SMC e-bulletin

SMC Monthly e-bulletin February 2007

SMC has awarded almost �20,000 of funding to get events up and running for the Show Scotland 07 weekend on 4�7 May. There are still funds available and so, if you missed the previous deadline of 18 January, do get in touch as the application deadline has been extended to 23 February.
As before, the fund will be available to SMC full member museums and galleries. Associate members can apply for partnership funding provided that the lead applicant is a full member. We are keen to encourage applications from urban/rural museum partnerships.
Grants can be used to fund up to 75% of the total costs of an event, up to a maximum of �1,500. If an event was developed for 2006, only new and additional elements can be applied for in 2007. We are very keen to encourage museums and galleries to investigate sponsorship and/or ticketing opportunities as a means of covering event costs. We would also encourage the repetition of 2006 events which successfully engaged with new audiences and which have the potential to become a regular feature on your own annual events calendar as well as Show Scotland�s.
For funding guidelines and application forms, please telephone 0131 550 4100 or e-mail [email protected]

SMC is undertaking a consultation with members to input into SMC's response to the draft Culture (Scotland) Bill and Cultural Guidance. We would really welcome members� contributions to our consultation meeting which will be held on 1 March, 10.30 � 3.30, (lunch provided) in Edinburgh. If you wish to attend, please contact Lucy Adams at SMC to confirm your place.  T: 0131 550 4110.  E: [email protected]
We would also welcome written comments and responses, including copies of any response your organisation is making to the Scottish Executive. Please e-mail any comments by 1 March to SMC Planning and Partnership Development Manager Susan Jeffrey.  E: [email protected]
The draft Culture (Scotland) Bill consultation document can be found at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/12/14095224/0
and guidance document at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/12/13092422/0

The SMC AGM was held on 29 November 2006 at the Tall Ship, Glasgow.
Highlights of the day included

• the launch of the 2005-2006 summary Annual Report Moving the Goalpost, collections at the heart of the community http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk/pdfs/Moving_the_goalposts_Ann_Rep_05-06_summary.pdf
• the publication of The Heart of the Community. Communities and Collections http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk/news/2006/Communities_and_Collections__pdf_.pdf highlighting the important cohesion between communities and collections
• a focus group session which involved discussion of SMC's external values and branding � see http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk/pdfs/AGM2006.asp

We would welcome the views of members who were unable to attend the AGM on the focus group session - please do send any comments to Executive Assistant Emma Davies, e-mail [email protected], by 9 March.

SMC member organisations were celebrating when the long-list for the 2007 Gulbenkian Prize for museums and galleries was announced on 2 February. Both Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum New Century Project and the Scotland & Medicine: Collections & Connections project that created the Anatomy Acts touring exhibition are amongst the long listed hopefuls.
Scotland & Medicine: Collections & Connections, a partnership led by Surgeons' Hall Museum in Edinburgh, was long-listed for promoting Scotland�s rare and extraordinary medical collections to new audiences. The partnership is supported through the Regional Development Challenge Fund, funded by the Scottish Executive and administered by SMC. The fund aims to encourage collaboration between museums of all types and other related agencies at regional level.
Kelvingrove has been chosen for their New Century Project - a �28m project to restore and re-display Glasgow�s magnificent civic art gallery and museum, creating a universal space for the 21st century.
Four short-listed museums for the 2007 prize will be announced in early April and the winner will be announced on 24 May.
For more information see http://www.thegulbenkianprize.org.uk or http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk
You can vote for your favourite on the 24 hour museum site http://www.24hourmuseum.org.uk/nwh/ART43382.html and/or by going to http://www.thegulbenkianprize.org.uk/2007/longlist.htm and posting your comments.

Following a ballot, SMC CEO Joanne Orr has been elected to Chair the UNESCO Scotland Committee and be a representative at future meetings of the UK National Commission Board. Secretariat for the Scotland committee is provided by the International Division of the Scottish Executive. For information on the work of UNESCO and the various Committees, see http://www.unesco.org.uk/Meeting_Minutes1.htm

• Support Services Manager Dimitra Giannakou has left SMC to take up an IT post with the Scottish Executive.
• Alison Colvine has joined SMC as the new Head of Research and Standards.
• Loretta Mordi has started as Learning and Access Manager on a job share basis with Helena Gillis. Loretta will be working at SMC on Thursdays and Fridays.
• Eithne Ni Chonghaile has joined as Communications Manager (PR and Events).

Contact details for SMC staff can be found on the web at http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk/about/staff_intro.asp

The next meeting of the Scottish Archaeological Finds Allocation Panel will be on 4 July 2007. The deadline for all bids is 13 June 2007.
The following cases have been claimed by the Crown:
TT.92/06  Excavation assemblages from Scotland�s First Settlers Project; Mesolithic and later material from various sites in the Highlands.
TT.93/06  Early Bronze Age assemblage from Sketewan, Balnaguard, Perth and Kinross.
TT.94/06  Two Early Bronze Age axeheads from Carlaverock Castle, Dumfries and Galloway.
TT.95/06  Assemblage of material from Culloden battlefield, Highland.
TT.96/06  Medieval and post-Medieval excavation assemblage, Cille Bhrea, Lemlair, Highland.
Eligible museums interested in bidding should request details from Stuart Campbell, Treasure Trove, National Museums of Scotland, Chambers Street, Edinburgh EH1 1JF. E: [email protected]  W: www.treasuretrovescotland.co.uk

Recent Heritage Lottery Fund awards include

• �30,000 to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to support planning work to find a new, sustainable use for Lews Castle, Stornoway. The planning work will appraise the needs of Lews Castle, Lews Castle grounds and the collections of Museum nan Eilean. The grant will support the production of a Conservation Management Plan, Audience Development Plan, Access Plan and a Training Plan.
• �49,300 to the National Trust for Scotland for a project to mark the Bicentenary of the Abolition of Transatlantic Slave Trade Act. Activities will take place at Pollock House, the David Livingstone Centre, Greenbank House, Culzean Castle and Brodick Castle. A travelling display and associated resource materials will be produced for use in 2007 and beyond.
• �50,000 to the 484 Preservation Group towards the restoration of a Leyland bus registered in 1954. The work will take place at Lathalmond Vintage Bus Museum in Fife, where it will be accessible to the public. New interpretation of the bus will be available on site and on a website and a leaflet will be created. On completion, the bus will be displayed at the Glasgow Vintage Vehicle Trust in Bridgeton.
• �5.8 milllion to create a new museum and visitor attraction dedicated to Robert Burns. The Burns National Heritage Park in Alloway is to be transformed as a prime visitor attraction. The thatched cottage in which Burns was born and a new contemporary museum housing the world�s largest and most important collection of Burns memorabilia will be the cornerstones of the project. The existing museum will be repaired and converted into educational space.
• �16.7 million had been awarded to the National Museums Scotland to help transform the Royal Museum. The �44.5 million project will double the number of objects on display and enable the museum to host larger international-quality travelling exhibitions. The project includes new accessible street-level entrances, learning zones for people of all ages, and improved restaurants, shopping and cloakroom facilities.

The Costume Society has introduced this new award with the aim of supporting the work of dress collections in the UK and students seeking experience in the museum field. It will fund a student volunteer working on a costume-related project in a public museum collection in the United Kingdom. The placement must be for a minimum of two months, either full or part-time. An award of up to �1,000 will be offered to a student applying jointly with an appropriate museum. For further information, contact Susan North. T: 0207 942 2667  E: [email protected]
The deadline for applications is 1 April.

The Jodi Awards recognise excellence in museum, library and archive website accessibility, and include any project that uses technology to provide access to collections for disabled people. For information on how to apply, see http://www.mla.gov.uk/website/policy/Diversity/Web_Accessibility
The deadline for nominations is 30 April.

This award scheme recognises the best examples of interpretation; the art of sharing the stories and significance of our natural and cultural heritage. Entries can use any forms of interpretative media including panels, displays, leaflets, live interpreters, audio, multimedia installations or websites, but must show commitment to communicating with all visitors. For details, contact the Association for Heritage Interpretation:
Cathy Lewis, t: 01929 439027 / e: [email protected]
or Michael H Glen, t: 01738 621996 / e: [email protected]
W: www.heritage-interpretation.org.uk
Closing date 4 May.

MDA has published a free online Documentation Planning resource pack on the Collection Link website. The aim is to assist museums in writing their own documentation plans. The pack will be of particular use to organisations applying for Accreditation. It gives information and guidance on why a documentation plan is needed, what it should contain, and how to go about writing a plan. All of the advice contained in the pack is based on the SPECTRUM standard.
See http://www.collectionslink.org.uk/manage_information/write_doc_plan

An on-line advisory service has been launched to help with collecting, buying and selling art and antiquities legitimately and with confidence. It was commissioned by MLA, with funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. MDA project managed the publication of the site. The site covers issues such as exporting and importing cultural objects; legislation; and news on stolen and illicitly traded objects.
See http://www.culturalpropertyadvice.gov.uk/publiccollections

Are you looking for progression or a change of direction in your career?
Do you need a professional qualification?
Do you want to broaden your understanding of the work of museums and galleries?
Would you like to study in a beautiful historic setting?
St Andrews University is planning to start a new group of students on the part-time Graduate Diploma/M.Litt. course in Museum and Gallery Studies in June 2007. The part-time course is only offered every two or three years, so please enquire now if you are interested.
If you are working in a museum or gallery, either paid or as a volunteer, you can use your practical experience towards the course work as well as learning new skills to gain a recognised qualification. The part-time course option is a version of the full-time course and offers an overview of the purposes and activities of museums and galleries. It is open to applicants with a degree in any subject and to students without a degree but with considerable experience in a museum or gallery. Work is spread over two years and students attend four short, sociable residential schools in St Andrews which include contributions by professionals from the sector.
For details, contact Margaret Hall, Postgraduate Secretary, School of Art History, University of St Andrews, 9 The Scores, St Andrews, Fife, KY16 9AR. T: 01334 462414  E: [email protected]  W: http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/~mgstud/ 

Hard graft - marketing to hard to reach audiences
1 March, Glasgow
�125 + VAT for AMA members, �180 + VAT for non-members
Who your audiences actually are, the things they like and what can be done to persuade them to engage with your organisation.
Arts Marketing Association. T: 01223 578078  E: [email protected]  W: http://www.a-m-a.co.uk/event_detail.asp?id=185

Text Workshop. Writing Workshop for Museum and Gallery Professionals
6 March, London
�145
Help with making text for exhibitions, galleries, guides and interactives accessible, appealing and effective.
T: 01295 268328  E: [email protected]  W: www.textworkshop.co.uk

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

Financial Governance and Understanding Accounts
7 March, Inverness
�60 for SCVO members, �90 for non-member voluntary organisations, �125 for others
The financial responsibilities of board members; the importance of regular management reporting and examples of management accounts.
Jane Baillie, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations. 
T: 0131 474 8019  E: [email protected] 
W: http://www.scvo.org.uk/scvo/SCVOEvents/ViewSCVOEvents.aspx?al=t&EID=509&from=EventHome

Pure and Applied � Challenges in Research
8 March, London
�145
Challenges both in collecting and interpreting data in the cultural sector for the benefit of users in development, marketing, fundraising and planning.
E: [email protected]

Introduction to Museum Ethics
9 March, Glasgow
�35 for SMC member museums� volunteers, places supported by The Binks Trust,
�50 for SMC / ASVA members, �75 for non-members
The key ethical issues in the changing landscapes of museums.
Training, SMC.  T: 0131 550 4112  E: [email protected]
W: http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk/areas_of_work/training/training_programme.asp

Crowded House: Rethinking Stored Collections
15 March, Manchester
�110 for MA members, �185 for non-members
How stored collections can be used in new and dynamic ways, including open stores, public access to stores for visits and research, long-term loans, in-gallery conservation of stored objects and the online presentation of objects in store.
Museum Association Events, 24 Calvin Street, London E1 6NW.  T: 020 7426 6940  E: [email protected] 
W: http://www.museumsassociation.org/13176

Access All Areas: Creative & Cultural Skills On the Road
21 March, Edinburgh
Free of charge
Creative & Cultural Skills is consulting employers and training providers, giving an opportunity to influence and shape the supply of skills and education. It is also an opportunity to find out more about the industry�s Sector Skills Agreement, Creative Apprenticeships, Creative Knowledge Lab, the new Creative & Media Diploma and the Cultural Leadership Programme.
E: [email protected]  W: http://www.ccskills.org.uk/news/events.asp

Foreign Exchange: Dynamic Approaches to International Working
28 March, London
�100 for MA members, �175 for non-members
The range of opportunities available for all types of museum and 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&_IXSESSION_=OvnuQ0gqVhL

MDA Documentation Essentials
10 May, Edinburgh
�35 for SMC members� volunteers, �50 for SMC / ASVA members,
�70 for non-members
The basic principles of museum documentation, exploring the benefits of good documentation practice and the content of a simple but effective system. Topics covered include SPECTRUM, the Accreditation Scheme, object entry, accessioning, marking and labelling, cataloguing, location and movement control, exit and loan. 
SMC Training.  T: 0131 550 4110  E: [email protected]
W: http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk/pdfs/Training_Programme_May_-_June_2007.pdf

Care of Paper and Photographic Collections
7 June, Edinburgh
�35 for SMC members� volunteers, �85 for SMC / ASVA members,
�110 for non-members
How paper and photographic collections can become damaged whilst on display, in storage and when being handled and measures that can be taken to prevent this.
SMC Training.  T: 550 4110  E: [email protected]
W: http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk/pdfs/Training_Programme_May_-_June_2007.pdf

Handling and Moving Objects in Museums
12 June, Perth
�35 for SMC members� volunteers, �70 for SMC / ASVA members,
�100 for non-members
Issues involved in the safe handling, packing and moving of portable museum objects.
SMC Training.  T: 0131 550 4110  E: [email protected]
W: http://www.scottishmuseums.org.uk/pdfs/Training_Programme_May_-_June_2007.pdf

The Vital Spark. Interpretation. Call for Papers
30 September - 3 October, Aviemore
Proposals are invited for presentations and workshops inspired by the conference title The Vital Spark or by one of the conference themes:
� ?the vital spark: interpretation as a driver for cultural regeneration
� creativity and innovation: interpreting remote and fragile areas
� voices in interpretation: languages, cultures and communities
� ?authenticity and re-interpretation: traditional icons in the 21st century.
Proposals should be submitted, by 2 March, via the conference website www.thevitalspark2007.org.uk, through www.solas-events.co.uk,
or by e-mail to [email protected]