SMC e-bulletin

SMC Monthly e-bulletin December 2006

SMC AGM 2006

Members attending this year’s AGM were thankful for calm seas as they boarded the SS Glenlee at The Tall Ship, Glasgow Harbour, on 29 November.  Highlights of the day included

• the appointment of Lynne Halfpenny, Head of Museums and Arts at the City of Edinburgh Council, to the SMC Board
• the retirement of Nat Edwards, Pat Buchanan and Susan Jeffrey from the SMC Board
• an amendment to SMC’s Memorandum and Articles of Association to allow for a new category of membership for national organisations to be launched
• the launch of Moving the Goalposts, the SMC Annual Report for 2005-2006
• the launch of The Heart of the Community, a document highlighting the important cohesion between communities and collections throughout Scotland
• a member breakout session to review SMC’s external values and the strength of the SMC brand and identity
• presentations by Cait McCullagh on the development of Comann Eachdraidh Lios Mor and by Molly Ducket (Grantown Museum) and Brian Kelly (Dundee Heritage Trust) who shared some of their Show Scotland 2006 experiences.

Copies of the publications are being distributed and will be posted on our website.
SMC thanks staff and volunteers at The Tall Ship in Glasgow for their support and assistance on the day and also thanks Glasgow City Council Head of Museums and Galleries Mark O’Neill and the staff and volunteers of Kelvingrove for rounding off the day with a visit to the museum and art gallery.

Friday 1 December was the closing date for Notes of Interest for Round One of the Significance Scheme. Twenty four institutions submitted notes which ranged from single collections to complete holdings. Workshops for applicants are being held on
14 December in Edinburgh and 19 December in Glasgow. The Significance Committee has had its inaugural meeting and a timetable of future meetings has been drafted. The closing date for completed applications to Round One is 4 February 2007. Details of the Committee and dates for future rounds can be found on the SMC website at http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk/areas_of_work/sigschemeintro.asp

Many thanks to everybody who participated in the recent Collections Development Strategy and Workforce Development Strategy engagement days held in Aberdeen, Dumfries and Edinburgh. More than 70 people attended. The events provided an opportunity for participants to become more familiar with their goals and for museums, SMC and other partners to consider how we can all play a part in their delivery over the next 3 years. Discussion focused on 'shaping and developing collections' and 'supporting and creating CPD opportunities for staff and volunteers' with speakers from the sector showcasing projects that concentrated on these areas and participants working together to put forward ideas for action.
The Collections Development Strategy can be downloaded from the SMC website at http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk/pdfs/Publications/Collections_Development_Strategy.pdf
The Workforce Development Strategy and Action Plan can be downloaded from
http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk/pdfs/Publications/Work_dev_strategy.pdf and http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk/pdfs/Publications/Work_dev_strategy_Actionplan.pdf
If you would like printed copies of either strategy or to discuss potential actions for your museum, please contact Collections Development Manager Gillian Findlay, tel 0131 550 4126, or Workforce Development Manager Lissa Duncan, tel 0131 550 4131.

Tartan Week

SMC have been successful in securing funding from the Scottish Executive to allow Scotland’s non-national museums and galleries to have an opportunity to participate in Tartan Week 2-7 April 2007 in New York, USA. The theme chosen is ‘Emigration: The Journey from Scotland to America" and ties closely with the future tourism initiative ‘Homecoming 2009’ which encourages those with links to Scotland to ‘come home to visit’ in 2009. We believe that a wealth of material and information relating to this theme exists in Scotland’s museums and galleries. SMC, in conjunction with Scottish Screen Archive which will be presenting ‘The Island Tapes’ with musical accompaniment, is organising a week-long programme of public events and lectures - five or six in total. An email has been issued to SMC members inviting them to submit proposals to participate in Tartan Week by organising one of these events / public lectures. This offers an exciting opportunity for museums to open up what they have (including collections, information and people) to a huge audience - both within New York itself and wider afield in the US. Notes of interest should be sent to SMC to be received by Thursday 21 December. The deadline for full proposals is Tuesday 16 January. For information, contact Lucy Adams.  T: 0131 550 4110  E: [email protected]

Museums and galleries wishing to apply for a grant to help develop an event for Show Scotland (4-7 May 2007) have until 18 January to e-mail in the details.
The application guidelines and forms are on the SMC website at http://194.200.63.26/areas_of_work/ShowScotland07intro.asp
Remember that events should be innovative, creative, and have the objective of attracting new audiences.
If you have any queries about Show Scotland 07 or wish to sign up to receive the Show Scotland e-bulletin, please e-mail [email protected]

Planning and Partnership Development Manager
Susan Jeffrey has joined us on secondment from Renfrewshire Museums Service to cover Emma Inglis’ maternity leave. To contact Susan, telephone 0131 550 4134 or e-mail [email protected]

Regional Development Challenge Fund Manager
Fiona McOwan is now our RDCF Scheme Manager. Fiona brings many years of experience of working with local authorities and the voluntary sector. She is looking forward to working with the partnerships funded by RDCF to provide strategic support and disseminate good practice. To contact Fiona, who will be in the SMC office on Thursdays and Fridays, telephone 0131 550 4128 or e-mail [email protected]

Accreditation Manager
Fiona McDougall, one of our part-time Accreditation Managers, has left SMC to work in her other post at the Scottish Parliament full-time.

Congratulations go to the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses awarded Full Accreditation at the November Accreditation panel. The museum is entering the scheme for the first time and is the first successful 'new' applicant to the scheme in Scotland.
If you have any queries about Accreditation, please contact SMC Accreditation Manager Susie Hillhouse.  T: 0131 550 4124  E: [email protected]

The next meeting of the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel will be on
13 February 2007. The deadline for all bids for this meeting is 23 January.
The following new cases have been claimed by the Crown.
TT.79/06  14thC heraldic pendant, Forteviot, Perth & Kinross.
TT.80/06  Medieval gold fillet, Kinbeachie, Highland.
TT.81/06  17thC lead button, Larbert, Falkirk.
TT.82/06  Medieval heraldic pendant, Kinross, Perth & Kinross.
TT.83/06  Post medieval Highland brooch, Fort William, Highland.
TT.84/06  Bronze Age ingot, Laurencekirk, Aberdeenshire.
TT.85/06  Collection of prehistoric pottery, Kirkibost, North Uist, W Isles.
TT.86/06  Three prehistoric finds, Baleshare, North Uist, W Isles.
TT.87/06  Multi-period excavation assemblage, Forfar bypass, Angus.
TT.88/06  Medieval/later excavation assemblage, Whithorn Priory, Dumfries & Galloway.
TT.89/06  Multi-period excavation assemblage, Achnahaird Sands, Highland.
TT.90/06  Late Bronze Age logboat, Carpow, Perth & Kinross.
TT.91/06  Iron Age decorated quernstone, Wallyford, East Lothian.
Eligible museums interested in bidding should request details from Jenny Shiels, Treasure Trove Administrator, National Museums of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF.  E: [email protected]

Recent Heritage Lottery Fund awards include

• £528,000 to Dundee Heritage Trust for conservation works to RRS Discovery
• £16,900 to South Lanarkshire Council to facilitate a group of Gypsy Travellers to explore and record their heritage and to increase access to it for other communities. The group will create an exhibition to be displayed in Low Parks Museum.

Deadlines for applications for these awards:
15 December - Award for Conservation (£15,000) and Award for Care of Collections (£15,000).
28 February - Student Conservator of the Year Award (£10,000).
31 March - Digital Preservation Award (£5,000) and Anna Plowden Trust Award for Research and Innovation in Conservation (£2,500).
For more information, online application forms and guidance on how to apply, see http://www.conservationawards.org.uk

Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) has launched this £120,000 fund in partnership with Aim-Hi and Fusion to encourage innovative and collaborative working across the Highlands and Islands using technology to link tourism and heritage. For details and to register interest, see www.hie.co.uk/tht-challenge
The closing date for expressions of interest is 18 December and final entries should be submitted by 31 January 2007.

The Foundation’s 'Start' programme provides funding and support for cultural organisations to develop and deliver arts enrichment programmes for primary and secondary school pupils, giving them an opportunity to engage with their local cultural venue by attending at least two professional performances, concerts or exhibitions as well as taking part in an enrichment programme based around these experiences.
For details, see www.artsandkids.org.uk/our-projects or contact Stephanie on 0207 940 6431 / e-mail [email protected]
Deadline 17 January 2007.

This scheme gives internet-ready PCs to local community and voluntary organisations that can demonstrate how a PC and internet connection will benefit their work and the local community. To apply, see www.btcommunityconnections.com
Deadline 15 February 2007.

These awards celebrate best practice in museums, galleries and heritage visitor attractions. The categories for the 2007 awards are: alternative revenue generation; educational initiative; excellence overseas; marketing campaign; permanent exhibition; project on a limited budget; restoration / conservation; temporary / touring exhibition; the classic award; the Independent award (on-line votes); and use of technology.
For entry details, see the website http://www.museumsandheritage.com/a_home.asp or contact Museums and Heritage Show Ltd.  T: 01905 724734.  E: [email protected] 
Deadline 25 February 2007.

SCARF helps community groups to plan a project, collect information and understand it, use the information and learn from the experience. Types of projects previously supported include community premises and facilities; getting people to take part; services for different groups of people (young people, black and ethnic minority groups, people with hearing difficulties, people with mental-health problems, people with learning difficulties and so on); tourism; heritage; arts and recreation. Grants for each project are normally between £3,000 and £10,000. For details, see the web at http://www.scdc.org.uk/scarf/?sess_scdc=77f60f1cee0a78f60a0427d25586f72e
or contact Lee Goundry.  T: 0141 222 4830   E: [email protected]
Applications can be made at any time.

The Collections Link website, the advice and information resource for collections managers, has a new section on Standards for Exchanging Exhibitions - see www.collectionslink.org.uk/organise_exhibitions/exchanging_exhibitions

The Scottish Football Museum’s first travelling exhibition is available to hire for a two-month period. The exhibition celebrates the experience of matchday in Scotland. Twenty-four photographic panels give a behind the scenes insight into Scottish football from Stranraer FC in the south-west to Aberdeen FC in the north-east. The supporters, mascots, players, backroom staff, and officials are all captured in this unique exhibition - from the big match broadcast at Rangers FC to the pre-match dressing room at Forfar Athletic. The hire cost is £250 which includes delivery and pick up from any venue in Scotland. For information and to view the exhibition, see http://www.scottishfootballmuseum.org.uk/scottish_football.cfm?curpageid=1321 or telephone Richard McBrearty on 0141 616 6112.

The owner of a number of old domestic appliances - vintage vacuum cleaners from the 1920s onwards and washing machines from the 1940s - is keen to find homes for them in museums. Many were exhibited in Abbot House Heritage Centre in Dunfermline earlier this year. All are working and in fine cosmetic condition for their age. If you are interested in acquiring some or all of the machines, please contact Kevin Cox, 12 Kinnaird Place, Dunfermline KY12 0XL.  T: 01383 721127.

Musical Instrument Collections Subject Specialist Network Training Day
15 January, Manchester
£20
An introduction to archives for museums staff; basic handling and conservation techniques for dealing with musical objects; an exchange of experience with an opportunity to discuss the future of the Subject Specialist Network for Musical Instrument Collections and the areas in which it should be working.
E: [email protected]  W: http://www.collectionslink.org.uk/training/000128.html

Questions of Access: Research and Practice
16 – 17 January, Newcastle
Free of charge
This seminar will revisit some of the fundamental assumptions and tenets of access to compare the views, approaches, and experiences of those working in policy, practice, and research, and to consider future directions.
Contact Rhiannon Mason, tel 0191-222-5579, e-mail [email protected] or Catherine Todd, tel 0191-222-3995, e-mail [email protected]  W: http://conferences.ncl.ac.uk/accessheritage/

Sharing Experience: Using Generic Learning Outcomes in Exhibition Planning
19 January, Edinburgh
Free of charge
NMS integration of Generic Learning Outcomes (GLOs) in exhibition planning has been a successful means of engaging with users and establishing effective learning and enjoyment for all. This workshop offer a basic introduction to using GLOs and is an opportunity to hear about NMS experience.
Clare McIntyre, National Museums Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF.   E: [email protected]

Collections Basics: Care and Management of Domestic Technology
25 January, Edinburgh
Free of charge
Reappraising domestic technology collections, focusing on effective curation and aspects of collections care including disposal, handling hazardous substances, registration and storage.
Clare McIntyre, National Museums Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF.   E: [email protected]

Connecting Culture and Commerce: Getting the Right Balance
26 January, London
£95 for members of MDA and MGC, £125 for non-member non-profit organisations
The Museums Copyright Group in association with Kings College London will provide a forum to debate how to balance cultural and commercial interests.
For details and to register, see http://www.kdcs.kcl.ac.uk/mcg2007/

Foreign Exchange: Dynamic Approaches to International Working
31 January, London
£100 for MA members, £175 for non-members
The range of opportunities available from international partnerships for all types of museum, how cultivating overseas partnerships can help raise your profile, develop your exhibitions and displays and improve your collections knowledge.
Museum Association Events, 24 Calvin Street, London E1 6NW.  T: 020 7426 6940 
E: [email protected]  W: http://www.museumsassociation.org/13174

Working with Young People. GEM/SMC Grass Roots Project Training
2 February, Edinburgh
£30 for SMC and GEM members, £60 for non-members
How do we consult with young people effectively and actually integrate their ideas and suggestions into our daily activities?
Calum Price, GEM/SMC Learning Development Officer.  T: 07878 737507  E: [email protected]  W: http://www.gem.org.uk/grassroots/gr_index.html

Accentuate the Positive: New Strategies for Workforce Diversity
2 February, London
£100 for MA members, £175 for non-members
Positive-action schemes and consider how museums can develop an integrated approach that brings real change.
Museum Association Events, 24 Calvin Street, London E1 6NW.  T: 020 7426 6940  E: [email protected]  W: http://www.museumsassociation.org/13175

Collection Basics: Introduction to Pest Management
20 February, Edinburgh
Free of charge
The damage insects and other pests can cause to collections, how all staff can help to prevent serious damage, and how museum curators can implement good procedures like object quarantine and a pest management programme.
Clare McIntyre, National Museums Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1JF.   E: [email protected]

Introduction to Good Governance
21 February, Inverness
£60 for SCVO members, £90 for non-member voluntary organisations, £125 for others
The main responsibilities of governing bodies in voluntary organisations and general and specialist roles within them and how meetings, policies and plans can be used to best effect.
Jane Baillie, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisation.  T: 0131 474 8019  E: [email protected]  W: http://www.scvo.org.uk/scvo/SCVOEvents/ViewSCVOEvents.aspx?al=t&EID=506&from=EventHome

Object Handling and Packing
26 February, London
£150 for MA members, £200 for non-members
How to assess objects; identify how and where best to support them; use the right equipment and materials; and ensure the safety of objects and handlers.
Museum Association Events, 24 Calvin Street, London E1 6NW.  T: 020 7426 6940  E: [email protected]  W: http://www.museumsassociation.org/13177

Pre-School and Family Learning
2 March, Perth
£35 for SMC member museums’ volunteers, £85 for SMC / ASVA members,
£107 for non-members
How pre-school children and families learn, learning through play, and forward planning for your organisation.
Training, SMC.  T: 0131 550 4112.  E: [email protected]  W: http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk/areas_of_work/training/training_programme.asp

Child Protection. GEM/SMC Grass Roots Project Training
7 March, Stirling / 8 March, Inverness
£30 for SMC and GEM members, £60 for non-members
What is child protection?  What should we have in place?  How should we write a policy to suit the size and nature of our museum?
Calum Price, GEM/SMC Learning Development Officer.  T: 07878 737507  E: [email protected]  W: http://www.gem.org.uk/grassroots/gr_index.html