 |
 |
CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales
Museums Current Awareness Service - Bulletin 88
Information about the Museums Current Awareness Service can be found on CyMAL’s pages of the Welsh Assembly website.
http://www.wales.gov.uk/cymal
A very merry Christmas to you from all at CyMAL
WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT - CYMAL
Grants 2010/11
The CyMAL grant scheme for 2010/11 is now open for applications. Information on the grants and the application form can be downloaded from our website. The closing date for applications is 25 January 2010.
Digital Preservation Roadshows in Wales - Aberystwyth, 22.01.10 & Cardiff, 15.02.10
A series of roadshows is being held around the UK and Ireland to raise awareness of digital preservation tools and techniques. As part of this series, two roadshows are being held in Wales, run by the Society of Archivists Wales, the National Library of Wales, and CyMAL: Museums, Libraries and Archives Wales, in partnership with The National Archives, the Digital Preservation Coalition and the Planets project.
One roadshow is being held in Aberystwyth on 22 January 2010, and one in Cardiff on 15 February. Although the focus of the two roadshows is slightly different, both events aim to raise awareness of the issues, and to show how to take the first, incremental steps in this field. They are aimed at those who are aware that they need to understand more about digital records, and at those who are starting to consider how to develop policies and tools to manage the transfer or deposit of digital records.
Attendance at the roadshows is free, but numbers are limited. Full details of the programmes and information on how to book a place can be found on the CyMAL website
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WALES
Register as an external expert advisor
The National Assembly for Wales is offering the opportunity for experts, researchers, and specialists to put forward their names for future possible short-term research contracts.
The committees shoulder the main burden of responsibility for scrutinising government policy, expenditure, administration and legislation. As a result they rely upon specialist support for information and research on topical issues. The Members’ Research Service (MRS) is responsible for providing all Assembly Members and Assembly committees with direct in-house research support and advice on a broad range of subjects. Where appropriate, Committees may appoint advisors in accordance with guidelines issued by the Commission for the purposes of providing additional expert advice.
Expertise may be required in health, education, business, environment, culture and a variety of other specialisms. If a subject falls within the remit of the Assembly Government there may be a future contract opportunity in that area.
MUSEUMS LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES COUNCIL
A stitch in time to save painting of Welsh knitters
Culture Minister, Margaret Hodge, has placed a temporary export bar on a painting by William Dyce, Welsh landscape with two women knitting. This will provide a last chance to raise the money to keep this important painting in the United Kingdom. The minister’s ruling follows a recommendation by the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest, administered by the MLA.
The Committee recommended that the export decision be deferred on the grounds that the painting is closely connected with UK history and national life, that it is of outstanding aesthetic importance, and that it is significant for the study of Pre-Raphaelite landscape painting and of the representation of Welsh landscape and culture in the nineteenth century. The Committee awarded a starred rating to the painting meaning that every possible effort should be made to raise enough money to keep it in the country.
http://www.mla.gov.uk/news_and_views/press/releases/2009/welsh_knitters
MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION
What are your feelings about disposal?
Following the disposal seminar last month at the University College London, and two years on from the changes to the Code of Ethics, we want to know your views on disposal, and whether your views have changed.
http://www.museumsassociation.org/37924
Associateship of the Museums Association relaunches
The AMA was relaunched at the Museums Association's Annual Conference and Exhibition 2009 in London, with the new scheme reflecting the need for greater accessibility for candidates and closer ties to the workplace. Charlotte Holmes, the MA's museum development officer, said: "We made the changes in response to calls from candidates and employers, and the changes reflect the things that both those groups want and need. We hope that the changes regarding access to the AMA mean that it is now truly accessible to everyone working in museums. “
http://www.museumsassociation.org/about/ama-relaunches
UK GOVERNMENT
New law gives those who acquire Treasure a duty to report it
The Coroners and Justice Act received Royal Assent on 12 November and introduces a package of reforms to the Treasure investigation system to help safeguard archaeological finds. As well as establishing a new Coroner for Treasure, the Act places a new duty on those who acquire objects which they believe to be Treasure to make a report to the Treasure Coroner within 14 days. Previously only those who found the Treasure have had a duty to report it. Closing this loophole will make a considerable difference to efforts to monitor sales of potential Treasure.
The legislation also includes the presumption that, if there is no evidence to the contrary, a find will be assumed to have been discovered after September 1997 and to come from England and Wales, bringing it within the remit of the Treasure Act. Treasure is defined as gold and silver objects, groups of coins from the same finds which are over 300 years old, and prehistoric base-metal assemblages. (source: National Museums Directors Conference newsletter December 2009)
http://services.parliament.uk/bills/2008-09/coronersandjustice.html
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2009/ukpga_20090025_en_3#pt1-ch4-l1g30
AMGUEDDFA CYMRU - NATIONAL MUSEUM WALES
National Slate Museum receives top Education award
The National Slate Museum Llanberis has recently been granted the prestigious Sandford Award for heritage education. Receiving the award for the very first time for its high quality education provision for local and visiting schools, the museum received a glowing report from judges who observed a visit by schoolchildren earlier this year, carrying out a rigorous assessment based on education policies, procedures, resources and workshops.
Valid for five years, the Sandford Award is regarded as an independently judged ‘Quality Assured Assessment’ of heritage education within an historic and cultural environment. The Awards are made annually and are non-competitive, recognizing quality and excellence in the educational services and facilities at a site including the awareness of and adherence to the national curricula; a contribution to raising awareness of local and national heritage; evidence of good liaison with educational establishments; how well the educational potential of the site is being developed; the provision of relevant educational resources; and the provision of additional facilities that enhance the quality of the students' visit.
http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/5/?article_id=573
Community toolkit officially launched at the Waterfront
Produced by Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, the toolkit has been created out of a multi-faceted project run by the National Waterfront Museum called Everywhere in Chains - Wales and Enslavement. This project commemorated the bicentenary of the Slave Trade Abolition Act in 2007.
The free electronic resource has been designed to help people understand Wales’ role in the transatlantic slave trade. It aims to encourage individuals, groups and organisations to examine the history of the trade, including its modern legacies, through museum collections. It also offers ideas, activities and workshops for setting up community projects that delve into topics such as black history and Welsh heritage.
http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/5/?article_id=570
TRAINING AND CONFERENCES
Social History Curators Group Conference - Birmingham, 8-10 July 2010
More for Less: big impacts with small resources
Museum professionals are experts at utilising creativity, verve and imagination to overcome the potential limitations of small resources. At different times we are all likely to face the difficulties of shrinking budgets, limited funding options and overburdened resources. This year’s conference tackles these problems head on, and shows you how you can rise to the challenge and provide high quality and engaging experiences for your visitors. Topics covered will include proven strategies from previous times of economic difficulty and recent case studies that have demonstrated innovation and inspiration despite various restrictions.
SHCG are pleased to invite proposals from across the museum profession, for presentations which address one or more of the core conference themes:
- Survival stories - how museums have coped with resource cuts and limitations
- Engaging and increasing your audiences without increasing your costs
- Creative ways of working with small budgets - examples relating to collections, interpretation, partnerships, learning and marketing
- Minimising the environmental cost - sustainability and recycling
- Developing partnerships with libraries, archives and children’s centres
- Digital technologies - new solutions for age-old problems
Proposals for a 30 minute presentation should include a 200 word summary of the presentation, contact details and institutional affiliation (if any). Please email proposals for presentations to Hannah Crowdy, [log in to unmask], by 1st February 2010
FUNDING AND AWARDS
The Plowden Medal 2010
Nominations are now invited for the 2010 Plowden Medal. A selection board, drawn from the conservation community, the Royal Collection and the Royal Warrant Holders Association will consider nominations in March 2010. If you should wish to apply, nomination papers (the Calling Notice 2010 and Application Form 2010) can be downloaded from the links below or obtained from, The Secretary, The Royal Warrant Holders Association, No.1 Buckingham Place, London SW1E 6HR. The final date for the receipt of nominations is Friday 12 February 2010.
http://www.rwha.co.uk/the-association/plowden.html
Museums & Heritage Awards for Excellence
Celebrating best practice within museums, galleries and heritage visitor attractions, hundreds of entrants will once again battle it out to win one of these Eleven Prestigious Awards. Now in their eighth successful year the Museums & Heritage Awards for Excellence are once again getting set to recognise and celebrate best practice within museums, galleries and heritage visitor attractions across the UK.
With eleven categories to choose from the Museums & Heritage Awards for Excellence offer everyone the opportunity to enter - no matter what your budgets are, how many visitors you attract or high profile the project. The deadline for entries is Friday 19 February 2010 and full information on how to enter can be downloaded here!
http://www.museumsandheritage.com/awards
Old Possum’s Practical Trust
Old Possum’s Practical Trust makes a number of grants each year to further the aims of the Trust. Grants are more likely to be given for projects that involve:
- children or young people
- disabled or disadvantaged people
- communities
and which fall within historic, artistic, architectural, aesthetic, literary, musical or theatrical criteria and which enhance the lives of others, rather than the well-being of the applicants themselves.
http://www.old-possums-practical-trust.org.uk/page.cfm?pageid=328
Aggregates Levy Fund for Wales
The Aggregates Levy is a tax on the commercial quarrying of certain aggregates: crushed rock, sand and gravel. In 2002 the Government decided that some of the money raised by the Aggregates Levy could be used to fund projects that reduce the affect of past, present and future aggregates production, or reduce the need for primary aggregates extraction (quarrying). The Welsh Assembly Government gets a share of this money, currently £1.6 million a year.
The Aggregates Levy Fund supports projects that reduce the effects of the aggregates industry on communities in Wales. It is important that applicants can establish a clear relationship between their project and aggregates extraction. Applicants must be able to demonstrate the impact of the aggregates extraction upon local people and their community, the environment or the economy, and how your project will reduce these impacts.
The priorities of particular interest to voluntary and community groups include:
Category 4 - Community
Category 5 - Conserving and improving sites of special interest
Category 6 - Education
Potential applicants are encouraged to contact the Fund Unit to discuss their eligibility before applying.
For further information and advice contact the ALFW Unit:
ALFW Unit, Policy Branch, Planning Division, Welsh Assembly Government, Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ. Email [log in to unmask] or call 029 2082 3261 or 029 2080 1492.
CHARITIES AND VOLUNTEERS
Helping charities through the Economic Downturn
The downturn in the economy poses a challenge to charities with more people needing their services but many sources of charity income are in decline. As the regulator of charities in England and Wales, we want to make sure that we are doing all that we can to support charities through the current climate. We have brought together on this page information charities need in order to understand, prepare for and react to the changing financial situation. These pages are regularly updated, so please look out for new information and resources, and news in our ‘news’ section.
http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/enhancingcharities/economic.asp
The economic downturn: 15 questions trustees need to ask
In light of the current recession, we have produced a practical tool, in the form of this checklist, for trustees to use. We have designed the checklist to be suitable for all charities to use. The 15 main questions will not all be relevant to every charity - it will depend on a charity’s size and how it operates. The checklist reflects a good practice approach that charities should use when regularly reviewing the way they operate, and this approach becomes especially important during an economic downturn.
http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/tcc/ccnews29check.asp?
Free procurement guide clarifies commissioning process
A guide to commissioning and procurement law for third sector organisations has been jointly published by the NCVO and Navca. Pathways through the Maze - a Guide to Procurement Law, written by Anthony Collins Solicitors, aims to help voluntary groups understand the legal and practical issues of public sector contracting.
The guide is written specifically for people working for local charities, voluntary organisations, community groups or social enterprises. Smaller organisations that did not have legal teams may find the guide particularly useful.
http://www.ncvo-vol.org.uk/pathways
PUBLICATIONS AND RESEARCH
The Engaging Museum: Developing Museums for Visitor Involvement - Graham Black
This very practical book guides museums on how to create the highest quality experience possible for their visitors. Creating an environment that supports visitor engagement with collections means examining every stage of the visit, from the initial impetus to go to a particular institution, to front-of-house management, interpretive approach and qualitative analysis afterwards. This holistic approach will be immensely helpful to museums in meeting the needs and expectations of visitors and building their audience.
RESOURCES
Good Practice Wales (Wales Audit office)
On 26 November the Wales Audit Office launched a new online good practice portal - in partnership with seven other public sector organisations. The web portal aims to be a single point of access to a wide range of examples of good practice and notable practice across the Welsh public services, to help organisations find out who’s doing something that might help them.
http://www.goodpracticewales.com
AHI conference papers - Making the Past work for the Future
Our conference in 2009 was held in south Wales, and run in partnership with Dehongli Cymru/Interpret Wales. The programme looked at the impact of interpretation in regenerating places and engaging communities in Wales and across the world. We’re delighted to make papers from the conference available for download.
http://www.ahi.org.uk/www/news/view_detail/51/
NEWS - WALES
Arrest after 50s car museum blaze
A 46-year-old man has been arrested after a suspicious fire at a museum, which is believed to have destroyed a classic car collection. A 56-year-old man was taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution following the fire at the Cae Dai Museum in Lawnt, Denbigh, Denbighshire. The blaze broke out just after 2300 GMT on Tuesday. Cae Dai houses a collection of 1950s vehicles including a Cadillac and a lorry used in the Great Train Robbery.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8389995.stm
Disused Victorian station poised to become museum piece
A Victorian railway station in Monmouthshire which has been closed for half a century is poised to become an exhibit at a Welsh museum. County councillors are keen to see the single platform Raglan station preserved for future generations. The station was on the Pontypool to Coleford railway line which opened in 1856. It finally closed 99 years later.
The National History Museum at St Fagans near Cardiff says it would consider putting the station on show.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8400948.stm
£440,000 lottery grant for museum of Cardiff
A museum to tell the history of Cardiff has been awarded an early Christmas gift - a £440,000 lottery grant. The Cardiff Story will be based around a core collection of 8,000 artefacts and expects to open at the city's old library in The Hayes in a year's time. The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) said the grant would help "bring Cardiff's historic past back to life". The exhibits, currently stored at the National Museum Cardiff, are expected to go on show in November 2010.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8408975.stm
NEWS - UK
Football museum to go to Urbis
Trustees of the National Football Museum have agreed a controversial move from its home at Preston North End's Deepdale stadium to Urbis in Manchester. The decision comes despite opposition from staff and locals in Manchester and Preston. More than 900 people joined the Keep Our Urbis group on Facebook, while more than 3,500 signed a petition on the prime minister's website to keep the museum in Preston. Trustees said they had been forced to make the move because of a financial shortfall. Manchester City Council has promised £2m annually in revenue funding to the museum, and to underwrite capital costs that are expected to be up to £8m.
Elizabeth Bennett & Carol Whittaker
Current Awareness Service
Inclusion of third party information in the Museums Current Awareness Service does not constitute an endorsement by CyMAL. CyMAL takes no responsibility for the quality of third party events, products or services featured in this Newsletter. Whilst every care is taken to provide accurate information, neither CyMAL nor the editor undertakes any liability for any error or omission.
If you know anyone who would like to be added to the circulation list, or would like a ‘hard copy’ of the main mailing, or if you don’t have access to the internet and need prints from the sites listed - please contact Carol Whittaker. People who currently receive hard copies will continue to do so.
Welsh and English versions of the bulletin will remain separate in response to requests from readers.
---
Elizabeth Bennett
Swyddog Cyngor a Chefnogaeth - Advice and Support Officer
CyMAL: Amgueddfeydd Archifau a Llyfrgelloedd Cymru - CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales
Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru - Welsh Assembly Government
Rhodfa Padarn,
Aberystwyth,
Ceredigion,
SY23 3UR.
Ffon/Tel: 0300 062 2101
Fax/Ffacs: 0300 062 2052
e-bost/e-mail: [log in to unmask]