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A white gallery filled with modern art. At the end of the room is a group of people listening to a talk.

Welcome to your August Newsletter!
We've had a busy summer so far at Museum Development South West, awarding On Display! and Capacity Builder grants, as well as publishing a suite of new case studies following the journeys of museums who took part in our Travelling Together project. 

Today, we're opening Expressions of Interest for our Volunteering Fit for the Future programme. We've also welcomed a new member to our team who will be supporting museums in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. Read on for updates on what we've been up to as well as your usual sector news.
Programme update
Our Volunteering Fit for the Future programme is back for 2024! We are inviting Expressions of Interest until 5pm on Friday 13 September to join our programme of support focussing on volunteer involvement. There are 12 funded places on the programme, providing four to six hours of support for your museum, with additional opportunities for learning together.
A woman talking to a man in a museum, she is wearing a badge and glasses on a chain around her neck
The programme will kick off in September when participant museums complete a short preliminary assessment to outline their current position and aspirations for volunteering. The programme runs until Spring 2025, when the cohort will have the opportunity to apply to our grant programme to achieve their objectives.

Want to know more? Read our latest blog with a full run down on the details of the programme and how to apply.
Read more
Team update
In July we welcomed Sheila Pott as the new Museum Development Officer for Hampshire Solent, as a job-share alongside existing Museum Development Officer Alice le Page.  Both Alice and Shelia are hosted by Hampshire Cultural Trust, our partner in delivering the local Museum Development Officer network. We are delighted to now have the whole team for the new South West area confirmed.
A smiling woman with long dark hair.
Sheila, who previously worked with The Salter’s Institute and Historic England, is passionate about creating accessible, impactful programmes and is dedicated to advocating for the power of museums in our communities.  

Museums in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight have already been getting involved with the new Museum Development South West programme. Gilbert White's House and Gardens and The Royal Logistic Corps Museum have both been awarded Capacity Builder grants, The Diving Museum has received an On Display! grant, and the Museum of Army Music has received a Small Grant.
Contact Sheila
Focus on... Devon
A group of people standing in a line. One of them in the middle is holding up a certificate.
In July, Volunteers at Coldharbour Mill were presented with the prestigious King’s Award for Voluntary Service by HM Lord-Lieutenant of Devon, David Fursdon.

The award recognises the mill’s outstanding commitment to benefiting local communities through its voluntary work. 

"We are incredibly proud of our volunteers whose hard work and dedication have earned us this distinguished recognition," said Bryher Mason, chair of the Coldharbour Board of Trustees. "This award is a testament to the profound impact that our volunteers have on the community, and we are deeply grateful for their unwavering support."

Coldharbour Mill is one of 262 organisations, including Crewkerne & District Museum and Heritage Centre, featured in our July Newsletter, to receive the prestigious award this year.
Accreditation update
This August there are new Accreditation achievements in our area to celebrate! Congratulations to all of the following museums and heritage organisations:
Museum Accreditation logo
Other news
A selection of images showing people involved in climate change work.
Fixing Our Broken Planet: Community of Practice

To explore climate breakdown and to inspire solutions, the Natural History Museum developed an experimental Our Broken Planet exhibition and public programme. They are growing the programme, inspiring action across four key themes – food, materials, energy, and health.  

To enable this, they are building a Community of Practice to support museums to develop local displays and explore how to engage younger and more diverse audiences across the UK. This will become a place to interact, learn, and collaborate, fostering knowledge exchange among museums, scientists, researchers, youth engagement experts, and cultural practitioners. 

There are multiple ways to get involved. If you have any further questions about the Community of Practice, contact nationalprogrammes@nhm.ac.uk.
Horizon Scanning: Taking Control of Risk in the Cultural Sector

Join Cultural Enterprises for this free webinar on 10 September 2024, delving into the pivotal practice of horizon scanning. 

Horizon scanning empowers leaders to foresee risk and seize opportunities. It’s not about predicting; it’s about preparing with anticipation. Essential for anyone with decision making or risk management responsibilities, this webinar will help you understand exactly what horizon scanning is and how to integrate it seamlessly into daily operations.
Do you have old cases going spare?

Dorset Museum & Art Gallery have an opportunity to secure funding that will enable the installation of collections and interpretation in their Victorian Hall. As part of this project, they are looking to obtain a less modern style of display case.

Does your museum have old cases which aren't being used? Please contact Claire Dixon via collections@dorsetmuseum.org if you think you can help.
Grants
Art Explora European Prize

Open to all non-profit European cultural organisations, including in the United Kingdom. The award is for audience engagement and participation in arts and culture, aiming to support innovative projects across all art forms, that can be shared, replicated and scaled across Europe.

There are three awards of €50,000 available, a Special Jury Award of €20,000, and a €10,000 People's Choice Award. Applications close Friday 6 September.
Wiltshire Community Foundation - Community Grants

Up to £5,000 per year for up to three years are available to voluntary organisations for projects and activities that improve people's lives in Wiltshire and Swindon. The grant should benefit people on low incomes as these applications are prioritised. The programme is open for applications and next decision date is Wednesday 4 September.
The best ways to get in touch are via the form on our website or emailing museum.development@bristol.gov.uk

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Photo credits (in order as they appear):

  • Museum Development South West
  • Museum Development South West
  • Sheila Pott
  • Coldharbour Mill
  • Natural History Museum

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