Welcome to your November Newsletter!
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Last month we received an overwhelmingly positive response to the results of the 2025 Annual Museum Survey report for England. Today, we are delighted to publish the Annual Museum Survey Area reports, including the report for the South West. Read on to find out more. In this newsletter we are also announcing the newest members of our board, and please take a moment to read the latest museum security advice from Arts Council England. A festive edition of the Museum Volunteering Forum will take place online on Thursday 11 December. This forum brings together volunteer co-ordinators in museums across the South West Area, whether paid or voluntary, who are actively developing volunteer involvement at their museums. |
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The 2025 South West Area report demonstrates the collective power of small museums to the local economy. 64% of all museums in the South West receive fewer than 20,000 visitors. Yet, the median economic impact of local and day visitors to museums in the South West is £230,890 and increases to £345,951 including employment and procurement impacts. |
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Findings show that the South West receives less public subsidy (monies from Local Authorities, Arts Council or central government) than other English Areas that are receiving public subsidy. Those who are in receipt of public subsidy reported a median of £52,000 per annum in comparison to £125,000 across England. Investment from public subsidy ranges from £357,250 in London to £63,080 in the South East ( £225,968 in the North and £206,609 in the Midlands).
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We are delighted to announce three new appointments to our Strategic Advisory Board. We have welcomed Sara Hilton as our new Chair, and Sado Jirde and Mary Godwin as new board members. We are grateful to them for their support and are looking forward to learning from their expertise and insight going forward. “ I have huge admiration for the work of Museum Development South West (MDSW), supporting our amazing museums and heritage organisation across the region. I’m delighted that I can now play a role in supporting that work and helping to get the best out of the Strategic Advisory Board to support MDSW’s vital work.” Sara Hilton, Chair “ I am honoured to join the Strategic Advisory Board of Museum Development South West. Museums have a vital role in shaping inclusive futures, amplifying diverse voices, and connecting communities through culture. I look forward to contributing my experience and working with colleagues to ensure the sector across the South West continues to thrive, innovate, and serve all our communities.” Sado Jirde “ I’m looking forward to bringing to the board my professional experience in museum leadership, governance and development, and my lived experience of the challenges of creating equity of cultural opportunity for differently abled people. I believe strongly in the role of museums and culture in developing quality of life, wellbeing and self-realisation for people and I’m very excited by this opportunity to contribute to MDSW.” Mary Godwin Sara, Sado and Mary have all shared their thoughts on joining our board, and you can read their short biographies in our latest blog. |
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Please read and share this note from Arts Council England's Government Indemnity Security and Protection Adviser, Valentina Sabucco, in relation to recent high profile museum thefts:In the past few weeks, instances of heists on gold and jewellery items from museum settings have featured in the news. This is a timely reminder that risk assessments should be regularly reviewed, and measures kept up to date. There are a range of resources in the Security Advice section on the Collections Trust website. Here are some prompts for you to consider:
- Review your physical layers: Check doors, windows, access restrictions during opening and closing hours. Do they offer sufficient physical layers to provide delay in case of a break-in, so that your security company or police can arrive on site and respond?
- Are there any pieces of equipment or structures (e.g. scaffolding) along the perimeter that can be exploited to obtain access to upper floors? How are these secured?
- Operational procedures: What is the response time to alarms during out of hours?
- During opening hours, are cases checked at the end of each day to spot any sign of damage? Is CCTV checked at the end of the day to identify any suspicious activity or behaviour?
- Potential thieves will check out the venue in advance. Please alert your staff, and, in particular, your front of house team to be vigilant.
- Do staff have an incident report log?
- Are there quick 15 minute briefings at the beginning of each morning for staff to share anything suspicious that has been noticed?
- Are IDs of contractors checked upon arrival? What are the protocols in place?
- Are there any areas not covered by an intruder alarm? Are all access points alarmed? When was the system last serviced? Is a back-up power generator present in case of power outage to provide resilience to the technical systems such as alarms and CCTV?
- Display arrangements: Are display cases sufficiently robust? Consider metal frame, thickness of the glass, locks, etc. Are they alarmed?
Join us on Wednesday 26 November from 12pm to 1pm, for an informal coffee morning session to hear from Valentina. This is your opportunity to ask any questions you may have relating to your museum's security.
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Focus on... Devon (in the 1920s!)
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From March to October this year, Devon’s museums have been working in partnership with the Devon History Society to celebrate the Festival of Devon in the 1920s. The Festival came about as a result of the Devon in the 1920s research project, first started in 2021, and has resulted in some fascinating exhibitions and events across Devon, showcasing this new research. The 1920s was a period of huge change for Devon as it emerged from the Great War and many people were gradually able to enjoy themselves, whilst taking advantage of new housing, jobs and inventions. For others, bereavement was slow to heal, domestic drudgery continued and technological change meant redundancy. Exhibitions supporting the festival have been held at RAMM, Bampton Heritage Centre, Newton Abbot Museum, The Valiant Soldier Museum in Buckfastleigh, The Museum of Dartmoor Life in Okehampton, Bovey Tracey Heritage Centre, North Devon Maritime Museum in Appledore, The Museum of Policing in Devon and Cornwall, Whimple Heritage Centre and Teignmouth and Shaldon Museum. For more information about Devon in the 1920s and the research please visit the Devon Twenties Festival website. |
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This November there are new Accreditation achievements in our area to celebrate! Congratulations to all of the following museums and heritage organisations:
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Museums + Heritage Awards 2026
Entries are now open for the Museums + Heritage Awards 2026. There are 18 categories to enter, ranging from Volunteer of the Year to Sustainable Project of the Year to Conservation Project of the Year and everything in between. If you’re proud of what you and your team have achieved this year, now’s the time to put your work in the spotlight. These awards celebrate the ingenuity, passion and resilience that power our museums, galleries and heritage visitor attractions. Enter before Sunday 30 November to save £40 on your entry fee. All entries must be submitted by Friday 30 January 2026.
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Let's Get Real Conference 2026: AITickets are now on sale for The Audience Agency's 2026 conference: Let's Get Real. The conference will take place on Thursday 19 March 2026 at Conway Hall in London. The main focus of the conference will be exploring AI by looking at tools, use cases, governance and strategy, all in the context of what it means to be a cultural organisation trying to get the best from technology. The day will feature insights from 15 organisations who comprise of this year's Let's Get Real cohort. Alongside case studies, guest speakers from the wider cultural sector will share insights on the strategic challenges that AI brings.
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The Heritage Youth PartnershipThe Heritage Youth Partnership have a limited number of £600 microgrants available for heritage projects led by young people from uniformed groups, such as cadets and scouts. These can be enriched by being delivered in partnership with heritage organisations. Eligible projects should connect uniformed groups with their heritage, bring about positive change in the community and share the heritage exploration and results.
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McCulla Award – Local Studies Librarian of the YearThe Local Studies Group of CILIP are looking for an outstanding Local Studies Librarian. The award is usually given for a recent major project, or as a lifetime award for someone near the end of their career. It comes with a prize of £250. Nominations are welcome from colleagues, local historians, family historians and anyone who knows a local studies professional who has made a difference. This year nominations close on Wednesday 31 December.
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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 (MDSW)
- MDSW
- Sara Hilton/ Sado Jirde/ Mary Godwin
- Bampton Visitor and Heritage Centre
- M+H Awards
Museum Development South West content: |
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