum Sector will be presented at the AIM Conference in Gaydon, Warwickshire on 4 June (see below). Over 100 AIM members responded to the online survey as part of the study carried out by DC Research. The results will pave the way for a toolkit that members will be able to use to inform and support their own negotiations about funding, sponsorships and partnerships in their areas, and demonstrate the impact of their activities on their local and regional economies. AIM itself will use the report for its advocacy work at national level. Further information: Jonathan Durnin at jon@dcresearch.co.uk or tel 0116 271 8911 / 07501 725115.
AIM Conference 2010 - Independent Museums and Tourism: Who Needs Who More? 3-5 June 2010 at Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warwickshire
Bookings are already flowing in for this conference – please check out the AIM website (details below) to ensure your place. Independent museums make a large and important contribution to tourism in the UK. This year’s Conference, sponsored by Development Partners, looks at the economic value that can be placed on that contribution and how museums of all sizes can maximise their share of the tourism market. AIM’s Conference is also an excellent opportunity to develop members’ skills in a variety of areas, and meet and share ideas with colleagues from across the UK. A highlight will be the presentation by DC Research on new AIM-commissioned research into The Economic Value of the Independent Museum Sector. Other key elements of the Conference are contributions from Dame Fiona Reynolds, Director General of the National Trust and James Berresford, Chief Executive of Visit England, and the AIM Dinner with guest speaker, Ken Robinson CBE, Chairman of the Tourism Alliance. Case studies will focus on museums of different sizes working with the tourism agenda and workshops will centre on insurance; web-based collections management for small museums; using partnerships as part of your marketing strategy and social media in museums. Saturday’s study day is to ‘Shakespeare Country’ and the embryonic Chedham’s Yard project, winner of the BBC’s Restoration, 2006. For a full programme and to reserve your Conference place, go to www.aim-museums.co.uk As a guide, total cost of a delegate doing everything with two hotel nights is in the region of £299. Small museums can apply to AIM’s Bob Harding Training Grants fund for assistance with costs: contact Michael Cates at macates@btinternet.com Book directly with the Warwick Hilton for your overnight stays at www.warwick.hilton.com/aim
Report shows heritage tourism contributes £20bn to economy
A new report published this month reveals for the first time the scale of the heritage tourism industry in the UK, estimating its gross domestic product (GDP) contribution to be £20.6 billion. Investing in Success: Heritage and the UK Tourism Economy, commissioned by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) demonstrates that the sector makes a bigger contribution than the advertising, car manufacturing or film industries. It shows that heritage is a major motivation behind tourism expenditure of overseas and domestic visitors and that the sector (including historic buildings, museums, parks and the countryside) supports an estimated 195,000 full-time equivalent jobs. HLF chair Jenny Abramsky said: “We now have the figures to prove that heritage packs a substantial economic punch. Last year, domestic and overseas holiday visitor numbers grew as the wider UK economy was shrinking. Our museums, historic sites and landscapes, are proving to be an immense and essential attraction, bringing in new visitors and boosting local economies. As we all look to economic recovery, we must keep investing in heritage tourism so that it continues to flourish, bringing with it key economic benefits”. The full report is at http://www.hlf.org.uk/aboutus/howwework/Documents/HLF_Tourism%20Impact_single.pdf
VisitEngland launches framework to grow tourism
VisitEngland has produced its first Strategic Tourism Framework in ten years, highlighting action needed to maximise the tourism industry’s contribution to England’s economy. The visitor economy is now worth £97 billion a year and employs more than two million people. To ensure England retains and grows market share the framework has been created to provide focus and challenge for an industry which could deliver an additional £50 billion in visitor spend and over 225,000 jobs. By achieving such growth, tourism would significantly outstrip most other sectors of the economy, including manufacturing. The framework includes four pillars: increasing England’s share of the global visitor market; offering compelling destinations of distinction; championing a successful, thriving industry, and facilitation greater engagement between the visitor and the experience www.visitengland.com
Business rates increase for museums built with grant funding?
AIM is following up a potentially worrying letter from the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) about changes affecting the level of non-domestic rates payable by a “small number of museums”. The museums affected are those where the VOA uses a valuation method known as the ‘contractors basis’. This arrives at a rateable value by reference to rebuilding costs, as there is little or no direct rental evidence. Historically in some circumstances an allowance has been made for any capital grant paid. Following a Lands Tribunal decision in Paul Stuart Allen (VO) v English Sports Council/Sports Council trust Company RA/f/2006 and RA7/2006 the continued application of an allowance to reflect grant aid or limited affordability now needs to be reconsidered. The VOA is obliged to review properties and valuations affected, and some may find their rates are increased. AIM chairman Bill Ferris has written for clarification about the numbers and identity of museums likely to be affected. For the full text of the tribunal decision go to: www.landstribunal.gov.uk/judgmentfiles/j636/RA-4-2006.pdf
Heritage impact
The Heritage Impact 2010 symposium taking place in Brighton on 22-23 April is the fifth to be held on the socio-economic impact of heritage. Speakers will include the heads of research from the Department for Culture Media & Sport, English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. www.heritageimpact.org
Orphan works – museums are urged to take part in survey
Museums are being urged to participate in a survey designed to quantify the problems associated with the use of ‘orphan works’. The Museums Intellectual Property Group (MIPG), on which AIM is represented, is championing a scheme to grant licences to museums and other cultural bodies to use orphan works, usually for digitsation to provide access to thousands of important archives and photographs. Orphan works are those where the copyright holder cannot be traced and their use runs the risk of copyright infringement. An example is the thousands of photographs of British servicemen during the First and Second World Wars held by the British Library. The Digital Economy Bill currently going through Parliament includes the licence scheme, but attempts are being made by the commercial sector to take over the licensing. The National Museum Directors Council (NMDC) is collecting specific examples of problems caused by orphan works from the wider museum community and The Art Fund has now put together a survey form at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SM7LWNC AIM’s honorary treasurer, Gordon Cummings, who sits on the MIPG, urges AIM members to complete it.
Is your museum under the radar?
The Museums Associations Love Museums advocacy workshops are being held around the country, designed to help museum win friends and influence people by improving the way they communicate. The remaining workshops are at: London Transport Museum (25 March); Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (122 April); Manchester Museum (19 April); New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, Leicester (23 April); Scotland Street School Museum, Glasgow (27 April); Discovery Museum, Newcastle (28 April); National Museum Cardiff (7 May); Leeds Museum Discovery Centre (10 May) and Surrey History Centre, Woking (11 May). All start at 2.00pm and are free. Email lorraine@museumsassociation.org or go to www.museumsassociation.org/lovemuseums
And more on advocacy …
The National Campaign for the Arts has launched a toolkit on advocacy to parliamentary candidates and local government. It covers the arts so might need some adaptation for museums, but could prove helpful to all those engaged in dialogue within their local and regional communities. http://www.artscampaign.org.uk/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_details&gid=475
Our Sporting Life Henley launches
The first of 100 exhibitions to celebrate the nation’s sporting life opened at the River & Rowing Museum, Henley on Thames on 16 March. Our Sporting Life explores the UK addiction to sport and our sporting heritage. It was opened in Henley by Roy Clare, chief executive, Museums, Libraries & Archives Council (MLA) and Cllr Malcolm Leonard, chairman, South Oxfordshire District Council, with double Paralympic Gold Medal winner, Graham Edmunds and former World and British Mountain Bike champion, Rob Warner, both from the area. International trial bikers Jack Meek and Nick Goddard, from Henley, performed tricks and stunts in the museum’s galleries. Our Sporting Life reveals hidden sporting histories, forgotten heroes, objects and stories in communities across the UK. Highlights of Our Sporting Life Henley include the adventures of Henley town football team; Atlantic rowers describing 60 days at sea; the foundations of the Paralympic movement at Stoke Mandeville and memories of swimming in the Thames. Objects include a stopwatch and starting pistol from the London 1908 Olympic Games and the ball kicked by Jonny Wilkinson in the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup final. Our Sporting Life is funded by MLA through The People’s Record and Renaissance and created by the Sports Heritage Network, which comprises all the UK’s major sports museums and archives. The Henley exhibition has been granted the London 2010 Inspire Mark from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympics Games, recognising outstanding projects inspired by the Games to help deliver a lasting legacy. www.rrm.co.uk
Transformed Jewish Museum opens
Writer and broadcaster Nigella Lawson and BBC creative director Alan Yentob have opened the newly transformed Jewish Museum London, following a £10 million redevelopment scheme by architects Long & Kentish and exhibition designers Event Communications. The museum in Camden Town has tripled in space, to showcase its world-class collections celebrating Jewish life and cultural diversity. Visitors will be able to experience life in the Jewish East End at the turn of the 20th century; ask Rabbis their views on faith and ethics issues and hear from contemporary Jewish people talking about their very different lives. Personal stories are brought to life through objects and photographs alongside the story of Jewish history, culture and religion. The only museum in London dedicated to a minority group, the development was made possible following a £4.2 million grant from the heritage Lottery Fund and other donations from trusts, funds and individuals. www.jewishmuseum.org.uk
Don’t miss out on Museums at Night publicity
Are you missing out on Museums at Night publicity? Culture24, which is running the Museums at Night initiative, says there is growing press interest and many museums have expressed interest in taking part. However, there are only 183 confirmed Museums at Night events in the database. “If you don’t log in to your record on the Culture24 databse and add your Museums at Night event listings, we can’t tell the media about what you’re doing!” says Rosie Clarke. If you are have listed details of an event in the planning stages now is the time to log in and change that to ‘confirmed’. If in doubt call her on 01273 623336. Full details of how to add your Museums at Night event listings to the database can be found at: http://www.culture24.org.uk/places+to+go/museums+at+night/art74240 This is the link to log in: www.24hourmuseum.net/production/dataentry Enter your username and password to access. Meanwhile Museums at Night has entered into a partnership with the BBC and the British Museum to encourage museums to plan an evening event around the objects they have uploaded onto the History of the World website. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld
Heritage learning and the new Diploma
GEM (Group for Education in Museums) is running an event on the new Diploma for 14-19-year-olds on 13 April at the World Museum, Liverpool. The Diploma provides an opportunity for heritage organisations to enhance their learning offer and engage more effectively with secondary students – always a challenging group to engage with. The Diploma is part of the education reforms and was launched in 2008. They are gradually being rolled out across the country and by 2011 will be available in 17 subjects. They will sit alongside GCSEs, A Levels and Apprenticeships in the suite of qualifications available to young people. The seminar will provide a comprehensive introduction to the Diploma and offer guidance on how to get involved. Telephone 01634 853424, email office@gem.org.uk or go to www.gem.org.uk For further information on the Diploma go to http://yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomas/ and http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/index.cfm?sid+3&pid+224&ctype+None&ptype+Contents
A future for City of Adelaide?
Scottish Maritime Museum trustees have welcomed the decision of the Minister for Culture in commissioning an evaluation of the options for the future of the City of Adelaide. Since the museum became aware in 1999 that it did not have sufficient resources to preserve the vessel itself, trustees have actively sought a viable future for it. They continue to liase with the Scottish Government and Historic Scotland on the question of the museum’s revenue support. But meanwhile they feel the study will identify the most effective way forward. www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org
NHMF £5 million cut, then reinstated
A 50% cut in the National Heritage Memorial Fund’s (NHMF) budget for 2010/11 was announced by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) due to its “tight financial position next year”, reducing the grant aid from £10 million to £5 million. But, a week later, DCMS confirmed it will increase its 2009/10 grant to NHMF by £5 million, offsetting the cut. NHMF, administered by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is the fund of last resort for heritage, recently contributing to the purchase of Titian’s Diana and Actaeon from the Duke of Sutherland. http://search.hlf.org.uk/NHMFWeb/LatestNews
Gift shops at heritage attractions
A one-day workshop exploring the role of gift shops at heritage attractions is being held on 30 April at the Old School Board, Calverley Street, Leeds. Organised by Leeds Metropolitan University’s Centre for Tourism and Cultural Change, Buying Into Heritage: Gift Shops at Heritage Attractions will explore what works at gift shops, what visitors expect and desire, how management can adapt their product range to meet demand and how shops can best complement the heritage offer. Speakers include representatives from the National Trust, English Heritage, Chatsworth and the British Museum. http://www.tourism-culture.com/workshop_series.html?PAGE=2
Museums & Heritage Show 2010
The Museums & Heritage Show takes place at Earls Court, London, on 12/13 May. With more than 130 exhibitors and more than 2,000 visiting museum professionals each year, it is an event not to be missed. By the end of February the show office had been swamped with entries for its annual Museums & Heritage Awards for Excellence, which this year has two new categories– the Winstan Bond Trophy for the Entrepreneurial Museum of the Year, sponsored by AIM, and a new Innovations Award. The Winstan Bond Trophy will be awarded to the independent museum which has most successfully seized opportunities to increase public benefit, capital or income for museums. The winning project – announced with the winners of the other 10 award categories on 12 May - will share its success story with visitors to the Museums & Heritage Show the following day. For your free entry pass to the show register at www.museumsandheritage.com
Further information: email info@museumsandheritage.com or call 01905 724734.
AIM Conservation Scheme – put in your bids!
AIM is now looking for more bids from its members for its popular Conservation Scheme, supported by The Pilgrim Trust. Over 50 museums have had important items in their collections conserved as a result of applying to the scheme, artefacts that otherwise would have festered unrestored in their stores. Next closing dates are 31 March and 30 September. Grants awarded are generally between £3,000 and £5,000, although some have been as small as £500 and as large as £8,000. The application form can be downloaded from to www.aim-museums.co.uk For further information contact Roger Hornshaw, AIM Administrator on 02392 587751, email aimadmin@aim-museums.co.uk
AIM E-News Editor
Diana Zeuner
+44 (0) 1730 812419
editoraim@heavyhorseworld.co.uk
AIM First Stop Contact Point
Roger Hornshaw
AIM Administrator
4 Clayhall Road
Gosport
Hampshire PO12 2BY
+44 (0) 2392 587751
aimadmin@aim-museums.co.uk
www.aim-museums.co.uk
Grant Schemes Closing Dates
Sustainability Scheme – 1 June and 20 December
Conservation Scheme – 31 March and 30 September
Bob Harding Training Fund – year-round applications invited
www.aim-museums.co.uk
AIM Annual Conference 2010
3-5 June 2010 at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warwickshire
www.aim-museums.co.uk
If you are not already a member of AIM and would like to join please go to www.aim-museums.co.uk
The results of new AIM-commissioned research into The Economic Value of the Independent Museum Sector will be presented at the AIM Conference in Gaydon, Warwickshire on 4 June (see below). Over 100 AIM members responded to the online survey as part of the study carried out by DC Research. The results will pave the way for a toolkit that members will be able to use to inform and support their own negotiations about funding, sponsorships and partnerships in their areas, and demonstrate the impact of their activities on their local and regional economies. AIM itself will use the report for its advocacy work at national level. Further information: Jonathan Durnin at jon@dcresearch.co.uk or tel 0116 271 8911 / 07501 725115.
AIM Conference 2010 - Independent Museums and Tourism: Who Needs Who More? 3-5 June 2010 at Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warwickshire
Bookings are already flowing in for this conference – please check out the AIM website (details below) to ensure your place. Independent museums make a large and important contribution to tourism in the UK. This year’s Conference, sponsored by Development Partners, looks at the economic value that can be placed on that contribution and how museums of all sizes can maximise their share of the tourism market. AIM’s Conference is also an excellent opportunity to develop members’ skills in a variety of areas, and meet and share ideas with colleagues from across the UK. A highlight will be the presentation by DC Research on new AIM-commissioned research into The Economic Value of the Independent Museum Sector. Other key elements of the Conference are contributions from Dame Fiona Reynolds, Director General of the National Trust and James Berresford, Chief Executive of Visit England, and the AIM Dinner with guest speaker, Ken Robinson CBE, Chairman of the Tourism Alliance. Case studies will focus on museums of different sizes working with the tourism agenda and workshops will centre on insurance; web-based collections management for small museums; using partnerships as part of your marketing strategy and social media in museums. Saturday’s study day is to ‘Shakespeare Country’ and the embryonic Chedham’s Yard project, winner of the BBC’s Restoration, 2006. For a full programme and to reserve your Conference place, go to www.aim-museums.co.uk As a guide, total cost of a delegate doing everything with two hotel nights is in the region of £299. Small museums can apply to AIM’s Bob Harding Training Grants fund for assistance with costs: contact Michael Cates at macates@btinternet.com Book directly with the Warwick Hilton for your overnight stays at www.warwick.hilton.com/aim
Report shows heritage tourism contributes £20bn to economy
A new report published this month reveals for the first time the scale of the heritage tourism industry in the UK, estimating its gross domestic product (GDP) contribution to be £20.6 billion. Investing in Success: Heritage and the UK Tourism Economy, commissioned by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) demonstrates that the sector makes a bigger contribution than the advertising, car manufacturing or film industries. It shows that heritage is a major motivation behind tourism expenditure of overseas and domestic visitors and that the sector (including historic buildings, museums, parks and the countryside) supports an estimated 195,000 full-time equivalent jobs. HLF chair Jenny Abramsky said: “We now have the figures to prove that heritage packs a substantial economic punch. Last year, domestic and overseas holiday visitor numbers grew as the wider UK economy was shrinking. Our museums, historic sites and landscapes, are proving to be an immense and essential attraction, bringing in new visitors and boosting local economies. As we all look to economic recovery, we must keep investing in heritage tourism so that it continues to flourish, bringing with it key economic benefits”. The full report is at http://www.hlf.org.uk/aboutus/howwework/Documents/HLF_Tourism%20Impact_single.pdf
VisitEngland launches framework to grow tourism
VisitEngland has produced its first Strategic Tourism Framework in ten years, highlighting action needed to maximise the tourism industry’s contribution to England’s economy. The visitor economy is now worth £97 billion a year and employs more than two million people. To ensure England retains and grows market share the framework has been created to provide focus and challenge for an industry which could deliver an additional £50 billion in visitor spend and over 225,000 jobs. By achieving such growth, tourism would significantly outstrip most other sectors of the economy, including manufacturing. The framework includes four pillars: increasing England’s share of the global visitor market; offering compelling destinations of distinction; championing a successful, thriving industry, and facilitation greater engagement between the visitor and the experience www.visitengland.com
Business rates increase for museums built with grant funding?
AIM is following up a potentially worrying letter from the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) about changes affecting the level of non-domestic rates payable by a “small number of museums”. The museums affected are those where the VOA uses a valuation method known as the ‘contractors basis’. This arrives at a rateable value by reference to rebuilding costs, as there is little or no direct rental evidence. Historically in some circumstances an allowance has been made for any capital grant paid. Following a Lands Tribunal decision in Paul Stuart Allen (VO) v English Sports Council/Sports Council trust Company RA/f/2006 and RA7/2006 the continued application of an allowance to reflect grant aid or limited affordability now needs to be reconsidered. The VOA is obliged to review properties and valuations affected, and some may find their rates are increased. AIM chairman Bill Ferris has written for clarification about the numbers and identity of museums likely to be affected. For the full text of the tribunal decision go to: www.landstribunal.gov.uk/judgmentfiles/j636/RA-4-2006.pdf
Heritage impact
The Heritage Impact 2010 symposium taking place in Brighton on 22-23 April is the fifth to be held on the socio-economic impact of heritage. Speakers will include the heads of research from the Department for Culture Media & Sport, English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. www.heritageimpact.org
Orphan works – museums are urged to take part in survey
Museums are being urged to participate in a survey designed to quantify the problems associated with the use of ‘orphan works’. The Museums Intellectual Property Group (MIPG), on which AIM is represented, is championing a scheme to grant licences to museums and other cultural bodies to use orphan works, usually for digitsation to provide access to thousands of important archives and photographs. Orphan works are those where the copyright holder cannot be traced and their use runs the risk of copyright infringement. An example is the thousands of photographs of British servicemen during the First and Second World Wars held by the British Library. The Digital Economy Bill currently going through Parliament includes the licence scheme, but attempts are being made by the commercial sector to take over the licensing. The National Museum Directors Council (NMDC) is collecting specific examples of problems caused by orphan works from the wider museum community and The Art Fund has now put together a survey form at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/SM7LWNC AIM’s honorary treasurer, Gordon Cummings, who sits on the MIPG, urges AIM members to complete it.
Is your museum under the radar?
The Museums Associations Love Museums advocacy workshops are being held around the country, designed to help museum win friends and influence people by improving the way they communicate. The remaining workshops are at: London Transport Museum (25 March); Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (122 April); Manchester Museum (19 April); New Walk Museum & Art Gallery, Leicester (23 April); Scotland Street School Museum, Glasgow (27 April); Discovery Museum, Newcastle (28 April); National Museum Cardiff (7 May); Leeds Museum Discovery Centre (10 May) and Surrey History Centre, Woking (11 May). All start at 2.00pm and are free. Email lorraine@museumsassociation.org or go to www.museumsassociation.org/lovemuseums
And more on advocacy …
The National Campaign for the Arts has launched a toolkit on advocacy to parliamentary candidates and local government. It covers the arts so might need some adaptation for museums, but could prove helpful to all those engaged in dialogue within their local and regional communities. http://www.artscampaign.org.uk/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_details&gid=475
Our Sporting Life Henley launches
The first of 100 exhibitions to celebrate the nation’s sporting life opened at the River & Rowing Museum, Henley on Thames on 16 March. Our Sporting Life explores the UK addiction to sport and our sporting heritage. It was opened in Henley by Roy Clare, chief executive, Museums, Libraries & Archives Council (MLA) and Cllr Malcolm Leonard, chairman, South Oxfordshire District Council, with double Paralympic Gold Medal winner, Graham Edmunds and former World and British Mountain Bike champion, Rob Warner, both from the area. International trial bikers Jack Meek and Nick Goddard, from Henley, performed tricks and stunts in the museum’s galleries. Our Sporting Life reveals hidden sporting histories, forgotten heroes, objects and stories in communities across the UK. Highlights of Our Sporting Life Henley include the adventures of Henley town football team; Atlantic rowers describing 60 days at sea; the foundations of the Paralympic movement at Stoke Mandeville and memories of swimming in the Thames. Objects include a stopwatch and starting pistol from the London 1908 Olympic Games and the ball kicked by Jonny Wilkinson in the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup final. Our Sporting Life is funded by MLA through The People’s Record and Renaissance and created by the Sports Heritage Network, which comprises all the UK’s major sports museums and archives. The Henley exhibition has been granted the London 2010 Inspire Mark from the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympics Games, recognising outstanding projects inspired by the Games to help deliver a lasting legacy. www.rrm.co.uk
Transformed Jewish Museum opens
Writer and broadcaster Nigella Lawson and BBC creative director Alan Yentob have opened the newly transformed Jewish Museum London, following a £10 million redevelopment scheme by architects Long & Kentish and exhibition designers Event Communications. The museum in Camden Town has tripled in space, to showcase its world-class collections celebrating Jewish life and cultural diversity. Visitors will be able to experience life in the Jewish East End at the turn of the 20th century; ask Rabbis their views on faith and ethics issues and hear from contemporary Jewish people talking about their very different lives. Personal stories are brought to life through objects and photographs alongside the story of Jewish history, culture and religion. The only museum in London dedicated to a minority group, the development was made possible following a £4.2 million grant from the heritage Lottery Fund and other donations from trusts, funds and individuals. www.jewishmuseum.org.uk
Don’t miss out on Museums at Night publicity
Are you missing out on Museums at Night publicity? Culture24, which is running the Museums at Night initiative, says there is growing press interest and many museums have expressed interest in taking part. However, there are only 183 confirmed Museums at Night events in the database. “If you don’t log in to your record on the Culture24 databse and add your Museums at Night event listings, we can’t tell the media about what you’re doing!” says Rosie Clarke. If you are have listed details of an event in the planning stages now is the time to log in and change that to ‘confirmed’. If in doubt call her on 01273 623336. Full details of how to add your Museums at Night event listings to the database can be found at: http://www.culture24.org.uk/places+to+go/museums+at+night/art74240 This is the link to log in: www.24hourmuseum.net/production/dataentry Enter your username and password to access. Meanwhile Museums at Night has entered into a partnership with the BBC and the British Museum to encourage museums to plan an evening event around the objects they have uploaded onto the History of the World website. http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld
Heritage learning and the new Diploma
GEM (Group for Education in Museums) is running an event on the new Diploma for 14-19-year-olds on 13 April at the World Museum, Liverpool. The Diploma provides an opportunity for heritage organisations to enhance their learning offer and engage more effectively with secondary students – always a challenging group to engage with. The Diploma is part of the education reforms and was launched in 2008. They are gradually being rolled out across the country and by 2011 will be available in 17 subjects. They will sit alongside GCSEs, A Levels and Apprenticeships in the suite of qualifications available to young people. The seminar will provide a comprehensive introduction to the Diploma and offer guidance on how to get involved. Telephone 01634 853424, email office@gem.org.uk or go to www.gem.org.uk For further information on the Diploma go to http://yp.direct.gov.uk/diplomas/ and http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/14-19/index.cfm?sid+3&pid+224&ctype+None&ptype+Contents
A future for City of Adelaide?
Scottish Maritime Museum trustees have welcomed the decision of the Minister for Culture in commissioning an evaluation of the options for the future of the City of Adelaide. Since the museum became aware in 1999 that it did not have sufficient resources to preserve the vessel itself, trustees have actively sought a viable future for it. They continue to liase with the Scottish Government and Historic Scotland on the question of the museum’s revenue support. But meanwhile they feel the study will identify the most effective way forward. www.scottishmaritimemuseum.org
NHMF £5 million cut, then reinstated
A 50% cut in the National Heritage Memorial Fund’s (NHMF) budget for 2010/11 was announced by the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) due to its “tight financial position next year”, reducing the grant aid from £10 million to £5 million. But, a week later, DCMS confirmed it will increase its 2009/10 grant to NHMF by £5 million, offsetting the cut. NHMF, administered by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is the fund of last resort for heritage, recently contributing to the purchase of Titian’s Diana and Actaeon from the Duke of Sutherland. http://search.hlf.org.uk/NHMFWeb/LatestNews
Gift shops at heritage attractions
A one-day workshop exploring the role of gift shops at heritage attractions is being held on 30 April at the Old School Board, Calverley Street, Leeds. Organised by Leeds Metropolitan University’s Centre for Tourism and Cultural Change, Buying Into Heritage: Gift Shops at Heritage Attractions will explore what works at gift shops, what visitors expect and desire, how management can adapt their product range to meet demand and how shops can best complement the heritage offer. Speakers include representatives from the National Trust, English Heritage, Chatsworth and the British Museum. http://www.tourism-culture.com/workshop_series.html?PAGE=2
Museums & Heritage Show 2010
The Museums & Heritage Show takes place at Earls Court, London, on 12/13 May. With more than 130 exhibitors and more than 2,000 visiting museum professionals each year, it is an event not to be missed. By the end of February the show office had been swamped with entries for its annual Museums & Heritage Awards for Excellence, which this year has two new categories– the Winstan Bond Trophy for the Entrepreneurial Museum of the Year, sponsored by AIM, and a new Innovations Award. The Winstan Bond Trophy will be awarded to the independent museum which has most successfully seized opportunities to increase public benefit, capital or income for museums. The winning project – announced with the winners of the other 10 award categories on 12 May - will share its success story with visitors to the Museums & Heritage Show the following day. For your free entry pass to the show register at www.museumsandheritage.com
Further information: email info@museumsandheritage.com or call 01905 724734.
AIM Conservation Scheme – put in your bids!
AIM is now looking for more bids from its members for its popular Conservation Scheme, supported by The Pilgrim Trust. Over 50 museums have had important items in their collections conserved as a result of applying to the scheme, artefacts that otherwise would have festered unrestored in their stores. Next closing dates are 31 March and 30 September. Grants awarded are generally between £3,000 and £5,000, although some have been as small as £500 and as large as £8,000. The application form can be downloaded from to www.aim-museums.co.uk For further information contact Roger Hornshaw, AIM Administrator on 02392 587751, email aimadmin@aim-museums.co.uk
AIM E-News Editor
Diana Zeuner
+44 (0) 1730 812419
editoraim@heavyhorseworld.co.uk
AIM First Stop Contact Point
Roger Hornshaw
AIM Administrator
4 Clayhall Road
Gosport
Hampshire PO12 2BY
+44 (0) 2392 587751
aimadmin@aim-museums.co.uk
www.aim-museums.co.uk
Grant Schemes Closing Dates
Sustainability Scheme – 1 June and 20 December
Conservation Scheme – 31 March and 30 September
Bob Harding Training Fund – year-round applications invited
www.aim-museums.co.uk
AIM Annual Conference 2010
3-5 June 2010 at the Heritage Motor Centre, Gaydon, Warwickshire
www.aim-museums.co.uk
If you are not already a member of AIM and would like to join please go to www.aim-museums.co.uk
Latest News
Independent museum sector worth nearly £500 million. AIM's newly-commissioned research into the Economic Value of the Independent Museums backs up the generally understood figure that every thousand visitors deliver about £...
Posted : 06/07/2010 16:02:49
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