From Couch to Accreditation: get ready for your museum’s return
Back by popular demand, this practical workshop will provide an overview of the 2018 Museum Accreditation Standard. You’ll gain an overview of the 2018 standard, the online application system, and accompanying guidance documents. The workshop is also peppered with practical exercises that will help you plan your return.
The workshop will be delivered in two parts (morning and afternoon session) with sufficient breaks to allow you to step away from your computer screens.
About Jennie
This workshop is delivered on behalf of WMMD by Jennie Crawford. Jennie is a freelance consultant in the museum and heritage sector. She has extensive knowledge of the museum Accreditation standard having worked as an Accreditation Adviser with ACE (2011-15) and MDNW (2018-22).
Maximum two delegates per organisation. This is for all museums in the West Midlands which are Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation.
The webinar will be auto captioned through Zoom. If you would benefit from any other form of access support, including live captioning, please answer ‘yes’ to the access requirements question on the booking form and email the WMMD team as early as possible stating the support you require.
All participants will receive an email containing a Zoom link to the training prior to the event. The email will be sent to the email address used for booking. If you have not received an email the day before the event please contact us.
If you can’t see the booking button this event is fully book. To join the waiting list please email wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk.
From Couch to Accreditation: get ready for your museum’s return
Friday 17 February, 10am-12noon and 1.30pm-3.30pm
Online
Environmental Conditions – Advice for winter blackouts
Following the information about the Government Indemnity Scheme and relaxation of the lower temperature requirement to help venues turn down the dial on their heating this winter, this is some follow-on advice from the GIS Environmental Adviser about possible winter blackouts. All of the security points already circulated as advice from the National Security and Protection Manager apply to environmental control systems and monitoring equipment (Read this advice).
It is important to distinguish between rolling black-outs as currently being considered by the National Grid, and power cuts due to adverse weather conditions. The latter are ideally covered by disaster preparedness plans and measures that museums have in place already.
The rolling black-outs will be announced in advance, and it is therefore possible to prepare for them.
The brief periods without control (c 3-hour slots are being proposed?) may not be a major issue for museum environments, but GIS would advise the following:
- Retain as much as possible of the controlled air by keeping (internal as well as external) doors closed, reducing any air ventilation/ leakage/ draughts, and using blinds, curtains and/ or shutters if the museum decides it cannot be open to the public during these blackouts;
- gradually reduce the amount of environmental control in the day(s) leading up to the planned black-out to create a slow and gradual change to the period with no control, and just as importantly, gradually reintroduce the environmental control and resist the temptation to get conditions back to where they were as quickly as possible. Slow and smooth changes are much less likely to create problems (whether from ‘good’ to ‘bad’ conditions, or the other way round);
- where possible switch control and monitoring equipment off manually prior to the blackout period, and switch back on manually after the period has finished, to avoid damage to equipment as a result of the brief surge when electricity supply is restored;
- monitor the effect of the first few black-outs on the environments (most monitoring equipment is battery-operated and will continue to take readings even if there can be no live data), and adjust the need for/ amount of preparation accordingly. Museums relying on their BMS for monitoring data may wish to purchase some independent monitoring equipment that continues to operate during a blackout (unless generators are in place to ensure uninterrupted power supply).
Coffee and Chatter
Grab your morning cuppa…
WMMD is pleased to announce that Museums Worcestershire is delivering Revealing Hidden Histories in 2023/24. Join WMMD and Museums Worcestershire to learn more about the programme and how it can help you explore your collection and engage with audiences.
It’s also the perfect opportunity to share what’s happening at your museum, exchange ideas with colleagues across the region and hear about the latest sector guidance and news.
10.30am-11.30am
Zoom details:
https://zoom.us/j/99254865285?pwd=R2xiUlUzOFdWMGJFQXpyL0E4cHpNQT09
Meeting ID: 992 5486 5285
Password: 579046
Coffee and Chatter will be auto-captioned.
Environmental Conditions – Temporary suspension of minimum temperature requirement
To support museums with rising energy costs throughout the winter months, Arts Council England has agreed, with DCMS, to suspend the minimum temperature requirement for the next four months (December – March).
The standard requirement for temperature is: 16°C – 24°C with a maximum fluctuation of 4°C within 24 hours. The minimum requirement of 16°C will be suspended to 31 March 2023.
This arrangement is introduced with immediate effect and is not expected to produce negative impact on collections and loan items under indemnity. This temporary arrangement requires a planned approach of gradually reducing the temperature at the beginning and restoring at end of the 4 month period, to create a slow and gradual change to the period with no minimum temperature control; and in agreement with owners/ lenders.
This temporary arrangement is supported by the Government Indemnity Scheme (GIS) Environmental Adviser who will assess submitted temperature data accordingly.
GIS continues to require environmental conditions to be maintained 24 hours a days, 7 days a week throughout the loan period from the time the indemnified object arrives until it departs from the loan venue in accordance with Annex D of the GIS Guidelines for National and Non National institutions. Relative humidity, temperature, light and UV levels are to be monitored through the loan period in the space within which the indemnified object is contained.
For general or environmental advice, email government.indemnityscheme@artscouncil.org.uk
Co-curation and Decolonisation: Mythbusting
This training session is delivered by Isilda Almeida and Maurice Davies. The training will provide you with an overview of the principles of co-curation and tackles the topic of decolonisation within a museum context. Isilda and Maurice will also discuss how you can begin to consider creating an EDI Action Plan.
Guest speakers Nicola Bird, Community Engagement officer for Oxford University Museums Partnership and Rawz., artist, youth worker, teacher, will discuss co-curation with underserved communities.
Between them, Isilda and Maurice bring knowledge, professional and lived-experience, current approaches to Equity and Inclusion, contextualised by historical and political events that have shaped how museums got to where they are.
This event is being delivered in partnership by WMMD and South East Museum Development (SEMD). It is the second in a series of three events linked to the WMMD Inclusive Museums programme. Other events in the series are Museums and the Legacy of Imperialism and Involving Volunteers in your EDI Journey.
Trigger warning
Content and activities in this session may be triggering. We ask that if you feel the need to stop and take a break, please do. If you need to reach out, please private message one of the facilitators and they will see you in a breakout room or start a separate call.
Isilda and Maurice will deliver the session via Zoom using a range of exercises and interactive features, including Breakout Rooms. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and actively participate in discussion. Some activities will also involve the use of Padlet. If you have any concerns about accessibility or usability for these features please contact wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk
Maximum two delegates per organisation. Priority will be given to delegates from non-NPO and non-National museums in the West Midlands which are Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation.
This event will be auto-captioned through Zoom. If you would benefit from any other form of access support, including live captioning, please answer ‘yes’ to the access requirements question on the booking form and email the WMMD team as early as possible stating the support you require.
All participants will receive an email containing a Zoom link to the training prior to the event. The email will be sent to the email address used for booking. If you have not received an email the day before the event please contact us.
If you can’t see the booking button this event is fully booked, please email wmmd@ironbridge.co.uk to join the waiting list.
Isilda Almeida and Maurice Davies deliver tailored approaches to increasing inclusive and equitable practice in the cultural sector, including training, advice, strategic planning, service review and community engagement.
Isilda Almeida, works as an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant in the culture sector and brings with her over 20 years’ experience of the UK heritage sector. Isilda will be supported by Maurice Davies, who brings nearly 40 years’ experience in UK museums and galleries as a policymaker, leader and curator. He has championed equity and inclusion since the 1990s when he was editor of Museums Journal. He has advised organisations such as the Greater London Authority, the National Museum Directors Council and the National Trust on aspects of heritage and race. Most recently he has helped Museum Detox with an organisational review and, with Isilda, delivered training on museums, equity and inclusion.
Co-curation and Decolonisation: Mythbusting
Thursday 23 February, 10am-12.30pm
Online
Bringing Volunteers on your EDI Journey
The training session is delivered by Isilda Almeida and Maurice Davies with guest speaker Raj Pal, Curator and Historian looking at championing Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) work with your volunteers.
In this session, Raj discusses positive ways to bring volunteers along the journey of diversity, including the exploration of difficult histories. You will gain an understanding of how to tackle this topic with your volunteer workforce and discuss with peers how to approach difficult conversations.
Between them, Isilda and Maurice bring knowledge, professional and lived-experience, current approaches to Equity and Inclusion, contextualised by historical and political events that have shaped how museums got to where they are.
This event is being delivered in partnership by WMMD and South East Museum Development (SEMD). It is the second in a series of three events linked to the WMMD Inclusive Museums programme. Other events in the series are Museums and the Legacy of Imperialism and Co-curation and Decolonisation: Mythbusting. Events will promoted via the WMMD newsletter and website and bookings will be first come first served for each event.
Trigger warning
Content and activities in this session may be triggering. We ask that if you feel the need to stop and take a break, please do. If you need to reach out, please private message one of the facilitators and they will see you in a breakout room or start a separate call.
Isilda and Maurice will deliver the session via Zoom using a range of exercises and interactive features, including Breakout Rooms. Participants are encouraged to ask questions and actively participate in discussion. Some activities will also involve the use of Padlet. If you have any concerns about accessibility or usability for these features please contact wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk
Maximum two delegates per organisation. Priority will be given to delegates from non-NPO and non-National museums in the West Midlands which are Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation.
This event will be auto-captioned through Zoom. If you would benefit from any other form of access support, including live captioning, please answer ‘yes’ to the access requirements question on the booking form and email the WMMD team as early as possible stating the support you require.
All participants will receive an email containing a Zoom link to the training prior to the event. The email will be sent to the email address used for booking. If you have not received an email the day before the event please contact us.
If you can’t see the booking button this event is fully booked, please email wmmd@ironbridge.co.uk to join the waiting list.
Isilda Almeida and Maurice Davies deliver tailored approaches to increasing inclusive and equitable practice in the cultural sector, including training, advice, strategic planning, service review and community engagement.
Isilda Almeida, works as an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Consultant in the culture sector and brings with her over 20 years’ experience of the UK heritage sector. Isilda will be supported by Maurice Davies, who brings nearly 40 years’ experience in UK museums and galleries as a policymaker, leader and curator. He has championed equity and inclusion since the 1990s when he was editor of Museums Journal. He has advised organisations such as the Greater London Authority, the National Museum Directors Council and the National Trust on aspects of heritage and race. Most recently he has helped Museum Detox with an organisational review and, with Isilda, delivered training on museums, equity and inclusion.
Bringing Volunteers on your EDI Journey
Tuesday 31 January, 10am-12.30pm
Online
2023 Sandford Awards – Call for Entries
The awards are non-competitive and provide an independent, quality assured assessment of your learning programmes. The six criteria underpinning the Sandford Award assessment provide a framework for success whether you are looking to gain the recognition your learning programmes deserve or seeking to develop the quality of your learning provision.
To find out more about the Sandford Award scheme and how to enter, please visit
Heritage Education Trust: Home of the Sandford Award
Closing date: 5pm, Friday 17 February
Rethinking Cataloguing
Museum Development East Midlands and West Midlands Museum Development are running three Midlands-wide workshops with Collections Trust.
This first session will explore the Spectrum Cataloguing procedure and discuss Collection Trust’s recent changes to the procedure, including the reasons for change, process of consultation and outcomes.
We will be considering themes that include: how we gather, record and prioritise information; who contributes and is responsible for information; access and users; capturing alternative perspectives; building documentation histories.
There will be opportunities to discuss with colleagues and ask questions throughout, as well as signposting to further guidance and examples online.
Attendees will learn:
- How to understand and apply the Spectrum Cataloguing procedure
- What the changes to the Cataloguing procedure are
- How to take a critical approach to cataloguing, to make it a more open, ongoing, multi-layered process
- How to think about internal and external users
- Where to find more information and guidance
Before the session attendees should look at:
- The Spectrum Cataloguing procedure Think about how the organisation stores information and meets the needs of users
- Their organisation’s Documentation Policy. Is there a section about access? What does it say?
Who should attend?
Those responsible for cataloguing and/ or decision making. This session will be particularly helpful for beginners or those looking for a refresher.
Maximum two delegates per organisation. Priority will be given to delegates from non-NPO and non-National museums in the West Midlands which are Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation.
If you would benefit from live captioning or any other form of access support, please answer ‘yes’ to the access requirements question on the booking form and email the WMMD team as early as possible stating the support you require.
All participants will receive an email containing a Zoom link to the training prior to the event. The email will be sent to the email address used for booking. If you have not received an email the day before the event please contact us.
Rethinking Cataloguing
Wednesday 18 January, 2pm-4pm
Online
If you can’t see the booking button this event is fully booked. To join the waiting list please email wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk
Winter blackouts – how to be prepared
In response to concerns over possible winter energy blackouts, Arts Council England has offered some actions that museums and other cultural venues should be aware of. Being proactive and taking actions now will help organisations to be better prepared should the sector experience power blackouts later on.
- Review risk assessments to capture possible consequences power blackouts may have on their buildings, collections, and staff’s operations, and plan accordingly
- Consider possible ways in which resilience can be increased, for example installing multiple power feeds to the venue – this can minimise the likelihood of a power disruption affecting a venue. Electricity Network Operator will be able to advise if installing an additional power feed is feasible and cost effective.
- Ensure that fire and alarm systems have been serviced and where applicable battery backups are stored and available if needed
- If you have a back-up generator, test it and make sure you are aware of how long it will last in case of a power cut.
- Contact the service providers for your telephone service, security system and fire protection system for information on how these systems will operate during and after an electrical outage.
- Know what equipment can and cannot be turned off during an outage. Develop a plan for controlled shut-down if needed.
- Based on the risk assessment conducted, considerations may be given to surrender some parts of a building or site, saving energy for the most key/ important areas.
- Think about how communications will be managed, both internally and externally, in case of a power blackouts.
- Ensure you have a list of emergency phone contacts at hand if needed.
- If any changes are made to any of your operational procedures, ensure these are reflected in the risk management plan and staff is aware of these.
Coffee and Chatter
Grab your morning cuppa…
Join WMMD and Aidan McNeill, Head of Copyright and Licensing at Art UK. Aidan will be providing a brief introduction about the Art UK project and how copyright and licensing is managed by the charity. She will present a short presentation that will provide a short introduction about copyright, licensing, rights clearance, risk assessment and how Art UK can support collections, with time for questions and chatter.
It’s also the perfect opportunity to share what’s happening at your museum, exchange ideas with colleagues across the region and hear about the latest sector guidance and news.
10.30am-11.30am
Zoom details:
https://zoom.us/j/99254865285?pwd=R2xiUlUzOFdWMGJFQXpyL0E4cHpNQT09
Meeting ID: 992 5486 5285
Password: 579046
Coffee and Chatter will be auto-captioned.
Coming up…
- Thursday 16 March – Learn more about the Revealing Hidden Histories programme for 2023/24
- Thursday 6 April – Learn about AIM’s grant schemes
