Breaking Boundaries
A FREE conference for museums and galleries to build resilience by thinking beyond traditional boundaries in relation to collections, physical space, audiences and the workforce.
Thursday 16 March, 10am – 4.30pm Book now
Friday 17 March, 10am – 4.15pm Book now
Registration and refreshments will be available from 9.30am.
Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Coalbrookdale, Ironbridge, Shropshire, TF8 7DQ
A CONFERENCE SET TO CHALLENGE AND INSPIRE
Funded through Ironbridge’s Major Partner Museum and Museum Development programmes, this two day conference will share best practice on a range of topics from partners both within and outside the museum sector.
Each day will include speakers, a choice of three workshops, a daily debate and an exhibition area.
DAY ONE: Opening address
Breaking Boundaries
Leigh de Vries, Multidisciplinary Artist
Hear from Leigh about her latest project which examines the condition of Body Dysmorphic Disorder (BDD) and discover how working with urgent topics which concern your target audience is vital to engagement.
DAY ONE: Plenaries
So What Makes You Special?
John Nicholls, Managing Partner Arts Quarter LLP
John will lead an interactive presentation looking at the challenges of developing a clear and cogent Case for Support and the opportunities it opens up for organisations who invest the time to get it right.
He invites museums to reflect on three key questions that lie at the heart of a strong case:
- Who are you?
- What do you do?
- What makes you special?
Making the Case for Diversity
Abid Hussain, Director of Diversity Arts Council England and Alyson Malach, Equality and Diversity UK
Abid will share how Arts Council England (ACE) Creative Case for Diversity relates to the work of museums and underpins the new National Portfolio Organisation (NPO) funding round for 2018-2022. This plenary will also consider diversity in its broadest sense in relation to workforce, volunteers and audiences with Alyson and the WMMD Diversity Champions.
Productive Partnerships
Kate Gant, Director Creative Health CIC
Could your work support the health agenda? How can working in partnership create cultural experiences which help to improve people’s health and wellbeing?
An opportunity to hear about approaches to partnership working and programmes of arts and health work undertaken in the region by Creative Health (Arts and Health) CIC.
DAY ONE: Workshops
Choose one of the three workshops:
Workshop 1: Fundraising Fundamentals
Jules Bellingham, The Management Centre
Explore fundraising principles with the National Arts Fundraising School, experts in helping cultural organisations develop funding opportunities.
Workshop 2: Graffiti for Beginners
Loose, graffiti artist and students from Further Education College
Come and learn the art of graffiti from young people and find out what motivates them to come and visit you.
Workshop 3: Digital Technologies
John Sear, Experimental Games Designer
Create a bespoke, affordable audio guide in under an hour!
DAY ONE: The Big Debate
Mirror, Mirror on the Wall – are you fair and open to all?
The panel will debate the ‘importance of being relevant’ to audiences of today and consider whether museums reflect or project!
Book your place for DAY ONE
DAY TWO: Opening address
Breaking Boundaries
Dr Sharon Redrobe OBE, CEO Twycross Zoo
Dr Sharon Redrobe OBE, will talk about the transformation currently taking place at Twycross Zoo in the East Midlands, as part of an ambitious 20-year business strategy to create a world-class visitor attraction and wildlife conservation organisation. In her keynote address she will provide inspiring insights into the professional, financial and operational challenges her team face in redefining the role of modern zoos
DAY TWO: Plenaries
Taking a Commercial Approach
Anne Kinnes, CEO The Black Watch Museum
Anne is passionate about achieving five star quality in all areas of The Black Watch Museum’s work. Drawing on over 36 years’ experience in the hospitality and tourism industry, Anne will explore the link between customer expectation and realising the full commercial potential of your organisation. Are you providing your visitors with what they want to buy? Do you make it easy for visitors to spend money?
Contemporary Collections
Kayte McSweeny and Abira Hussein, British Museum and Charlotte Holmes and Nazia Ali, Birmingham Museums Trust
Kayte and Abira from the British Museum’s ‘Object Journeys’ project will demonstrate how museums are engaging with community partners to explore and research collections and co-produce displays. They will be joined by Charlotte and Nazia from Birmingham Museums Trust’s ‘Collecting Cultures’ programme.
DAY TWO: Closing address
Harnessing the Spirit of Youth
Anisa Haghdadi MBE, Founder and CEO of Beatfreeks
Anisa will bring the conference to a close with a bang! Hear her message about harnessing the spirit of youth and encouraging a sharp entrepreneurial mind without compromising on impact.
DAY TWO: Workshops
Choose one of the three workshops:
Workshop 1: Out of Hours
Lucy Woodbridge, Natural History Museum
Lucy will explore essential business planning for Out of Hours activity sharing examples from the Natural History Museum.
Workshop 2: The Power of the Media – Stories and Storytellers
Jane Bevan, Firebird PR and Russell Dornan, Wellcome Collection
Jane and Russell explore how you can build a dialogue with your audiences and stakeholders, by using both traditional and digital media to share your stories.
Workshop 3: Developing Inclusive Practice for Hidden Disabilities
Becki Morris, Disability Cooperative Network and Richard Gough, Volunteer Co-ordinator Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust
Becki will discuss how to engage neurodiverse audiences through low cost exhibition design and Richard will explore how to support an inclusive volunteer community.
DAY TWO: The Big Debate
The Elephant in the Room – are you a museum, visitor attraction or both?
With the changing social and economic environment is your need to generate income compromising your cultural integrity? The panel will debate whether they are mutually exclusive!
Book your place for DAY TWO
Please book for each day you wish to attend.
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