This year’s Association of Independent Museums (AIM) conference is taking place at the Black Country Living Museum on 13-14th June, and will explore the role museums play in weaving our communities together, driving economic vitality, and nurturing an appreciation for our shared history.
Early bird tickets Early bird tickets are now on sale until the end of April.
AIM Conference online
If you can’t attend in person, online tickets are also on sale now, giving you access to live streaming of the main conference sessions and the breakout session taking place in the main room. Take a look at the programme to see which sessions are covered by your online ticket.
AIM Conference Bursaries
AIM members can apply for a bursary to attend both days of conference plus the Wednesday and Thursday evening socials. In addition, bursary applicants can request funding of up to £200 towards accommodation and travel costs associated with attending the conference.
AIM Connected Communities – first round of grants awarded More than 15,000 people are being supported into volunteering and given opportunities to build social connections in libraries, museums, arts organisations and charities thanks to Government investment.
Up to £30 million is being provided through the Government’s Know Your Neighbourhood Fund to create volunteering opportunities and support those experiencing or at risk of chronic loneliness.
Nearly £3 million is being distributed on behalf of Government by Arts Council England via partners Libraries Connected, Creative Lives and AIM, through the AIM Connected Communities programme, to create more than 1,000 volunteering opportunities and support more than 4,000 people experiencing, or at risk of, chronic loneliness.
Meet the first round grant recipients Apply for Connected Communities Grants of £15,000 – £100,000 are available to museums delivering projects in the eligible areas that will improve community connections through high-quality volunteering opportunities and/or reducing loneliness and increasing social bonds. Expressions of Interest must be made by Monday 27 November.
News In Brief Cultural Governance Forum: A Networking Breakfast with the Charity CommissionClore Leadership and the Cultural Governance Alliance are delighted to present an exclusive in-person autumn networking event, ‘Cultural Governance Forum: A Networking Breakfast with the Charity Commission’ taking place on Wednesday 6 December 2023 from 8:30am – 10:30am at the British Library Knowledge Centre. Join them to hear Orlando Fraser as he speaks to Barnoness Lola Young of Hornsey OBE and takes questions about the current and pressing issues for charity governance. Find out more>> [aim-museums.us8.list-manage.com]
Research into cultural activities for older peopleThe University of Oxford is leading a study on tailoring cultural activities or events or groups for older people (aged 60+) from ethnic minority groups. They aim to produce evidence-based recommendations about producing accessible and acceptable cultural activities, groups or events for a diverse audience. For this study, they’re mapping what work is currently taking place in this sphere in the UK and are inviting heritage organisations to complete a short survey on the topic. Take the survey>> [aim-museums.us8.list-manage.com]
Happy Friday! Read on for a round-up from Museum Development England, Association of Independent Museums, and Collections Trust.
Introduction to the Protection of Cultural Venues (CPD Certified) programme
Thursday 23rd November 2023
13:00 – 17:00
£60
This course covers Understanding Threats to Cultural Venues, Attack Methodologies, Situational Awareness, Surveillance Detection, and Effective Operational Practices.
A new chapter begins at the Association for Cultural Enterprises this month, as long-standing CEO Jill Fenwick retires and is succeeded by newly appointed CEO Gordon Morrison. Gordon joins Cultural Enterprises from the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA), where as CEO he was instrumental in supporting the Scottish attractions sector through the pandemic. He has a wealth of experience in culture, tourism and hospitality, having also held senior roles at VisitScotland, and Museums and Galleries Edinburgh.
Seeking new Chair of Trustees
Are you passionate about the cultural sector and its role in society? Do you believe in the power of cultural commerce to help organisations survive and flourish? Do you have the skills, experience, and vision to lead a dynamic charity that supports cultural organisations across the UK and beyond? If so, you might be the perfect candidate for the role of Chair of the Association for Cultural Enterprises (AfCE).
Opportunity for those working with quilt collections.
The British Quilt Study Group (BQSG) are calling for ideas for papers for their October 2024 seminar and want to hear from people who would like to put forward proposals for papers. At this stage all that is required is a 500-word abstract detailing your idea. The BQSG Research Panel will help you to develop your ideas with suggestions and guidance.
If you have a project in mind but feel that you cannot pursue it due to cost, BQSG offers an annual bursary of up to £500 to contribute towards additional costs of research.
Email researchadmin_bqsg@quiltersguild.org.uk to find out how to submit an abstract and how to apply for the bursary. Closing date for applications for the bursary and for receiving abstracts is 7 January 2024.
Association of Independent Museum Updates
Brighter Day Grant Scheme AIM is grateful to the Arts Scholars Charitable Trust for funding the AIM Arts Scholars Brighter Day Grant Scheme for a third round.
Our priority is ensuring museums at risk of closure, losing vital skills and knowledge, or unable to provide effective collections care, are supported to ensure future viability. The scheme has a special focus on small museums and others that have found it difficult to access support. The fund will support education, training, curation, and exhibition projects that address collections care and sustainability of historic and decorative arts collections.
Applications are open now until 5pm on Friday 8 December.
New programme for trustees The latest Spark! programme is aimed at supporting trustees of volunteer-run museums to strengthen shared problem solving and build networks of support. Participants will work through a series of online workshops, action learning sets and individual coaching sessions. Apply by 8 January. Book your free place [aim-museums.us8.list-manage.com] [aim-museums.us8.list-manage.com]
Cultural freelancers surveyArts Council England is running a survey to understand who is freelancing in creativity and culture and hear about their experiences of it. The survey is open to anyone who is currently freelancing, or has freelanced, in the artforms supported by the Arts Council. Take the survey [aim-museums.us8.list-manage.com]
Has your museum undertaken a project to address harmful language or narratives in catalogue records? Or perhaps you have tackled an inventory project, resolved historic documentation issues, or increased access to collections information for a variety of users.
If so, Collections Trust wants to hear from you! Your museum could win £1000to spend on an agreed collections management activity. There will also be an online celebration event on Thursday 14 March 2024.
Please see below for news and announcements from AIM
State of the sector survey Our latest state of the sector survey is open and we want to hear from you.
Following on from previous surveys, we’re keen to assess how museums have fared over the summer holiday period and the impact the cost-of-living crisis is having on the sector. Your insights are invaluable – they help us understand the challenges you face and provide the data we need to make the case for support to governments. And as ever, if your organisation faces crisis (on e.g RAAC or other issues) please do contact us as soon as possible.
Please do take the time to share your feedback with us. The survey is open until Sunday 24 September.
Presentation of survey results Join AIM Director, Lisa Ollerhead, on 11 October to hear a summary of the state of the sector survey results and what this means for AIM’s focus in the coming months. Taking place online, this session is free to attend and will include a Q&A with Lisa.
Heritage Trustees 101 What is a heritage trustee and how do I become one? Join AIM at this free pilot event, ideal for potential trustees currently working within the sector looking to better understand the role of the Trustee and the skills and the commitment required for success. 28 November, Museum of Cambridge. Supported by Share Museums East and Trustees Unlimited.
AIM Pilgrim Trust collections and conservation grants The AIM Pilgrim Trust collections and conservation grants support small to medium sized museums to care for their collections more effectively and efficiently. The current round closes at 5pm on Friday 29 September. Find out more>> [aim-museums.us8.list-manage.com]
New Stories New Audiences The third and final round of New Stories New Audiences closes on 31 October. Funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund, this grant helps small museums stay relevant to their audiences and to increase their impact by identifying new stories and by working with a new partner, to work differently and to try something new. Find out more>> [aim-museums.us8.list-manage.com]
Training grants We’re currently accepting applications for core training, such as first aid and health and safety at work, and from army museum members to attend the ‘Army Museums: Into the Future’ conference in October. Find out more>> [aim-museums.us8.list-manage.com]
Please see below for updates from Association of IndependentMuseums
AIM’s 2024 state of the sector survey is now open and we want to hear from you.Following on from our previous surveys, we’re keen to assess how museums have fared over the summer holiday period and the impact the current cost of living crisis is having on the sector. The state of the sector survey we ran this time last year was invaluable in helping us understand the challenges you were facing and in giving us the evidence we needed to make the case for support for independent museums.
We really appreciate you taking the time to complete this survey and helping us continue to provide governments and funding bodies with robust and specific information about the level of need in the sector.
The survey will be open until Sunday 24 September. You don’t need to be an AIM member to complete it – we’re keen to hear from organisations across the sector.
AIM Conference 2024 speaker call out We’re looking for contributions to our breakout sessions for next year’s conference at Black Country Living Museum. Always a popular part of the programme, these focus on pragmatic advice, real-life examples, and ideas drawn from across the AIM community. Propose your session by 29 September.
Collections care and conservation grants The deadline for the next round of AIM Pilgrim Trust collections care audits, collections care grants and remedial conservation grants is Friday 29 September. These grants support small to medium sized museums to care for their collections effectively and efficiently, and to meet the standards required for Accreditation.
AMA Digital Marketing Day Join the AMA in London on 16 November for Digital Marketing Day 2023. This year’s event will explore how we can harness the power of the future now in a way that works for us and our organisations. There’s an Early Bird rate currently available for AMA members, plus 20 bursaries up for grabs that cover the full delegate cost. Please note: application deadline for bursaries is Friday 22 September. Find out more>> [aim-museums.us8.list-manage.com]
Museum Shop Sunday Museum Shop Sunday is a great opportunity to grow awareness of your shop, tell the stories behind your products and makers, engage with new audiences and boost sales. This year’s event is happening on Sunday 26 November. Find out more>> [aim-museums.us8.list-manage.com]
Please see below for updates from the Association of Independent Museums Newsletter
Applications for round 3 of New Stories New Audiences are now open.
New Stories New Audiences is a grant scheme for AIM small museum members funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund. It inspires museums to stay relevant to their audiences and to increase their impact by identifying new stories and by working with a new partner, to work differently and to try something new.
Applications to the final round of this grant scheme are open until 31 October. If you’re intending to make an application then be sure to get in touch about your project idea soon.
Art Fund Going Places This new UK-wide initiative from Art Fund invites small to medium sized museums to engage underrepresented audiences with their collections through collaborative touring exhibitions. Applications are open now with network-building events happening soon. Supported by National Lottery Heritage Fund. Image credit: Art Fund / Horniman Museum and Gardens.
Collections Trust Conference 2023 Sharing collections data has too often been seen as a one-way street. As something that takes a lot of effort without much to show for it. This year’s Collections Trust conference explores the transformative benefits for your museum, different users, and the wider sector. Online, Thursday 5 October.
The AIM Training Grant is now open to applications from member organisations.
Eligibility: AIM members
Grant award: up to £300
Closing date: N/A
What will the grant fund?
AIM Training Grants are available to support member museums to develop the skills and expertise of their workforce, both paid and voluntary. AIM members can apply for funding, up to £300 per organisation per year, to support training and development. We can support costs related to fees, accommodation (where distance travel is involved) and travel.
We have recently increased our training budget by a further £3,000 to cover member organisations training needs this autumn and winter. This summer our insight panel highlighted a need for funding to cover core training, such as first aid and health and safety at work. We have listened and the additional funding will be ring fenced to cover necessary operational training, so that more staff and volunteers can gain the skills to undertake their roles with confidence.
Applicant museums must be AIM members and priority will be given to smaller museums receiving less than 20,000 visitors per annum.
Preference will be given to staff members and volunteers of museums that have not previously benefitted from the scheme.
We cannot support retrospective applications for funding for training that has taken place or that has been booked prior to the funding being applied for/awarded.
We can support multiple training grant applications from one museum up to a total value of £300 per museum per year.
Member organisations / recipients of a bursary will not be able to apply for further support from the AIM Training Grant in 2023.
Application process
Please complete the AIM Training Grant application form (found below) and email it to Fiona Woolley, AIM Grants Administrator at programmes@aim-museums.co.uk.
Applications must be submitted by the end of the calendar month. AIM will acknowledge receipt of your application and respond with the outcome within two weeks of the end of the next month. If your request is urgent, please mark your application as URGENT when you email us.
Grant payment
Payment of grant funding, if awarded, will be made on receipt of a statement of expenses incurred, proof of expenditure, an image, and a brief report of its value for sharing on AIM channels/Bulletin (max. 200 words). Payments can only be made to the AIM member organisation.
Industrial heritage conservation workforce and collections survey
Icon has received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Heritage Innovation Fund programme to develop interventions which will support the development of skills in the workforce working to protect and preserve industrial heritage collections in the UK. Icon is running a survey to develop their understanding of the nature of collections which are held, who is caring for these collections and specific workforce skills needs. Please take the time to fill in the survey – respondents will be entered into a prize draw to win a £50 voucher to attend an Icon Skills professional development event. Click here to take the survey>> [aim-museums.us8.list-manage.com]
IAASF free delegate places
IAASF 2023 is taking place in County Durham this September, a conference dedicated to security and safety within the cultural heritage and art sector. This year’s theme ‘Protecting Cultural Heritage During Uncertain Times’ will welcome 15 international speakers, the latest in security innovation as well as fundraising activities to support protection efforts in Ukraine. AIM members can book a free standard ticket using the code ‘AIM2023’. Click here to book your free delegate place>> [aim-museums.us8.list-manage.com]
Please see below for updatesfrom the Association of Independent Museums:
Round 3 of AIM’s New Stories New Audiences is now open for applications.
New Stories New Audiences is a grant scheme for AIM small museum members funded by National Lottery Heritage Fund. It inspires museums to stay relevant to their audiences and to increase their impact by identifying new stories and by working with a new partner, to work differently and to try something new. Grants of up to £15,000 are available to small museums across the UK to get more people involved in heritage at your organisation.
If you want to find out more about New Stories New Audiences, sign up to one of our introductory webinars on 10 July or 14 September.
2023 marks the TWA Digitisation Grant’s sixth successful year! In that time, it has supported over 110 organisations, offering a total of £108,000 in funding. Applications are now open for grants for the digitisation of Bound Volume Collections, Archive Collections, and Photograph Collections. Closing date 28 July.
Museum Development North West 