MORE GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS

DCMS/Wolfson grants announced
Grants totalling £4 million from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS/Wolfson Museum & Galleries Improvement Fund announced this week will help 36 museums and galleries.  Among successful independent museum projects are: Chatham Historic Dockyard Trust (£300,000/renewal of the ‘Wooden Walls Story’ exhibition describing the shipbuilding process); Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust (£150,000/redevelopment of the Coalbrookdale Museum of Iron); Porthcurno Telegraph Museum (£125,000/introduction gallery and other exhibition improvements);  London Transport Museum (£100,000/new gallery for posters and artworks showcasing British graphic design); Salisbury & South Wiltshire Museum (£100,000/new Archaeology of Wessex gallery); Dulwich Picture Gallery (£75,000/bicentenary refurbishment); Shakespeare Birthplace Trust & RSC (£67,000/Reimagining Shakespeare’s Birthplace project); National Motor Museum, Beaulieu (£60,000/improvements to Britain’s first motorcycle exhibition); Weald & Downland Open Air Museum (£50,000/reconstruction of a 17th century labourer’s cottage), and Tank Museum, Bovington (£30,000/in-gallery access to archive and library collections).  This is the first of two bidding rounds in the 2011-15 spending period, each awarding £4 million.  The second bidding round will be held in 2012-14, with drawdown of funds in 2014-15. www.wolfson.org.uk

MUSEUM TRENDS

Wedgwood Museum collection can be sold
The collection of the Wedgwood Museum can be sold to help meet the £134 million deficit of the Wedgwood Group Pension Plan, a High Court judge has ruled.  The December decision, described as “devastating” by members of the Wedgwood family, may have implications for the collections of museums throughout the UK.  Meanwhile Bob Young and Steve Currie, joint administrators of the Wedgwood Museum Trust since April 2010, are hoping to keep the collection at the museum.   Discussions are being held with the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the V&A Museum, members of the Wedgwood family and potential benefactors.  One potential saviour has already come forward.  John Caudwell, the founder of the Caudwell Group mobile phone wholesaler, has said he would step in to save the entire collection if no other solution could be found.   AIM chairman, Matthew Tanner said it was important to learn any lessons from the case, and AIM will publish guidance as soon as it could be discerned.  A full article appears in the February issue of AIM Bulletin.

Charity Commission places greater responsibility on trustees
The Charity Commission has outlined its new approach to regulation, which will place greater emphasis on preventing problems rather than dealing with them after they occur.  Our regulatory approach to protecting the public’s interest in charity: how we assess and manage risks was developed following the commission’s decision to restructure in the light of its funding reduction by almost a third.  There is now a greater expectation that trustees will tackle risks “head-on”.  A three-stage process has been introduced which first asks whether the commission needs to get involved.  The emphasis on preventing problems will centre round web-based guidance and the encouragement of charities to “self-certify” changes, such as for example, using its website to seek legal consent to change articles of association. http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/bulletin/third_sector_governance_bulletin/article/1112195/charity-commissions-new-regulatory-framework-places-greater-responsibility-trustees/?DCMP=EMC-CONThirdSectorGovernance

Record numbers engaging with heritage, survey shows
Record numbers of people are engaging with heritage sites, museums and galleries in England, the Department for Culture, Media & Sport’s (DCMS) continuing survey, Taking Part, shows.  The latest report, covering October 2010 to September 2011, reveals that 72% of adults visited a heritage site, an ongoing upward trend since the survey began in 2005/6.  Biggest rise in heritage attendance is in the North East.   Visitors to museums and galleries have increased from 42% to 47% between 2005 and 2011, and July-September 2011 was the first quarter in which more than half of adults reported visiting museums and galleries.  http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/8734.aspx

Kids in Museums 2012 manifesto
Kids in Museums has launched its 2012 manifesto with 20 ways to make a museum visit family friendly.  They include: being welcoming and greeting each visitor; making provision for teenagers; being flexible in family ticketing; saying ‘please touch’; being height- and language-aware with displays and signs; ensuring visitors’ comfort; providing healthy, good-value food; updating your website; using social media and making the visit live on by building relationships and keeping in touch. http://www.kidsinmuseums.org.uk/manifesto/

Museums at Night 2012
Culture24 has announced that Arts Council England (ACE) and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) will be funding Museums at Night 2012 (18-20 May).  ACE will fund the core campaign and Connect10, a new initiative bringing contemporary artists into a range of venues, and HLF will fund new clusters of events in north Lincolnshire and north Norfolk.  http://www.culture24.org.uk/places+to+go/museums+at+night.  In Scotland Festival of Museums 2012 will take place on the same dates, with MuseumsGalleriesScotland members offered grants of between £150 and £1,500 to stage events (deadline 1 February). http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/the-programmes/festival-of-museums/funding-for-your-event/

COLLECTIONS & CONSERVATION

New Collaborative Storage Initiative
The National Conservation Service project to develop a national collaborative storage service or centre will hold a second meeting on 3 February at the Royal Institution of Great Britain, 21 Albemarle Street, London W1S 4BS.  The project aims to enable institutions with insufficient storage space, or who wish to reduce the costs of existing remote storage, to have access to BS/PD5454 quality storage of even small quantities of material at a low unit price usually only available to those with very large quantities in a long-term contract.  To date 45 archive and museum institutions across the UK have expressed an interest.  Five major storage providers have expressed enthusiasm and developed proposals and will be presenting their proposals at this meeting.  The aim is to establish which providers to work with and set up the service in the coming months.  Any museum that needs offsite storage, or is currently paying high charges for temporary storage, and wishes to express an interest can do so by emailing Chris Woods atenquiries@ncs.org.uk

Two-stage process introduced for Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund
The Museums Association has introduced a two-stage application process for grants from the Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund.  The decision has been made in response to the high volume of applications for the scheme’s second round.  In 2011 £372,764 was granted to six projects from 118 applications. http://www.museumsassociation.org/collections/18022011-esmee-fairbairn-collections-fund.  For an informal conversation and advice about a proposed project or developing an application contact Sally Colvin on 020 7426 6933 or email sally@museumsassociation.org.  After receiving stage one applications, a number of applicants will be invited to move to the second stage.  Closing date for initial applications is 5 April.

Five years of Art Fund Collect
The Art Fund and the Crafts Council have launched the fifth Art Fund Collect, the £75,000 scheme which offers UK museums the chance to add an outstanding work of new international contemporary craft to their collections.   Applications can be submitted until 14 March.  www.artfund.org/artfundcollect

AWARDS

Museums + Heritage Awards 2012 – deadline 10 February
The deadline for entries to the 2012 Museums + Heritage Awards for Excellence is 10 February.  Categories include the Winstan Bond Trophy for the Entrepreneurial Museum of the Year, supported by AIM.  There are 10 other categories, including a new Sustainability Award and a Permanent Exhibition Award.  The categories are designed to provide opportunity for all shapes and sizes of museum, applauding the achievements of a wide range of projects from performed with the tiniest of budgets, to the ground-breaking achievements of national institutions.  The awards ceremony will be on 16 May, during the Museums + Heritage Show at a new venue, 8 Northumberland, London.  Further information: Sara Bowen on 01905 724734, email sara@everyevent.co.uk.  www.museumsandheritage.com

Sandford Awards 2012
The Sandford Awards 2012 applications are now open.  Recognising and promoting excellence in heritage education, the award is a ‘kite mark’ for high quality in education provision. http://www.heritageeducationtrust.org.uk/ and for an application form email sandford@bishopg.ac.org

PEOPLE

New Year Honours
Among New Year Honours for people in the museums sector was a CBE for James Lupton, former chairman of Dulwich Picture Gallery; an OBE for David Posnett, chairman of trustees at Holburne Museum, Bath; and MBEs for Major Martin Everett for services to the Royal Welsh Regimental Museum; Peter Hollins for voluntary service to the Royal Naval Museum; Barbara Owen, chairman of the Three Rivers Museum of Local History; Alfred Fisher, vice president and former chairman of Leighton Buzzard Railway, and David Fletcher, The Tank Museum’s longest-serving member of staff, internationally renowned author and tank expert, for services to the history of armoured warfare.

OTHER NEWS

• Applications for the 2012/13 Clore Leadership Programme fellowships are now open and close on 24 February.  The programme aims to shape emerging creative leaders.  http://cloreleadership.org/page.php?id=48
• Two organisations devoted to the protection of historic vessels throughout the UK have combined.  The Maritime Trust and Heritage Afloat will speak collectively for owners and operators of historic ships as the Maritime Heritage Trust.  http://www.maritimeheritage.org.uk/
• A study into the social, cultural and economic value of the historic vehicle movement by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs estimates its worth as at least £4.3 billion annually to the UK economy.  The movement supports employment for 28,000 people. http://fbhvc.co.uk/survey-2011/
• Record numbers of people are joining the Art Fund, giving a boost to museums and galleries.  Membership of the fundraising charity increased by 15% in 2011 to just below 90,000 members, following the launch of the National Art Pass in April last year.  The pass gives a wide range of discounts and free admission across UK arts venues.  Sales of the pass go towards the work of the Art Fund which helps museums to buy works of art.  www.artfund.org
• The National Museum Directors’ Conference (NMDC) is to expand its membership to include major Renaissance grant-funded museums, those whose funding announcements were made by Arts Council England (ACE) this month.  Not all the 25 current members of the group are happy about the decision: National Museums Liverpool has pulled out of the body saying it should continue to speak solely for national museums.  
• A feasibility study is taking place on developing a Digital Copyright Exchange for rights clearance and information about rights ownership.  Phase 1 will look at issues surrounding copyright licensing in and for the digital age, and phase 2 will recommend potential solutions to problems.  Take part in the consultation at http://www.ipo.gov.uk/types/hargreaves/hargreaves-copyright/hargreaves-copyright-dce.htm
• Arts Council England (ACE) has appointed Simon Mellow as its new executive director, arts.  He will oversee the development of the Arts Council’s current and future national arts strategy and policy agendas, and ensure coherence across the organisation. 
• The 2011 National Group Travel Report is now out, helping attractions and tourism businesses to increase their group travel market share.  Produced by Qa Research, it includes: group visits frequency patterns, average spend per person on group trips, planning and booking trips, internet usage for group travel, and attitudes and opinions on group visits.   To order a copy of the report (as a pdf), cost £99, emailgrouptravel@qaresearch.co.uk
• Manchester’s Museum of Science & Industry (MOSI) has joined the National Science Museum & Industry (NMSI).  The move makes MOSI part of a group which includes the Science Museum in London, the National Railway Museum, York and the National Media Museum, Bradford.  The decision is a result of the proposed withdrawal of Government funding from MOSI, along with other non-national museums, by 2015.
• Museums are eligible for the new £45 million Arts Council England (ACE) arts touring programme.  Designed to encourage collaboration between organisations and funded through the National Lottery, it offers grants of at least £10,000, but must go towards projects specifically linked to arts activity.  Applications are now open and closing date is 2 March.  http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/funding/apply-for-funding/strategic-funding/grant-programmes/strategic-touring-programme/
• Birmingham’s local authority-run museums and the independent Thinktank science museum are to merge into a new trust.  The city council aims to save some £3.7 million across its museum and heritage sites by 2015.  The new director, currently being sought, will have an annual budget of £11 million and will also manage several historic buildings, including Sarehole Mill.  
• A new Gift Aid resources website has been launched by the Chartered Institute of Taxation, summarising Gift Aid and related issues for use by charities, tax advisors and philanthropists. http://www.tax.org.uk/gift-aid
• The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has published guidance on the Cultural Gifts Scheme (CGS), open for consultation until 29 February.  The scheme will enable individuals and companies to donate objects to cultural institutions in exchange for reductions in income tax, capital gains tax or corporation tax. The provisions will be introduced in the Finance Act 2012. http://www.culture.gov.uk/publications/8667.aspx

UPCOMING CONFERENCES, SEMINARS & EVENTS

• A volunteer is worth … is a mini-conference for heritage professionals to be held on 3 February at Workhouse Museum, Allhallowgate, Ripon, North Yorkshire, organised by the Yorkshire Federation.  Costing just £10, the day will focus on managing volunteers in a small independent museum and a large national.  Further information: admin@yfed.org.uk
• The Midlands Federation is holding a session on Collections in a Time of Crisis on 9 February at the Galleries of Justice, Nottingham.  www.midfed.org.uk, and to book your place anja.rohde@derby.gov.uk
• A symposium on Managing museum information in the 21st century will take place on 29 February at the Museum of London Docklands.  It will focus on which digital projects to develop and what social media to engage with as well as exploring what happens to a digital resource past its active life and how to manage the information.  Further information: svwheeler@museumoflondon.org.uk
• Also on 29 February is Growing, Not Going, the Arts & Business annual symposium on arts fundraising, taking place at Sadler’s Wells, London.  Aimed at chief executives and trustees, the day will take a positive look into the future of the arts – going for growth, rather than grasping for survival. http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/event/2338370128/eorg
• The ACE (Association for Cultural Enterprises) Convention & Trade Show takes place in Brighton on 8/9 March, including the most comprehensive heritage retail trade show in the UK, an extensive seminar programme and top speakers such as Ken Robinson and Mark Taylor. http://www.acenterprises.org.uk/convention2012/more.asp?Mid=78
• The first national Happy Families Showcase takes place on 14 March at Wollaton Hall, Nottingham, helping provide simple, inspiring, time-saving and achievable ideas to improve your family offer. Speakers, ideas swap-shop, supplier exhibition and a free goody bag to inspire you are part of the day.  Cost is £65 including lunch, and there are special rates for teams of three or more.  www.katemeasures.co.uk

JOBS

Assistant Curator (Engagement) - Inverness Museum & Art Gallery

High Life Highland is seeking an Assistant Curator (Engagement) to be based at Inverness Museum & Art Gallery.  Salary: £24,370-£27,500.  Applications are sought from proactive, experienced museum professionals with a proven record of interactive interpretation and communication, audience development and community engagement.  Applicants should be educated to degree level and be holding or working towards an appropriate museums qualification.  An awareness of Scottish culture, past to present, would be an advantage.  Joining the team at Inverness Museum & Art Gallery, a prime aim is to raise the museum’s profile and use through developing inspiring interpretation and services.  Closing date for applications is 10 February, 2012.  For further information contact: Bob Powell on 01 540 673551 orbob.powell@highlifehighland.com.  For an application pack telephone 01 349 869917 or emailrecruitment@highlifehighland.com 

MORE AIM

AIM’s Economic Value Toolkit - available on AIM’s website

Have you made use of this toolkit yet?  It’s proving really useful in enabling members to calculate their own value in their own local area, providing a potent advocacy tool and enabling them to make their case to economic and tourism stakeholders.  The toolkit has three levels: tourism impacts, employment impacts and impacts of spend on goods and services.   http://www.aim-museums.co.uk/pages/pg-18-aim-economic-impact-paper/

INDEPENDENT MUSEUM STATISTICS

• There are over 1,200 independent museums in the UK
• They attract 9 million visitors a year
• They provide nearly 6,000 jobs supported by 100,000 volunteers 
• The sector is worth up to £930 million to the economy

CONTACTS

AIM E-News Editor
Diana Zeuner
+44 (0) 1730 812419
editoraim@heavyhorseworld.co.uk

AIM First Stop Contact Point 
Justeen Stone
AIM Administrator
63 Wiston Avenue, Worthing
West Sussex BN14 7PX
+44 (0) 1903 201370 
aimadmin@aim-museums.co.uk

AIM Executive Director
Sam Hunt
+44 (0) 01460 75222
Mobile 07833 366624
aimdirector@aim-museums.co.uk

Grant Schemes Closing Dates
Sustainability Scheme  – 1 June and 15 January
Conservation Scheme – 31 March and 30 September
Bob Harding Training Fund – year-round applications invited
www.aim-museums.co.uk

AIM Annual Conference 2012
14-16 June 2012 at STEAM: Museum of the Great Western Railway, in conjunction with the National Trust at Heelis, Swindon, Wiltshire, sponsored by Development Partners
www.aim-museums.co.uk