Developing a Crisis Communications Strategy
This one day online session will provide delegates with insight into how to deal confidently and effectively with a range of negative or ‘crisis’ issues, including complaints, poor publicity and negative attacks.
By attending this sessions delegates will:
- Gain insight into tools which can help them develop their own communications strategies
- Understand what a crisis is, when to escalate, and when not to
- Develop skills to manage and engage with stakeholders
- Learn how to train a spokesperson and write copy for a crisis
- Learn how their organisation can emerge from a crisis with its reputation intact
This session will be facilitated by Miki Lentin and Maurice Davies. Miki and Maurice will deliver the session via Zoom using a range of exercises and interactive features, including Breakout Rooms, Polls scenario activities, presentations and self-led exercises. 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 michelle.davies@ironbridge.org.uk
Regular comfort breaks and a lunch break will be scheduled throughout the day.
Miki Lentin is a strategic creative consultant with over twenty years of experience across the public and private sectors. With a background in communications, Miki now works with a variety of cultural and creative clients on marketing, audience development, community engagement, strategic planning, communications and branding.
Maurice Davies brings nearly 40 years of experience in UK museums and galleries as a policymaker, leader and curator, including experience as Head of Policy and Communication for the Museums Association. Maurice is currently delivering the Equity and Inclusion in Museums programme for MDUK.
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.
The presentations for this event will be captioned. If you would benefit from live captioning in break out room activities 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.
If you can’t see the booking button this event is fully booked. Please email wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk if you would like to go on the waiting list.
Pay in Museums
Museums Association has published its Salary Research and Recommendations 2022 report. It highlights the serious issues around low pay in the museum sector.
This report aims to provide clear and accurate data on the current state of pay levels in the museum sector, covering both support and specialist jobs as well as management. It also examines staff benefits, and some of the changes that have occurred since the previous Salary Guidelines were published in 2017.
NPO Announcement Date
A new date has been set for the announcement of Arts Council England’s 2023-26 investment programme.
In a statement, ACE said: “In agreement with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, we are pleased to confirm that all our 2023-26 Investment Programme applicants will receive decisions from us on Friday 4 November 2022.
“We apologise for the uncertainty this delay has caused and thank applicants for their patience. We have contacted all applicants to let them know of the new announcement date.”
https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/news/statement-pausing-2023-26-investment-programme-announcement
Front of House Training: Families with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
As museums welcome back more visitors, ensuring interactions are friendly and welcoming between people working in front facing museum roles and SEND families has never been more important.
A 2019 study from Ecclesiastical surveyed SEND families who had visited museums, castles and heritage sites and found that 42% of parents with special needs children reported that staff or visitors were unfriendly or made them feel uncomfortable.
This session from Kids in Museums will ensure that your museum avoids becoming part of this statistic, offering ideas for fun and accessible interactions with SEND families.
In this virtual training session, aimed at front facing staff and volunteers, we will:
- learn why SEND family visitors are an important part of your visitor profile
- understand the barriers SEND families face when visiting museums
- come up with ways to tackle common scenarios together
- explore playful ways to interact with SEND families that are relevant to your site
Everything you need to know about cyber security – webinar
Cyber security means protecting computer systems and networks from theft, damage, and other forms of criminal activity. Strong cyber security protects a charity’s ability to deliver services, keeping its technology working and its data safe, preventing loss of revenue, reputational damage, and much more.
Charity Digital’s webinar aims to empower. It aims to give you the tools to protect yourself from criminals. We explore, among other things, the basic definition of cyber security, how to prevent cyber-attacks, how to react to breaches, how to educate your team, and so much more.
The presenter from Charity Digital will run through the above, building on information gained from the National Cyber Security Centre and other allies across the charity sector. The comprehensive session aims to help charities of all shapes and sizes bolster their defences and protect themselves.
Attendees can expect to learn:
- Types of cyber attack
- How to prevent and react to cyber attacks
- Cost-effective tools charities can use to help
Arts Council England delays investment programme announcement
Following discussions with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), Arts Council England has agreed to delay the announcement of the organisations joining our 2023-26 Investment Programme, due to take place on 26 October.
The announcement of the portfolio will instead be made as soon as possible within the coming days.
Roots & Branches: Seeds For Action Sharing Event
Earlier this year, the Carbon Literacy for Museums Toolkit was launched as part of the Roots & Branches Project, a collaboration between The Carbon Literacy Project, Museum Development England, and Manchester Museum supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England. As a result, hundreds of museum staff, volunteers, and freelancers have become Carbon Literate.
During this online event, we’ll hear from some of these learners about how their Carbon Literacy actions are progressing and what’s next for their museums’ climate action journeys. We’ll be launching the updated, new-look Carbon Literacy for Museums Toolkit, which contains loads of new content and can now be used to train staff online or in person.
You’ll also hear about Museum Development England’s upcoming Seeds for Action Programme. The Programme will include a series of live online workshops and networking sessions and the creation and dissemination of digital resources – designed to support and inspire museums to build on their carbon reduction strategies and approaches to climate action.
There will be an update on the development of the ‘Roots’ of the Roots & Branches Project – Manchester Museum’s 3rd-floor environmental action hub, including information about how to get involved.
Finally, there will also be an optional opportunity at the end of the session to network with others from across the museum sector who are interested in environmental action.
This event will run from 1.30pm to 3pm, with the optional 30 minute networking opportunity running between 3pm-3.30pm.
Book your place on Roots & Branches: Seeds For Action Sharing Event
In Case of Emergency: Practical salvage training
Disasters can come in many shapes and sizes. Are you confident that you know what to do?
This practical training will be led by Emma Dadson from Harwell Restoration Ltd.
Participants will have the opportunity to get hands-on, look at effects of water on collections and practice the decision-making that would be required in a real recovery situation.
The training will cover
- practical techniques for treating damage to objects and stabilisation methods for major incidents
- how to respond to an escape of water incident safely whilst minimising damage to collections
- impacts of water on different object types
Places are limited, maximum two delegates per organisation. Priority will be given to non-NPO and non-National museums in the West Midlands which are Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation.
Please wear suitable clothing for dealing with wet objects. Tea and coffee will be provided but participants are asked to bring their own packed lunch.
If you would benefit from any 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.
If the booking button isn’t visible the event is fully booked. If you’d like to join the waiting list please email wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk
Web and social media content accessibility for blind and visually impaired visitors
This virtual training session delivered by Vocal Eyes will support attendees to develop accessible practice when creating digital content, covering text, images and video.
By the end of the session you will better understand:
- How to make website content accessible
- Good practice in headings and link text, alt text, audio description of film
- The online visitor journey for people who are blind or visually impaired, and screen reader users
- Creating accessible social media posts across a range of platforms
The session will be delivered by two trainers – a VocalEyes team member with digital accessibility expertise, and a blind or visually impaired visual awareness trainer.
Please note – the session does not cover technical aspects of website development; the focus is on content.
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.
The webinar will be live captioned through StageText and MyClearText.
All participants will receive an email containing a Zoom link prior to the event. The email will be sent to the email address used for booking. If you have not received an email by the day before the event please contact us.
Web and social media content accessibility for blind and visually impaired visitors
Wednesday 18 January 2023, 10am-12noon
Online
VAT Refund Scheme Reopened
DCMS is pleased to announce that the VAT Refund Scheme for museums and galleries has now reopened for applications. The latest guidance for museums looking to apply can be found here.
Museums may request an application form by emailing vat33a@dcms.gov.uk. In order to apply, museums must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Be open to the general public for at least 30 hours per week, without exception
- Offer free entry, without prior appointment
- Hold collections in a purpose-built building
- Display details of free entry and opening hours on the museum or gallery website
Museums and galleries will also be required to complete a strategic business case as part of the application process, which must include:
- Proof of Arts Council England Accredited status (or equivalent)
- Past and/ or projected visitor figures
- Information on existing and planned education programmes and community engagement work
Applications will close at 5pm, Thursday 5 January 2023. Museums may direct any enquires they have about the scheme to vat33a@dcms.gov.uk.
