I thought this organisational/strategic news from 24 Hour Museum would
be of interest to MCG members:

 
September 11, 2007

 

24 Hour Museum has agreed terms with the Department of Culture, Media
and Sport (DCMS) to take over the running of ICONS, (www.icons.org.uk)
the flagship site commissioned as part of the DCMS' Culture Online
project. 

 

The deal means a newly-recruited journalist, Aline Tanner, will keep the
headline-grabbing website fresh, boosting the total of ICONS to 100,
while 24 Hour Museum will maintain the site for two years. 

 

"This is a great example of sustainable working," according to Jane
Finnis, Director of the 24 Hour Museum. "We know we have the skills and
expertise to get the most out of the ICONS concept. There are lots of
benefits our partners in the museum, library and archive sector can
bring to the new relationship, and of course we can bring our own
audiences from 24 Hour Museum over to the site as well. It's all about
making sure we get good value for public money." 

 

24 Hour Museum is working closely with ICONS partners and the Advisory
Board to make sure the site develops in a way that respects the founding
philosophy behind the site. Aline and the editorial team at 24HM are
working on the next list of ICONS to be launched on the site - you can
see what's been nominated at www.icons.org.uk 

 

"ICONS has certainly grabbed readers in surprising ways," commented Jon
Pratty, Editor of 24 Hour Museum, now also responsible for ICONS. "It
has set the tone for a more interesting and wider-ranging debate about
what makes English culture, and what makes an ICON of England. With the
Olympics coming up, and an influx of cultural visitors to these shores,
these debates promise to continue on ICONS." 

 

The next wave of ICONS will be launched at Christmas 2007, with a
subsequent final announcement in late spring 2008, taking the total
collection to 100. 

 

Content, partnership and media enquiries to:

 

Jon Pratty

Editor
 
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01273 623336 (direct)
01273 623266 (main office number)
07739 287392 (mobile)
 
The 24 Hour Museum
Your best guide to museums, galleries, arts and heritage
www.24hourmuseum.org.uk <http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/>  
 
www.show.me.uk <http://www.show.me.uk/>  - great stuff for kids from UK
museums and galleries
 
Office 4 
28 Kensington Street 
Brighton 
BN1 4AJ
 
Winner, Best of the Web award, Museums and the Web 2004
New Statesman New Media Awards 2002, 2005
 

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