Growing the Museum Experience
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STEAM, Museum of the Great Western Railway, Swindon
&
National Trust, Heelis, Swindon

The annual AIM Conference will take place on 14-16 June at STEAM: Museum of the Great Western Railway, in conjunction with the National Trust at Heelis, Swindon, Wiltshire, sponsored by Development Partners and Adlib.
The theme for our 2012 Conference will be the visitor experience.
What makes a museum visit a successful one?
How can we improve what we offer our customers?
Will they come again?
We will look at some success stories and approaches that could transform what your museum offers. The two day programme of sessions and workshops will include understanding visitor expectations, marketing techniques and top tips on how to create an outstanding visitor experience at your museum. AIM Conference also provides opportunities to share experiences and ideas with other delegates. We look forward to seeing you there. To book and for further detailed information please click on the links at the bottom of the page
This year our speakers are:-
Sir Neil Cossons, President AIM
Graham Black, Nottingham Trent University
Rosalind Johnson, A Different View
Sarah Staniforth, Museums and Collections Director, National Trust
Tony Berry, Visitor Experience Director, National Trust
Hedley Swain, Director Museums and Renaissance, Arts Council
Adrian Babbidge
Julian Smith & Lizzie Jones, Farrer & Co.
Richard Evans, Director, Beamish North of England Open Air Museum
Victoria Wallace, Chief Executive, Leeds Castle
John Murden, Executive Director, Dorset County Museum
Anne Lord, Colne Valley Museum, Huddersfield
Alan Greer General Manager and Ian Surtees, Commercial Manager STEAM
Bjorn Stenvers, Marketing Director, Amsterdam Museum
On day 2 of the Conference there are two sessions of 4 workshops:-
Visitor Research - Why do I need It? - Tim Burge and Jim Brewster, Audiences SW
Saying "Au revoir"? Membership and Friends - Development Partners
Golden Rules of Good Governance - Sue Eddisford and Matthew Tanner
Training and Sustaining the "smile" on the Front Desk - Keith Stanton, Visitor Services Manager ss Great Britain
An additional session, AIM Member Consultation is a chance for AIM members to give their views on AIM and what it can do to help them.
On Day 2 of the Conference AIM members can have the opportunity to meet with Exhibitors in the Caerphilly Hall at STEAM.
For the full conference programme, please download the PDF AIM 2012 Conference Flyer at the bottom of the page.

AIM gives delegates the opportunity to relax and network outside of the main Conference programme. The AIM Conference Dinner on Thursday 14 June will be held at the National Trust Headquarters, HEELIS from 7pm until 10.30pm and the AIM Pub Evening on Friday 15 June will be at the Old Bell Inn in Malmesbury after a drinks reception at Malmesbury Museum.
On Saturday 16 June there will be a Study Tour looking at the visitor offer in some of Wiltshire’s museums. We start at The Merchant’s House in Marlborough, a brick and timber silk merchant’s house dating from 1653 then on to Avebury Manor and the Keiller Museum with an opportunity to visit the Stone Circle at the heart of the World Heritage Site. Lunch will be provided at Avebury. The final visit will be to the Wiltshire Heritage Museum at Devizes.
Further Conference Information






