Hi Rhiannon Where does 'digital' fit in the institution? We've been evangelising since 2001 about the publishing possibilities the web brings to the museum sector and trying to promote a more strategic and sustainable approach to digital activity. Back then, the sector 'bought in' digital consultancy in many cases, and lots of money was spent on external expertise - and not much on developing our own skills. These days not much has changed. As Mike Ellis rightly says, it's crucial for digital channels to spread across organisations, and that seems a good way for ideas to percolate and for new connections to be made. But look in the back pages of this month's Museums Journal for cross-departmental digital posts: there are still very few major or minor orgs building small, sustainable, organisationally-connected digital jobs. You won't find many. To me it seems like museum web culture has the same status that marketing had twenty years ago in our national museums and galleries. In other words, a few million would be spent on a great exhibition, and a marketing agency would be called in at the end of the project and given a few grand to do some posters. There's still a big job to do (a worthwhile and exciting one) to get an understanding of the fundamental benefits and functions of the web woven through every level of our cultural sector, from funders to directors, from Hubs to small regional volunteer-run museums. We could use the MCG to get the message across - that would be a cool way to use the skills in our sector. Beyond that rallying call, it could just be that we need to be ready to encourage generational change. We're now getting the first few cohorts of museums studies grads who are part of the Facebook and Myspace generation into posts now - surely change will come from this direction, not from above? Again, maybe MCG could encourage some student placements or mentoring deals to seed a more radical approach into the sector? Good luck with your research Jon Jon Pratty Head of Content Culture24 [log in to unmask] 01273 623336 (direct) 01273 623266 (main office number) 07739 287392 (mobile) Culture24 is the new name for the 24 Hour Museum - an independent charity who publish a family of websites including: www.24hourmuseum.org.uk www.show.me.uk www.icons.org.uk Partnerships: www.untoldlondon.org.uk www.abolition200.org.uk P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. -----Original Message----- From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rhiannon Looseley Sent: 28 April 2008 11:33 To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Position of web people within an organisation Dear all, I know this has been a topic of conversation in the industry before but I'm interested to find out where 'web people' sit within your organisational structures. Are they part of marketing, an independent department, part of IT, part of learning, exhibitions etc etc? I suppose feeding in to this, it would be interesting to know which places, other than the 'big guns' even have their own dedicated web people. Feel free to reply off list if you think it's more appropriate. Thanks a lot Rhiannon Looseley ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------ Rhiannon Looseley Web Officer Tel: 020 7239 2588 Fax: 020 7239 2576 [log in to unmask] The British Postal Museum & Archive (BPMA) Freeling House, Phoenix Place, London WC1X 0DL www.postalheritage.org.uk British postal communications helped to shape the modern world. The British Postal Museum & Archive illuminates the lives of people in the Post Office, the messages carried by Royal Mail, the history we all share. Our history through the post. The BPMA is the public identity of the Postal Heritage Trust. Registered as a charity in England and Wales. Registered Charity Number 1102360 Company Number 4896056 **** ************************************************** For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk ************************************************** ************************************************** For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk **************************************************