Assessing your Digital Capacity
For museums to be able to take full advantage of everything digital can offer, they must first understand how and where digital sits within their organisation. The Digital Culture Compass is a powerful tool which can help a museum to evaluate how digital relates to their organisation. This course helps smaller museums understand how to use the toolkit before applying it to their own organisations.
In this three part workshop from Culture24, participants will be guided through using parts of the Digital Culture Compass to complete an assessment of some of their museum’s digital activities. They will leave with the confidence, tools and resources needed to complete the full toolkit within their own organisation, involving their staff, volunteers and trustees in the process.
Who should attend?
This course is aimed at people in senior leadership roles, and/ or those with digital responsibilities in their museum – this includes chief executives, directors, board members and senior leaders.
Two members from each participating museum should attend to ensure that they are able to enact and embed change more effectively within their organisation. Ideally the second member of staff or volunteer would be involved in delivery of the digital activities of the museum.
Participants must be working or volunteering in a non-NPO, Accredited museum in the West Midlands region.
Schedule
This online course will encourage active learning and plenty of discussion for a small group of up to 18 delegates from 9 museums across the Midlands and South West. You will attend three online workshops each lasting around two hours and scheduled across several weeks. There will be some short self-led workshop exercises in between sessions.
Learning objectives
By the end of this course, you will have:
- a full grasp of how to use the Digital Culture Compass
- a fuller understanding and overview of some of your organisation’s digital activities
- plans, guides and resources on using the Digital Culture Compass as a strategic exercise within your own organisation and teams
- practical next steps to implement within your organisation
- an area of focus to begin assessing and improving your digital activities
- signposting to free online resources to support you going forward
Course lead
Alec Ward is the Digital Skills Manager at Culture24. Alec’s career has focused on building capacity and confidence for smaller cultural organisations by providing digital skills and literacy support. He has extensive experience of developing training around practical digital skills development, from video editing to creating 3D digital models, and focuses that training through a wider organisational strategic context.
This course is provided as part of Culture24’s Arts Council England-funded Sector Support programme.
Support towards Museum Accreditation
Organisational Health: 2.1 An approved forward or business plan which covers the current and subsequent planning year
Two delegates per organisation. Delegates must be from non-NPO and non-National museums in the West Midlands which are Accredited or officially Working Towards Accreditation.
Digital Access
These events will be auto captioned. If you would benefit from any other form of access support, please 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 events. 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.
Assessing your Digital Capacity
Tuesday 4 , Tuesday 11 and Tuesday 18 October, 2pm-4pm
Online
Coffee and Chatter: Museum Development 2024-26
West Midlands Museum Development (WMMD) is currently one of nine regional museum development providers across England, funded by Arts Council England (ACE). WMMD is contracted to deliver a development programme in the West Midlands until March 2024.
Arts Council England (ACE) is planning some changes to the Museum Development programme. In 2023, ACE will open applications for five strategic partners to deliver a reframed Museum Development programme 2024-26.
The two current museum development providers in East Midlands and West Midlands plan to bid together for the Midlands-wide programme delivery 2024-26. Though this will be a change in terms of delivery structure, we are committed to ensuring that we offer the same level of support to our regional museums post 2024. It is important to note that the reframing of the programme is not a cost-cutting exercise and the level of ACE investment overall will remain the same.
WMMD will be hosting Coffee and Chatter focussing on Museum Development 2024-26 on Thursday 3 November, 10.30am-11.30am.
Come along to find out more about the changes.
Zoom details:
https://zoom.us/j/99254865285?pwd=R2xiUlUzOFdWMGJFQXpyL0E4cHpNQT09
Meeting ID: 992 5486 5285
Password: 579046
Coffee and Chatter will be auto-captioned.
Accreditation Mentor Workshop: Introduction and refresher
Accreditation Mentors provide invaluable access to professional advice for small, volunteer run museums across the UK. Without Accreditation Mentors, many museums wouldn’t be able to participate in the Accreditation Scheme.
Could you help a small, volunteer run museum to flourish?
Accreditation Mentoring is a fantastic opportunity for:
- Professional career development
- Gaining insight into the challenges and opportunities facing volunteer run museums today
- Building a network of peer support with other Accreditation Mentors
- Strengthening your understanding of the Accreditation Scheme
Want to learn more?
This workshop, hosted by West Midlands Museum Development and Museum Development East Midlands, is aimed at established Accreditation Mentors, those new to mentoring and colleagues interested in becoming mentors.
Join mentors and potential mentors from across the Midlands for:
- a refresher/ introduction to the Accreditation Mentor role
- an opportunity to catch up on recent Museum Accreditation developments
- networking to meet other mentors and share insight into the role
We will cover how to make the most of your mentoring experience, how to support museums with Museum Accreditation applications and returns, the mentor annual review, and compiling the mentor report. There will be plenty of opportunity to meet other mentors and share experiences.
This interactive online workshop is hosted by Accreditation Advisers Olivia Basterfield and Heather Lomas. We are delighted to welcome Emma Griffiths, Arts Council Relationship Manager, Museum Accreditation (Midlands) who will provide an ACE update and a mentor Q&A.
This event will be auto captioned.
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.
Accreditation Mentor Workshop: Introduction and refresher
Thursday 20 October, 10am-12.30pm
Online
Confident Copywriting
Kerry Watkins, Director of Social for Good will lead a practical two-hour workshop exploring how museums can write more confidently to engage audiences and promote their activities. Kerry will share practical exercises for participants to explore writing in a variety copywriting styles for different media.
By attending the workshop attendees will learn about:
- Different types of copywriting (social, web, print, email)
- The principles of good copywriting (structure, focus, engagement, call to action etc)
- The importance of knowing your reader
- Steps to writing great copy
- Writing for social media
Since 2010 the Social for Good team have worked with more than 400 businesses, charities, and non-profits worldwide to reach and engage with audiences to achieve the impact the whole organisation can see.
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 presentation for this event will be live captioned through StageText and MyClearText. 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.
Confident Copywriting
Tuesday 1 November, 10am-12noon
Online
If you can’t see the booking button this event is fully booked. If you would like to be added to the waiting list please email wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk
Accessible Recruitment
Direct Access will lead a short training session outlining how organisations can make their workplace and recruitment processes more accessible for disabled candidates, sharing their experience and approach.
In this session Direct Access will cover not just how to make your interview process more accessible but how to find disabled talent and the range of in-work support options available. If disabled people know that you are inclusive and accessible they will be more likely to apply. Topics include:
- Where and and how to advertise opportunities
- The interview
- Job offers
- Access to work – what it is and how to apply
- Apprenticeships and welfare to work programmes
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 presentation for this event will be live captioned through StageText and MyClearText. If you would benefit from 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.
Accessible Recruitment
Wednesday 7 September, 2-3.30pm
Online
If you can’t see the booking button this event is now fully booked. If you would like to join the waiting list please email wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk
Accessible Interpretation and Exhibition Design
A short introductory workshop to support delegates to plan and deliver accessible and inclusive exhibitions, collections displays and interpretation.
The workshop will support the participants to:
- share understanding and agree principles for inclusive design
- identify practical opportunities for change and to integrate inclusive design into project delivery
- respond to findings from an access audit, design appraisal or consultation session*
The session will be delivered by Cassie Herschel-Shorland, BA Hons, AMA, MA, FRSA, NRAC consultant, from Access and Museum Design.
As a freelance consultant Cassie delivers inclusive planning, design, and advice. Her scope of work extends across all stages from policy or strategic approach and concept through to completion.
The process covers access auditing, design appraisals and inclusive design workshops. Cassie’s extensive knowledge is based on experience as an exhibition designer, access consultant and historical illustrator.
*This session may be particularly useful to organisations that have been through an accessibility audit or consultation process, although this is not a requirement of attending the session.
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 presentation for this event will be live captioned through StageText and MyClearText. If you would benefit from 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.
Accessible Interpretation and Exhibition Design
Wednesday 28 September, 10am-12noon
Online
If you can’t see the booking button this event is fully booked. If you would like to be added to the waiting list please email wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk
Coffee and Chatter
Bite-sized insights and networking
Join the WMMD team and guest Ari Volankis from 10.30am-11.30am with the theme Cultural heritage: boundaries, pressures, learning to be sustainable
Heritage management consultant Ari will give an overview of his current PhD research into heritage sustainability. Ari is exploring pressures on cultural heritage organisations and how organisations can manage knowledge to build capacity and resilience.
Grab your morning cuppa and hear what Ari has to say and exchange ideas with colleagues from across the region.
There will also be an opportunity to share what’s happening at your museum, learn what your colleagues across the sector are doing, ask the WMMD team for advice and hear about the latest sector guidance and news.
Zoom details:
https://zoom.us/j/99254865285?pwd=R2xiUlUzOFdWMGJFQXpyL0E4cHpNQT09
Meeting ID: 992 5486 5285
Password: 579046
Coffee and Chatter will be auto-captioned.
Coffee and Chatter
Bite-sized insights and networking
Join the WMMD team and National Lottery Heritage Fund from 10.30am-11.30am.
Grab your morning cuppa, hear about the funding schemes available to museums from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and exchange ideas with colleagues from across the region.
There will also be an opportunity to share what’s happening at your museum, learn what your colleagues across the sector are doing, ask the WMMD team for advice and hear about the latest sector guidance and news.
Zoom details:
https://zoom.us/j/99254865285?pwd=R2xiUlUzOFdWMGJFQXpyL0E4cHpNQT09
Meeting ID: 992 5486 5285
Password: 579046
Coffee and Chatter will be auto-captioned.
Coffee and Chatter
Your networking opportunity
Join the WMMD team at 10.30am for an hour of Coffee and Chatter.
Grab your morning cuppa, exchange ideas and catch up with some friendly faces. It’s your chance to share what’s happening at your museum, learn what your colleagues across the sector are doing in their heritage organisations, ask the WMMD team for advice and hear about the latest sector guidance and news.
Camilla Stewart will join us to discuss e-commerce for the heritage sector and how Art UK can support museums of all sizes to generate revenue through online sales and retail.
Zoom details:
https://zoom.us/j/99254865285?pwd=R2xiUlUzOFdWMGJFQXpyL0E4cHpNQT09
Meeting ID: 992 5486 5285
Password: 579046
Coffee and Chatter will be auto-captioned.
Creating Family Friendly Interactions
This training session from Kids in Museums is designed to support Front of House (FOH) staff and volunteers to create family friendly interactions with visitors.
During the training, delegates will:
- learn why family visitors are an important part of your visitor profile
- gain an understanding of the key concerns families have about visiting museums
- come up with solutions to resolve common scenarios together
- explore playful ways to interact with families that are relevant to your site
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 presentation for this event will be live captioned through StageText and MyClearText. 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.
Creating Family Friendly Interactions
Tuesday 11 October, 10am-12.30pm
Online
If the booking button isn’t visible this training session is fully booked. Please email wmmd@ironbridge.og.uk to join the waiting list.
