Welcome to your March Newsletter!

This month, we're highlighting our Small Open Grants, offering up to £10,000 to fuel your innovative projects. Don't miss this chance to bring your ideas to life – applications close on Monday 31 March, so act now!

We're also excited to about the launch of our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion peer networking sessions as part of our project Growing Together. These invaluable gatherings provide a space for shared learning and collaborative growth, fostering a more inclusive and equitable museum landscape. Book your place today and join the conversation.

Beyond these key opportunities, you'll find a round-up of essential news from across the wider museum sector, as well as tips and tricks from our Conservation Development Officer if you're opening your museum back up this spring.

Although it is not essential, we recommend you speak to your Museum Development Officer before applying to us for funding, as they will be able to advise on your project and application.

Applications for our Small Open Grants close on Monday 31 March 2025.

Further sessions will be released later in the year - keep an eye out for the next Growing Together Peer Networking Special Newsletter for all the details.

The weather is getting warmer so pests will be getting more active. Now is a great time to restart your Integrated Pest Management programme to protect your collection. Start by rounding the team up to watch our five minute light-hearted (but fact-packed) animation on “The Museum Life of Pests”.  

Agree who will be in charge of putting out the pest traps, who will monitor them and check the contents every three months.  Make sure everyone knows what pests look like and how to report them. Find further guidance and lots of resources on our Pest Partners web page, and you can contact our Conservation Development Officer for help identifying pests or deciding how to treat a possible infestation.

Don’t forget, prevention is better than cure! Any objects coming into the museum must be carefully examined for signs of pests or recent damage before they are put in with the rest of the collection. Deliveries can also be infested while in transit, for example picking up booklice from damp packaging in vans.

She will be much missed in the region and we all wish her well in her new role. The role of Cornwall Museum Development Officer will be advertised shortly with Cornwall Council.

Family Friendly Museum Award 2025 Open 

Kids in Museums has opened the Family Friendly Award 2025! Each year they award the prize to one museum, gallery, historic home or heritage site that has made outstanding efforts to welcome children and families and respond to their feedback. It is the only museum award in the UK to be judged by families.

There are five award categories this year. Find out how you can nominate your museum. 

Association of Independent Museums (AIM) Conference 2025

AIM Conference is open to everyone working in the heritage sector, including professionals at all career stages, volunteers and trustees. They welcome delegates from all types and sizes of heritage organisations across the UK, not just independent museums.

The conference will take place across the 18 and 19 June in Portsmouth, early bird tickets are on sale now.

Museum Data Service Website Feedback

The Museum Data Service (MDS), launched in 2024, is a transformative new digital infrastructure that aims to connect all the object records of all UK museums, providing the raw material for researchers, curators and anyone else wanting to work with this wealth of knowledge.

If you are a current or potential future user of the MDS, as a museum professional and/or a researcher, and would be happy to share your feedback about the MDS website we’d be very grateful for your views, by participation on this brief survey. The survey will close Monday 31 March.

This research is being conducted by Ex Nihilo Consulting, commissioned by the Museum Data Service, and will inform future plans to identify improvements to their website and service offering.

The Zibby Garnett Travel Fellowship

The Zibby Garnett Travel Fellowship is a charity giving financial help to individual students and apprentices to broaden their understanding of conservation worldwide.

The students travel to relevant countries of interest, studying regional heritage craft and conservation techniques, and bring these skills back to the UK.

Community Chest Fund - Cornwall Council

Grants of between £200 and £1,000 are available from each local councillor, for organisations who deliver a wide range of activities and projects that enrich and engage local communities. Organisations must match-fund a portion of the project through crowdfunding, and funding is only released when the crowdfunder goal has been reached.

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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