News - Funding Gap tackled in East Midlands

Museums in the East Midlands have told the Museums Association (MA) that they are coming to terms with the fact they received no major grant funding from Arts Council England – but are determined to keep a place at the table and prepare for the next funding round in 2015.

The current landscape in the East Midlands and the funding opportunities in the region were among the main topics of discussion at the MA’s members’ meeting in Leicester’s New Walk Museum and Art Gallery earlier this week.

Steve LeMotte, executive director of the East Midlands Museums Service, said he was surprised at where the region’s museums stand in the national pecking order. He noted that of the 140 designated collections in the UK, only seven are in the East Midlands.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s Taking Part survey showed that the East Midlands is at the bottom of the league table with just 39.9% of people visiting museums and galleries, compared to a national average of 46.3%.

LeMotte said: “What does this mean? Is it a cry for help? Is it that the product’s okay but we’re not shouting about it enough or is the product wrong?”

He added that the region needed analysis, dialogue and co-operation between museums.

Liz Johnson, relationship manager at East Midlands Arts Council England, also spoke to MA members during the event.

She said: "The change [ACE taking responsibility for museums and libraries] may have been born out of necessity, but I believe it offers an unprecedented opportunity to create a more coherent cultural offer.”

Johnson added that while a lack of major grant funding in the region did leave a hole, she was determined that the the region wouldn’t lose out and that it would "keep a place at the table".

And Maurice Davies, head of policy and communication at the MA, said: “Ten years ago we would have been astonished that Nottingham wasn’t a recipient. The fact it’s not is significant and shows a major shift in thinking.”

He added that the low levels of visitor participation in the East Midlands were a “serious national issue”.

The meeting also saw MA members discuss a range of issues affecting the wider sector, including ethics and financially-motived disposals and the loss of subject specialists.

During the afternoon, Davies held the first interactive workshop on the Museums 2020 initiative, which will help shape the MA’s vision for the future of the sector.

From: http://www.museumsassociation.org/news/16032012-east-midlands-members-meeting?utm_source=ma&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=21032012

News - EFCF Awards £372,764 to Six Projects (Barnsley)

The Esmée Fairbairn Collections Fund, managed by the Museums Association, has awarded grants to six projects, from a total of 118 applications for its second round of funding.

Abingdon County Hall Museum received £23,346 to conserve and develop display and interpretation of a mid-sixteenth-century tempera on parchment map of the Thames.

Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Arts and Museums Service received £62,400 to research and develop use of Barnsley’s archaeological collections to allow research of the collection in partnership with Sheffield University and add to skills sharing across the region for caring for archaeology collections.

The Horniman Museum and Gardens received £50,450 to review the museum’s natural history collections with subject specialists and enthusiast groups getting together to identify and find significant specimens.

Kirklees Museums and Galleries, with Calderdale Museums, Wakefield Museums, Bradford Museums and Galleries, and Leeds Museums and Galleries were jointly awarded £72,768 to review and reinterpret the textile collections of the partner museum services and to create the West Yorkshire Textile Heritage Trail.

Museum nan Eilean and Archaeology Service (Western Isles) received £85,000 to research the Udal archaeological collections and investigate potential for an Archaeological Resource Centre on North Uist.

The National Media Museum received £78,800 to research and develop the use of the Ray Harryhausen Collection.

Sally Cross, the MA’s collections coordinator, said: “Individually, the projects that have been awarded grants speak for themselves in terms of the quality of the collections and the creativity and ambition of the projects.

“Together, I’m really pleased with how they look for their diversity – it’s becoming clear that this fund is supporting a range of types of collection, types of museum and projects on different scales.”

Round three applications

Due to the high volume of applications to the EFCF, the MA has introduced a two stage application process.

The selection criteria for round three remains the same, but museums will be asked to complete a brief initial stage application.

The MA will then invite a shortlist to complete full applications.

The MA will advise applicants ahead of the deadlines to help bring out the key points that the selection committee will look for.

After receipt of stage one applications, the MA will invite a small number of applicants to move onto the second stage.

Those selected will be asked to complete a full application for consideration by the EFCF board and will have access to more detailed advice and feedback from MA staff. Organisations invited to complete a full application will have a 40% chance of being funded.

Closing date for round three initial applications is 5 April 2012.

Invitations to full application will be issued to successful applications on 16 April 2012.

From: http://www.museumsassociation.org/news/29112011-efcf-awards-372764-to-six-projects