Collections Advisor Opportunity
The West Midlands Museum Development programme (WMMD) is seeking a freelance individual, agency or team to develop and lead WMMD’s collections programme in 2023/24, including collections training workshops and the provision of high-quality collections advice for museums in the region.
This is a fantastic opportunity to make change and support museum professionals across the West Midlands.
The Collections Advisor fee is a maximum of £16,000 over at least 40 days throughout the year, including VAT and any expenses.
To find out more about the role and the experience, skills and knowledge we’re looking for, please download the tender brief.
Please email your tender to wmmd@ironbridge.org.uk by 5pm, Friday 24 February.
Applicants will be contacted to arrange an online interview to be held during the week of Monday 6 March.
Any queries or things you would like to discuss beforehand? WMMD is more than happy to discuss the programme with you beforehand and answer any queries you may have.
Please contact Olivia Basterfield to arrange a friendly, informal phone call.
New Funding Rounds Announced
Arts Council England (ACE) has announced details of the next round of programmes that make up the Cultural Investment Fund.
The programmes are:
- Museum Estate and Development Fund (MEND)
- Targeted at non-national Accredited museums to undertake vital infrastructure and urgent maintenance backlogs which are beyond the scope of day-to-day maintenance budgets
- Libraries Improvement Fund (LIF)
- To enable library services across England to invest in a range of projects to upgrade buildings and technology so they are better placed to respond to the changing ways people are using them
- Cultural Development Fund (CDF)
- Investing in transformative place-based creative and cultural initiatives
New rounds of MEND and LIF will open in early 2023 with £22.6 million available through this round of MEND, and £10.5 million through LIF (funding amounts may be subject to DCMS business planning).
Further applications for MEND will take place in early 2024, alongside another round of CDF.
Key dates for MEND round three
Guidance published: Monday 6 February
Webinar: Monday 27 February
Expressions of Interest open: 9am, Monday 6 March to midday, Friday 21 April
Full application forms open: 9am, Tuesday 30 May to midday, Friday 18 August
You can find out more about the three programmes here on the ACE website.
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).
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
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
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.
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
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.
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.
