Dr Tristram Hunt: Colonialism and Collecting
ILAS Global Challenge lecture
With a collection born of the East India Company and material whose origins stretch across the British Empire, the ethics and practice of restitution is of growing importance to the Victoria and Albert Museum. In this lecture, historian and V&A Director Dr Tristram Hunt argues that museums should be less concerned about becoming sites of ‘transitional justice,’ adjudicating on the colonial past, and focus more on detailed, trans-national provenance research. Through biographies of objects with so-called ‘contested heritage,’ Dr Hunt will explain the V&A strategy of Renewable Cultural Partnerships and how museums can engage with, and shape, the coming era of restitution and collections equity between the Global North and South.
Wednesday 7 February 6pm-7pm
Westminster Theatre and Online via Microsoft Teams
Rethinking Freelancer Support
The West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Cultural Leadership Board freelancer working group commissioned a report in spring 2023 to better understand what support is available for freelancers both regionally and nationally.
The report showed that there were over 200 different support offers in place. Given the board is now looking at how freelancers can be better supported going forward, the findings have raised some questions about whether more support is needed – or if the problem is actually around finding or accessing existing support for freelancers.
WMCA are inviting freelancers, cultural organisations and anyone involved with the cultural sector to attend a presentation by Jenny Smith from Curiosity Productions on the key findings of the report – as well as join a discussion about how to best shape future support offer.
Join WMC at Birmingham Open Media (BOM) on Thursday 28 September from 12.30pm until 3pm. This event is free, lunch will be provided and bursaries are available. The insight from this event will inform the future support offer for freelancers by the West Midlands Combined Authority, including the £4.1m Commonwealth Games Legacy Enhancement Fund.
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/freelance-skills-launch-event-tickets-705990585847?aff=oddtdtcreator
Art Fund: Going Places Collaboration and Network Building Events (26 October)
Art Fund is launching a new UK-wide programme, ‘Going Places’, that aims to engage and involve underrepresented audiences with museum collections through high quality, collaborative touring exhibitions and public programmes. The project will establish five networks of 3-5 small to mid-sized museums, with each network producing two touring exhibitions over five years (2025-2030).
It has received a development phase grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to establish Going Places, and is currently seeking applications from interested museums, galleries, arts organisations and/ or networks of these. Further details of the project can be found here: https://www.artfund.org/professional/get-funding/programmes/going-places
Thursday 21 September, 10.30 – 16.45, Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum, Aberystwyth, Wales, (a bilingual event – we welcome participation in Welsh)
Wednesday 27 September, 10.30 – 16.45, Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum, Lisburn, Northern Ireland
Wednesday 11 October, 10.00 – 14.15, online
Thursday 26 October, 10.00 – 14.15, online (a bilingual event – we welcome participation in Welsh)
These Collaboration and Network Building events will introduce participants to the programme whilst enabling museums to build connections with organisations that share common interests and explore opportunities for working collaboratively, along with the audience benefits this brings. We strongly recommend that anyone interested in applying attend if possible.
The full programme, along with how to sign up, can be found here:
In-person: https://calendly.com/art-fund/going-places-building-networks-workshop?month=2023-09
Online: https://calendly.com/art-fund/going-places-online-workshops-for-museums?month=2023-10
Art Fund: Going Places Collaboration and Network Building Events (11 October)
Art Fund is launching a new UK-wide programme, ‘Going Places’, that aims to engage and involve underrepresented audiences with museum collections through high quality, collaborative touring exhibitions and public programmes. The project will establish five networks of 3-5 small to mid-sized museums, with each network producing two touring exhibitions over five years (2025-2030).
It has received a development phase grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to establish Going Places, and is currently seeking applications from interested museums, galleries, arts organisations and/ or networks of these. Further details of the project can be found here: https://www.artfund.org/professional/get-funding/programmes/going-places
Thursday 21 September, 10.30 – 16.45, Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum, Aberystwyth, Wales, (a bilingual event – we welcome participation in Welsh)
Wednesday 27 September, 10.30 – 16.45, Irish Linen Centre & Lisburn Museum, Lisburn, Northern Ireland
Wednesday 11 October, 10.00 – 14.15, online
Thursday 26 October, 10.00 – 14.15, online (a bilingual event – we welcome participation in Welsh)
These Collaboration and Network Building events will introduce participants to the programme whilst enabling museums to build connections with organisations that share common interests and explore opportunities for working collaboratively, along with the audience benefits this brings. We strongly recommend that anyone interested in applying attend if possible.
The full programme, along with how to sign up, can be found here:
In-person: https://calendly.com/art-fund/going-places-building-networks-workshop?month=2023-09
Online: https://calendly.com/art-fund/going-places-online-workshops-for-museums?month=2023-10
Wellbeing Plan Lunch Time session
Join GLAM Cares (a sector support network for people working with communities in museums, libraries and archives) and the Museums Association to explore your wellbeing needs
In this interactive session they will discuss the factors that have a positive or negative impact on your wellbeing and look to identify what support you need by completing the MA’s Individual Wellbeing Plan.
You will be send the joining link by Friday 15 September.
Find out more and reserve your place.
Monday 18 September, 1pm-2pm
Via Zoom
Good Uses of Digital Tech in Museums and the Cultural Sector
- What does the ‘good’ use of digital technology in museums and the cultural sector look like?
- How can ‘the digital good’ contribute to placemaking in Birmingham?
Join Digital Good Network & Birmingham Museums Trust to hear from digital culture projects on these themes, find out about funding opportunities and network with leading Birmingham arts and cultural organisations.
Speakers will include Sara Wajid, Birmingham Museums Trust; Anita Shervington, BLAST Fest; Helen Kennedy, Digital Good Network and Ros Williams, Digital Good Network.
Good Uses of Digital Tech in Museums and the Cultural Sector
Thursday 29 September, 6pm – 8pm
BOMLab Birmingham – 12 Dudley Street, Birmingham B5 4EA
Reflect, Share, Inspire – Digital Skills for Heritage
Join The National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Arts Marketing Association to hear from heritage organisations whose approach to digital has been transformed by the Digital Skills for Heritage initiative and be inspired to use digital to engage with your audiences.
Free to join in-person or online for anyone working or volunteering for a UK heritage organisation. 100 travel and accommodation bursaries are available to support you in travelling to London.
Find out more about Reflect, Share, Inspire – Digital Skills for Heritage
Reflect, Share, Inspire – Digital Skills for Heritage
Wednesday 18 October, 11am-5.30pm
The British Museum and online
Digital Copywriting Day
Digital copywriting is an artform — and one that’s tricky to master. From 280-character tweets to website copy, the breadth of content marketers are asked to write is staggering.
This event from Arts Marketing Association will include a mix of practical learning, case studies and skills-based sessions. You’ll be inspired by creative tips and prompts throughout the day, and there will be plenty of screen breaks to give you time to digest and recharge.
More about Digital Copywriting Day and how to book early bird tickets
Digital Copywriting Day
Wednesday 20 September, 10am-4pm
Online
Conference 2023: It’s good to share
Sharing collections data has too often been seen as a one way street. As something that takes a lot of effort without much to show for it. This year’s Collections Trust conference will explore the transformative benefits for your museum, different users, and the wider sector.
Find out more about Conference 2023 – It’s good to share
Conference 2023: It’s good to share
Thursday 5 October, 10.30am-4pm
Online
GEM Conference 2023
Join GEM Conference 2023 to connect and learn together with colleagues from across the UK. This year’s Conference will focus on ambitious and quality museum programmes offering inclusive, engaging and reflective learning for all. Keynotes, members’ presentations and panel discussions complemented by workshops and site visits will provide a wealth of insights into the best practice examples of programming, delivery and evaluation in museum learning.
GEM recognises the importance of equal access to careers and professional development opportunities in the museums and heritage sector and is delighted to offer a number of bursary places for Conference 2023. To apply for a bursary, please email office@gem.org.uk
To find out more and book GEM Conference 2023
GEM Conference 2023
Wednesday 13 September – Friday 15 September
The Historic Dockyard, Chatham ME4 4TY and online
