News from the team and the sector
The London Museum Development team will use this page to share the latest news and information about our activities. We'll also regularly update this page with full PDF and accessible Word versions of our 'EUpdate' newsletter, usually fortnightly.
You can now sign up automatically to the EUpdate using the red button below or the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of the page on the emailed EUpdate received.
If you have any issues with this while we are making the changes then email us here.
Key headlines and events are listed below. We also share on our Twitter/X account. Recordings of some past training sessions and tutorials are on our YouTube channel.
Current EUpdate
Information about the latest funding developments, sector news, and other support packages is in the EUpdate. For latest:
eupdate 09112023 (opens from Museum of London website in your browser)
Accessible, text only version: use this link eupdate 9Nov23 (opens as a text only file, 51Kb)
Coming up ...
Emergency planning programme (4 sessions)
Developing programmes to support health and wellbeing of communities
Caring for a textile collection
Developing an inclusive museum programme (7 sessions)
Collaborating with artists on co-developed community projects
Save the date (not yet on website):
Environmental responsibility in collections care - 11 Jan 2024
Photographic Materials - 25 Jan 2024
E-update for London’s Museums
9 Nov 2023
Headline stories
Museum Development Annual Survey 2023 - new resources published
Following on from release of the main survey findings last month, further resources have now been published. Sub-regional reports have been produced for both the Outer London Boroughs and for the Central London area.
In addition, a useful Benchmarking Tool is now available, to
compare museums and understand further context. It uses statistics from the
national reports, categorised by museum visitor size bands, governance type and
the like.
Details: updated web page with all survey findings & new resources can be found on our MDL website here
Important changes to ACE NL Project Grants - INFO SESSION, ONLINE *
Arts Council England’s National Lottery Project Grants has an 'Unlocking Collections' time-limited priority for bids of £1k to £100k until March 2024, specifically to develop your collections-based work and increase public engagement and use of them. Changes to simplify and make more accessible the application process and guidance for smaller bid amounts have been in place since 1 Nov. Different versions of the application form and guidance apply according to scale of bid:
- Under £30k (decision in 8 weeks)
- £30k to £100k (decision in 14 weeks)
- Over £100k
Deadline: rolling programme for general NL Project Grants, but for Unlocking Collections by March 2024
Details: Read more on the ACE website here
* Learn about how Arts Council England can fund your museum or collections-based project
Thurs 7 Dec 2023, 10:30 - 11:30 am, ONLINE
Led by ACE London's Museum team, the presentation covers: guidance on the new process introduced from 1 Nov; the Unlocking Collections time limited priority; eligibility of projects; (briefly) the Let's Create strategy and new application process; and Q&A. Slides & resources are sent afterwards. Closed captioning available.
Confirmation email on booking, & a Zoom link is sent out closer to the event.
Queries: contact by email London Visual Arts and Museums, Team assistants Jess & Rachel by 28 Nov
To book: use Eventbrite link here
Cyber Security - essential information, Museum of London IT team & National Cyber Security Centre
Some of you may know that the British Library has been suffering from a cyber-security incident recently: this demonstrates that the threat to museums is very real! We're planning to run a 'Cyber Awareness' session for non-national museums in early 2024 covering threats, methodology, & mitigation. EUpdate will show details.
The National Cyber Security Centre has published advice on how to protect small charities, which is essential and accessible reading for everyone in your organisation now, so do please share this widely!
Details: see NCSC website here
Discussion: ‘What are the best practices to enable accessibility for staff and volunteers within museums and galleries?’
Tues 14 Nov 2023, 6.30 – 9.30 pm, at Hackney Museum, 1 Reading Lane London E8 1GQ
Join a London Museums Group panel discussion event to explore ideas, hear case studies & discuss how we can enable accessible and fair environments for museum staff & volunteers across a range of job roles.
Speakers: include Louise McAward-White from Fair Museum Jobs & Konstantinos Manos, Birkbeck College.
Tickets: see Eventbrite link here
Government Indemnity Scheme (GIS) changes, Arts Council England - survey responses requested
GIS replaces the need for commercial insurance for cultural venues, enabling them to borrow amazing objects and artwork. A review of GIS is ongoing to introduce operational improvements, to simplify guidelines and forms, and to clarify existing flexibility for relative humidity, temperature & light conditions, helping the sector to make choices about reducing their carbon emissions.
Please complete the survey to help ensure the scheme benefits museums, and is practical and realistic.
Closing date: 19 Nov 2023
Queries: contact Dr Sarah Posey or Anna Siddall Details: for survey & details see ACE webpage here
Heritage Open Days evaluation report
HODs continues to make heritage more accessible, reaches new audiences & generates income across the sector. The recently published HODs Festival evaluation shows that it continued to grow in 2023 & now has more organisers than ever.
With 72% of participants making donations, 61% become repeat visitors & an £8.9 million economic benefit, the value of being involved is clear.
Details: see HODs webpage here
Announcing 'All In', Arts Council England with AC N Ireland, AC of Wales & Creative Scotland
This developing scheme for D/deaf, disabled, & neuro-divergent people launched this week at Museums Association conference. It aims to introduce UK-wide accessibility standards for creativity & culture, with a digital system enabling people to securely store & share personal access data with participating venues once only. For venues it’ll reduce admin time, increase staff confidence, & keeps data secure.
A support directory will help venues make accessibility improvements. A pilot scheme is planned for 2024, sign up for news.
Details: see All In webpage here
Levelling Up & Regeneration Bill Receives Royal Assent
The LURB is now officially law! Government states it will increase community & council participation in local planning, increase infrastructure development, & encourage more building. Among wide-ranging policies are heritage provisions, culminating years of advocacy from many organisations, including Heritage Alliance, including: Historic Environment Records getting statutory status, temporary stop notices for listed buildings and blue plaques across England.
Details: government announcement on this gov.uk link & Historic England's appraisal on its website here
Roots & Branches: Seeds for Action Programme, with MD NW region, ONLINE sessions
Museum Development Programme, funded by ACE
Connecting Carbon literate-certified museum people in England to develop & build on carbon reduction strategies & approaches to climate action. For Carbon Literate-certified people and others interested.
1. Carbon Literacy Connect and Co-working Sessions:
- Wed 15 Nov 2023, 10-11.30am Book on Eventbrite
- Wed 17 Jan 2024, 10-11.30am Book on Eventbrite
2. Online Collective Workshops:
Challenges to taking action and how we overcome them; what makes biggest impact; ongoing research & tips (click on the titles to access the links):
- Wed 29 Nov 2023, 10:00- 11.30 am: Engaging people in climate conversations
- Tues 30 Jan 2024, 10:00 - 11.30 am, Sustainable Retail
- Thurs 29 Feb 2024, 10:00 -11.30 am, Collections Care and Climate
- Wed 13 Mar 2024, 10.00 am-12.30 pm, Seeds for Action: Celebration Event for graduates of Carbon Literacy courses to share successes & learning
Full details of events: See Eventbrite link to book any session
Museums + Heritage Awards - nominations are now open!
Mark exceptional project achievements, honour your dedicated team & volunteers, and celebrate your organisation's remarkable achievements by entering the 2024 Museums + Heritage Awards with a total of 18 categories. Free-to-enter & paid-for categories; special nomination awards; 3 are open to international projects; plus 2 awards determined by voting.
Closing by: 1 February 2024, Early Bird Discount in Nov. only
Details: see M+H webpage here
Get involved in National Lottery Open Week, National Lottery Heritage Fund, 9 to 17 March 2024
From free entry and behind-the-scenes tours to a complimentary gift or cup of tea, there are many ways to thank National Lottery players and acknowledge your grant. Sign up your project to reach new audiences & benefit from a national PR campaign during this period.
Details: see HF webpage here
Family Café Standard, Kids in Museums from Tues 7 Nov
From 7 November you can apply for accreditation with the KiM ‘Family Cafe Standard’: a new industry benchmark. Limited places available, from £200 for smallest museums, discounts for several cafes combined
Apply by: 15 Jan 2024
Details: See KiM webpage here
Takeover Day is Fri 17 Nov 2023, Kids in Museums
This day is when museums, galleries, historic homes, archives & heritage sites invite young people in to take over jobs normally done by adults. It helps historic institutions empower young people and give them meaningful roles, which can lead to greater involvement in future. Register your event to order free stickers, be added to a map & help track impact.
On social media: use & follow @kidsinmuseums #TakeoverDay on Twitter/X
Details: see KiM website here
Editorial note: EUpdate changes
This issue is in the new format, & items are now shorter with a link (max. 60 words). Some sections will appear in rotation.
It is now being emailed out direct to Inboxes and it is also available on the link above.
NOTE: you may need to check your JUNK / SPAM inbox if it does not appear in your main Inbox - and also you should save or add the sender address [email protected] as one of your Contacts for future.
Our Twitter/ X @LondonMusDev will feature more events, exhibitions and re-openings with images or video clips from now on, so feel free to use our handle when posting to get London-wide reach and you can also request a re-Tweet/X on email.
Feedback is very welcome to our email address here - Helen O'Hara, MDO central & east London, editor