CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales
Museums Current Awareness Service - Bulletin 117
Information about the Museums Current Awareness Service can be found on CyMAL’s pages on the Welsh Assembly website.
http://www.wales.gov.uk/cymal
WELSH GOVERNMENT
Tourism sector panel
Members of the Welsh Government's three new advisory panels - for tourism, construction and food and farming were announced today. The panels represent a wealth of experience and expertise that will make a significant contribution to support and help the sectors grow and create new jobs in Wales, said Business Minister Edwina Hart. The Tourism Sector Panel consists mainly of business people with expertise and an established reputation in the tourism sector.
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY FOR WALES
Record of Proceedings - Questions to the Minister for Housing, Regeneration and Heritage
Wednesday, 2 November 2011
http://tinyurl.com/d9hs78e
FEDERATION OF MUSEUMS AND ART GALLERIES IN WALES
Museums Advocacy
The Federation of Museums and Galleries of Wales officially launched its Advocacy Work at the AGM earlier this month. The final documents are on our website under the section on advocacy. The following documents are available:
- The Federations Advocacy Strategy.
- Pro-forma advocacy document: This document can be downloaded and adapted as little or as much as you require to suit the issues and objectives of your museum service.
- Advocacy Toolkit: For those of you who would like to personalise your strategy in greater detail than using the pro-forma.
- ‘Advocacy Toolkit Data’: Here you will find useful data, reports and projects supporting the Key Messages and Statements. This section is fluid and will be added to and edited as information and examples of best practice projects become available over the period of the strategy. Members may add and contribute to this section if they wish to. We will encourage members to add further details to their projects, so that this becomes a valuable and useful tool. Some data from CyMAL’s Spotlight survey will be incorporated to substantially enhance this section. Links will be added to relevant sites and sources.
We hope that you will find this work useful in advocating your museum service to your key decision makers.
http://www.welshmuseumsfederation.org
Museum Strategy for Wales Regional Meetings
The Federation is working with CyMAL to help implement the Museum Strategy for Wales. For this purpose it has appointed Sarah Daly and Rachael Lovering to deliver a programme of work concentrating on areas led by individual museums, the Federation, and liaising with CyMAL and Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales on projects which they are leading on and on which the Federation are partners.
21st November - Carmarthenshire County Museum, Abergwili 10:30am - 1:30pm
23rd November - Cynon Valley Museum & Gallery 10:30am - 1:30pm
1st December - Powysland Museum, Welshpool 1pm-4pm.
The meetings are open to all. If you would like to attend or if you have any questions then please contact Rachael Lovering on [log in to unmask]
Dates for meeting in North Wales to follow; check the Federation website for more details.
MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION
Report warns that long term effect of cuts is likely to be “deep-seated”
A biennial survey into West Midlands museum trends has shown the extent to which local authority support for museums was being cut even before the government’s austerity plan was implemented. Compiled by Arts Council England and the now-defunct Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), the Fast Forward report analyses long-term trends in the West Midlands museum sector. It has been published every two years since the millennium.
According to the survey, almost 50% of respondents saw a fall in funding and other kinds of support provided by local councils. A further 41% said their local authority support had stayed the same - a reduction in real terms because of inflation.
PROMOTING MUSEUMS
Newsflash! Millions of people looking for Things to Do in your venues!
Calling all DDE users! BBC Things To Do is now featuring art and craft activities as well as history, nature & outdoors, dinosaurs and a bit of science. The website’s being promoted in regular slots on the BBC homepage, reaching one million unique users every day. That’s a lot of eyeballs on your activities. Now's the time to register for Things to Do and add your activities to Culture24
http://www.culture24.org.uk/bbcpartnership
Museums at Night 2011 evaluation
The evaluation is out at last! Thank you for helping to make 2011 the most successful Museums at Night ever. 352 venues staged 467 events, in 169 different towns and cities across the UK. These fantastic events attracted over 100,000 visitors, and attracted media coverage worth over £1.1 million pounds - an extraordinary result, based on direct campaign funding of only £95,000.
Executive summary - http://kvisit.com/SnZ3HAQ
Full evaluation report - http://kvisit.com/St53HAQ
Museums at Night 2012
Museums at Night next year will take place over the weekend of Friday 18th - Sunday 20th May 2012.
Museum 2.0 Blog - Inside a Museum Website Redesign
When I started at The Museum of Art & History (MAH) in May, one of my priorities was redesigning our website. I didn't want to do anything fancy--just make the site more functional, lively, easy to update, and reflective of the new institutional vision of being a community hub....
http://museumtwo.blogspot.com/2011/11/inside-museum-website-redesign.html
AMGUEDDFA CYMRU - NATIONAL MUSEUM WALES
Treasure and the Portable Antiquities Scheme
The Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS) is a voluntary programme run by the United Kingdom government to record the increasing numbers of small finds of archaeological interest found by members of the public. The scheme was begun in 1997 and now covers most of England and Wales.
There have been recent concerns expressed as to the future operation of the Portable Antiquities Scheme in Wales. Discussions between the Welsh Government, Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, the British Museum, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have now successfully addressed this issue in such a way that will ensure the continuation of the scheme, including the important post of Finds Liaison Officer, in Wales.
http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/rhagor/research/archaeology/1471/
Appointment of two new Trustees of Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales
The President of Amgueddfa Cymru - National Museum Wales, Elisabeth Elias, has announced the appointment of two new Trustees, Professor Robert Pickard and Dr Glenda Jones. Their terms of appointment will run from 1 June 2012 to 31 May 2016.
http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/5/?article_id=712
CONSERVATION
Conservation Matters In Wales: Conservation, Research and Innovation - Aberdare, 7 December 2011
A one day conference organised by Amgueddfa Cymru: National Museum Wales, The Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales and Cardiff University. The cost of the day is £20 which includes lunch and coach (£10 for students). If you wish to join us, please send a cheque or Purchase Order payable to AC-NMW before 21 November 2011 to Katrina Deering, National Collections Centre, Heol Crochendy, Parc Nantgarw, CF15 7QT. Email any queries to [log in to unmask]
Do our codes of ethics inform and support conservation today - Cardiff, 12th April 2012
Icon Metals Group in Association with Cardiff University Call for Papers – Open now
This one day conference will be informal and inclusive and invites the conservation community together to help evaluate how ethics have influenced our profession in the past and how they might define our future. This event is a must for those seeking an introduction to ethics or those who would like to update their professional working knowledge of ethics in conservation. The programme will be delivered and chaired by an expert panel selected to provide a wide spectrum of experience and knowledge drawn from across the museum and heritage community.
A full conference programme and booking form will be available early 2012. To submit a presentation or register an interest please contact Ian Clark. Telephone 07836 536932, email [log in to unmask]
DOCUMENTATION, DIGITISATION AND ICT
UK told to increase digitisation efforts
The European Commission has called on the UK and other member states to step up efforts to digitise cultural objects through public-private partnerships and the adoption of national strategies. Its recommendation on digitisation and digital preservation states that the 27 member states should “pool their resources" in digitising cultural material. This includes adopting national legislation and strategies to ensure the long-term preservation of digital materials and increasing the number of objects available online through the Europeana website from 19 million to 30 million by 2015.
DISH2011: Digital Strategies for Heritage Conference - Rotterdam, December 6th-9th 2012
DISH2011 is the bi-annual international conference on strategies for digital heritage. It offers you opportunities to find knowledge and inspiration and to discuss with colleagues the effects of digitisation and digital change on your organisation. Keywords for the conference are inspiration, knowledge, skills and networking. This year the themes are Business for Heritage, Co-creation and Crowdsourcing, Institutional Change and Building a New Public Space.
EVENTS
"The British Guide to Showing Off" Special Screening - Berriew, Saturday 3 December
We are delighted to announce a special screening of "The British Guide to Showing Off", a feature-length documentary, by director Jes Benstock, on sculptor Andrew Logan and his legendary Alternative Miss World contests. The film traces Andrew's life and all twelve events, which started in 1972, and have become an iconic part of London life. Tickets cost £5 each (cash on the night) and include a first drink. Reserve a seat by e-mailing [log in to unmask]
http://www.britishguidetoshowingoff.com
http://www.andrewlogan.com/museum/
Register now for Heritage Day 2011 - London, 8 December
Registration is now open for one of the biggest events in the heritage calendar - the Heritage Alliance’s annual Heritage Day. the packed Heritage Day programme will commence at 1.00pm with a hot lunch, a chat with colleagues and a chance to explore the power station, after which delegates will head to neighbouring Metropolitan Wharf for the afternoon conference. Alliance Chairman Loyd Grossman will deliver his review of the year, followed by a keynote speech from Chair of the National Trust Simon Jenkins, and a Q&A session chaired by Alliance Deputy Chair Ian Lush. Delegates will also be treated to the announcement of the winner of the second Heritage Alliance Hero Award.
http://www.theheritagealliance.org.uk/2011/10/31/register-now-for-heritage-day-2011/
TRAINING AND CONFERENCES
Commercial Development Day - Cardiff, 25 November 2011
The emphasis for this event is on maximising income from retail activities but it will also include a presentation from Visit Wales to set the heritage retail sector in Wales in its context and to inform retailers as to their market. The day will include a two course lunch and a tour of parts of the venue. This event would suit delegates who want to refresh or re-visit basic retailing principles, to hear about how the National Museum of Wales operates its trading arm, who are looking to diversify income streams or who would simply like to network with colleagues.
http://www.acenterprises.org.uk/item.asp?II=62
Audiences and Participation: What is the value of collaboration? - London, 3 February 2012
What are the different forms of participation and what are its benefits? Audience collaboration, co-curation and participation are becoming familiar terms in the development of visitor experiences and are increasingly employed in our efforts to engage audiences and attract funding. This one day seminar will explore these themes and provide examples of what audience participation can mean for both our organisations and our visitors. The day’s speakers will discuss different aspects of audience participation and provide case studies of how and why it has been used.
http://www.visitors.org.uk/node/459
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
Clore Short Course and the Emerging Leaders
Please note that applications for the next Short Courses are now open. The next short course will take place at Linden Hall, Morpeth, Northumberland, Monday 27 February - Friday 9 March 2012. Deadline for applications is noon on Monday 28 November 2011)
We are also running the second Emerging Leaders Course for early stage arts professionals with between 3-5 years’ experience of managing people and projects. This course will take place at Missenden Abbey, Buckinghamshire, Sunday 25 - Friday 30 March 2012. Deadline for applications is noon on Friday 2 December 2011)
http://www.cloreleadership.org
ACCESS, LIFELONG LEARNING AND SOCIAL INCLUSION
Learning Through Arts and Culture Improves Young People's Life Chances
The Cultural Learning Alliance (CLA) has published key findings demonstrating the impact of cultural learning on the lives of children and young people. Amongst the findings, based on a review of all available large-scale English language data including from the US, funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, are:
- Learning through arts and culture improves attainment in all subjects
- Participation in structured arts activities increases cognitive abilities
- Students from low-income families who take part in arts activities at school are three times more likely to get a degree
- The employability of students who study arts subjects is higher and they are more likely to stay in employment
- Students who engage in the arts at school are twice as likely to volunteer and are 20% more likely to vote as young adults
http://www.culturallearningalliance.org.uk/page.aspx?p=93
Jodi Awards - Swansea, 1 December 2011
The Trustees and Director of the Jodi Mattes Trust take great pleasure in inviting you to the 2011 Jodi Awards. The Jodi Awards are for museums, galleries, libraries, archives and heritage venues which use digital technology to widen access to information, collections, learning and creativity for disabled people.
The ceremony will be joined and presented by David Anderson, Director General Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales. BSL will be provided on the night and the Museum is fully accessible for wheelchair users. Access information can be found at http://www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/swansea/access/
RSVP by Thursday 24 November, tel: 01792 638950, email: [log in to unmask]
The Jodi Awards shortlist can be viewed at http://www.jodimattestrust.org.uk/blog.
Seminar - Digital Access in the 21st Century museum, archive and library - Swansea, 1 December 2011
The Jodi Mattes Trust, the National Waterfront Museum and CyMAL: Museums, Archives and Libraries Wales invite you to a free seminar about digital inclusion for disabled people in museums, archives and libraries, with speakers from Wales, England and France, and the 2011 Jodi Awards shortlist to share some of the world’s best practice. View the seminar programme on http://www.jodimattestrust.org.uk/home
To book a place at the seminar, add the word DAC seminar when you RSVP to your invitation.
CHARITIES AND VOLUNTEERS
Legacy10
Legacy10 is an independent campaign, launched on 2 November 2011, to encourage charitable giving. Specifically, it is aimed at increasing the number of people in the UK who leave money to charity in their wills. It is run a by a committee covering business, culture and the wider charitable sector chaired by Roland Rudd, Chairman of RLM Finsbury. Legacy10 will be a registered charity with the purpose of encouraging legacy giving in the UK and will not collect or distribute funds.
Government re-introduces the British Empire Medal
Local volunteers who make a real difference to their communities could see their work recognised in the Honours system as the British Empire Medal (BEM) will be re-introduced, announced Prime Minister David Cameron. The BEM will be based on merit as with the other awards in the Honours system. It will normally be awarded on behalf of The Queen by the Lord Lieutenant of the relevant County or Local Authority. All those awarded BEMs will also be invited to a Royal Garden Party.
http://www.cabinetoffice.gov.uk/news/government-re-introduces-british-empire-medal
Investment of charitable funds: overview
Charities invest so that they can further their charitable aims. They can invest in a number of ways to achieve their aims, and there are specific legal duties and decision making processes attached to each. In our updated guidance, Investment of Charitable Funds (CC14), we concentrate on financial investment and programme related investment. The guidance now also includes some guidance on ‘mixed motive’ investment. This is another approach to investing and is an emerging area of interest for some charities.
'Train your trustees,' regulator urges charities in new registration bulletin
Research by the Charity Commission, the regulator of charities in England and Wales, reveals that many organisations joining the register of charities do not provide any training to new trustees. The online research, conducted by the Charity Commission, suggests that charities-to-be may not be preparing their trustees for the duties and responsibilities they will face. The survey findings are unveiled in the first of a new series of registration bulletins launched today. The regular bulletins will provide facts and figures on new registrations and highlight themes and emerging trends in the charity sector, as well as promote good practice.
http://www.charitycommission.gov.uk/RSS/News/pr_reg_bulletin.aspx
Local government and the third sector in Wales
WCVA have issued a guidance document in advance of the 2012 local government elections, called Working together - a vision for local government and the third sector in Wales. The third sector plays a massive role in the lives of local people, and local government faces huge challenges at present, so this guidance forms a set of practical steps that local authorities can take that WCVA believe will pay real dividends for their communities. The steps WCVA suggest that local authorities take include ensuring local people and service users are central to designing, improving and scrutinising public services, including through co-options to scrutiny committees.
http://www.participationcymru.org.uk/local-government-and-the-third-sector-in-wales
RESOURCES
ICOM UK welcomes renewals & new applications for 2012!
The Executive Committee of ICOM UK is pleased to announce that we are now accepting renewals and new membership applications for ICOM Membership in 2012. Membership of ICOM offers a range of fantastic benefits including:
- Network and build partnerships with museums worldwide
- Access thousands of museums and exhibitions across the globe for free
- Demonstrate your support for the international museum community
- Join international specialist committees in more than 40 professional disciplines
- Use services like the ICOM/WIPO Cultural Mediation service
- Be part of the ICOM UK members-only discussion list
- Participate in ICOM events, conferences and seminars
http://uk.icom.museum/membership.
SITUATIONS VACANT
Curator - Ceredigion Museum, Aberystwyth
£28,636-£31,754, full time, permanent. Closing date 28 November 2011.
Job Purpose
- To manage the service, staff and collections of Ceredigion Museum.
- To promote conservation and access to the history and heritage of Ceredigion through engagement with schools, societies and relevant organizations
- To provide advice on heritage issues to the County Council and other agencies.
- To care for the Council’s art collection.
http://www.ceredigionjobs.info/9546.html
NEWS - WALES
Bronze Age hoard found in Manorbier, Pembrokeshire
A collection of Bronze Age artefacts found by a man with a metal detector in a Pembrokeshire field may end up at the National Museum Wales. The tools, a weapon, and other items which were found by Gavin Palmer near Manorbier have been declared treasure by the county's coroner. The museum says the find helps shed light on how people lived in west Wales 3,000 years ago. It is having the find independently valued with a view to buying the items.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-15493977
Llanrwst Almshouse Museum rent rise blamed for closure
Hundreds of items are being returned to their owners after the Llanrwst Almshouse Museum closed. The trust which ran the museum said it used to be charged a pepper-corn rent but is unable to afford £2,000 a year for a new lease. The 12 almshouses have been used to show different periods across the buildings' 400-year history. Owners, the Sir John Wynn of Gwydir Trust, said it needed money to keep the buildings in good repair.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-west-wales-15477456
Ceredigion Museum gives away vintage clothes collection
For a lover of vintage clothes Margaret Evans's vast collection is a dream come true, but it has turned into something of a headache for one museum. Mrs Evans was an avid collector and started amassing her extensive range of items, dating from 1880 and 1980, when she was aged eight. But it is too large to look after properly and storage is also a problem. Extending to 17,000 items, it is being broken up and some of it is being given away to the National Trust.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-mid-wales-15407163
Swansea's Glynn Vivian Art gallery shuts for £6m refit
The Glynn Vivian art gallery in Swansea is closing its doors for two years as it undergoes a £6m facelift. The work will include a complete refurbishment of the 1911 building, a new entrance and re-cladding of the 1974 gallery extension. The project is being funded by the Welsh Government, the Arts Council of Wales and Swansea Council.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-15446703
NEWS - ENGLAND
Spode museum to be launched at former factory
Stoke-on-Trent pottery is expected to open next spring thanks to a £50,000 Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Many of the items that will make up the Spode exhibition were rescued from the former museum in 2008 when the Royal Worcester company collapsed. The two-year project will be based in the old Spode factory, now owned by Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-stoke-staffordshire-15639158
Jewellery stolen in Court Barn museum burglary
Items of silverware and jewellery of "national importance" have been stolen from Court Barn museum in Chipping Campden. Among the items taken were objects created by designer and architect CR Ashbee, one of the pioneers of the Arts and Crafts movement. The museum said up to 30 objects, worth more than £30,000, were stolen. Curator Sarah McCormick Healy said the objects which had been stolen were "very important items nationally and locally".
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-15744536
NEWS - UK
MOSI in merger talks with National Science Museum
Talks are to begin over a possible merger between Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) and the National Science Museum in London. The move would make MOSI part of a group including the National Railway Museum in York and the National Media Museum in Bradford. Last year the museum was told it would lose all government funding by 2015. Peter Fell, MOSI's interim chairman, said its trustees were exploring the long-term benefits of a merger.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-manchester-15598910
NEWS - INTERNATIONAL
$1m artwork damaged by cleaner
An art installation worth more than $1m (£624,000) has been damaged by an overzealous cleaner who tried to scrub away a deliberate patina. The patina was meant to look like a puddle beneath a rubber trough placed under a stacked tower of wooden slats. Artist Martin Kippenberger's When It Starts Dripping From the Ceiling remains on display in Dortmund's Ostwall Museum, where the damage occurred. The private collector who owns the installation by Kippenberger - who died in 1997 - has agreed that it remain on display despite the incident. Dortmund city spokesperson Dagmar Papajewski said it had not been decided whether the patina would be restored.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-15613227
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
CyMAL: Amgueddfeydd Archifau a Llyfrgelloedd Cymru - CyMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales
Llywodraeth Cymru - Welsh 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]