In this issue:

MDUK Conference

MD England news

Sector Support Organisations updates

 

MDUK conference – book your place now!

There is just one month until the 2022 MDUK conference! This is your chance to re-connect with colleagues from across the network – and to meet new colleagues who have joined Museum Development during the pandemic.

The themes for the 2022 conference are equity, inclusion and environmental sustainability. We are welcoming contributors from Arts Council England, Museums & Galleries Scotland and the Welsh Government to share their visions for creating greener, equitable museums.

Kath Lynch, Director of Heritage at Port Sunlight Village will discuss the Trust’s vision for sustainability and inclusion. The team leading the national Roots and Branches NLHF project will inspire and provoke in equal measure. And Isilda Almeida and Maurice Davies of No Barriers will deliver a workshop based on the Equity & Inclusion Programme they are delivering for MDUK.

Hosted at Port Sunlight Village on the Wirral, Merseyside, the conference will take place on Wednesday 15 June 2022 (the day before the AIM conference). The full programme will be released in due course. Please note that we are not able to livestream the conference.

If you have not already done so, book your place here

Farewell to Charlotte Edwards, Programme lead for MDWM

In May, MDUK bid farewell to Charlotte Edwards, Programme Manager at Museum Development West Midlands. Charlotte was an integral member of the MDUK network. Over the last two years, she led MDUK’s work on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion. This included MDUK’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement, setting up the MDUK EDI working group, coordinating EDI training for MD England staff and leading on the Equity and inclusion in Museums pilot programme for museums across England and Wales.

We wish Charlotte every success in her next venture. In the meantime, Olivia Basterfield and Michelle Davies have taken on the role as Joint Programme Managers at MD West Midlands.

Accreditation update

There is new information about the Accreditation scheme as well as an updated FAQs page published on the ACE website. The landing page is here and everything is linked and/or downloadable from there.

Sector Support Organisations updates

AMA Conference 2022 

AMA Conference 2022 — A New Adventure brings arts marketers together over two days to learn, connect and grow.  Taking place in Birmingham on 14 and 15 July, it offers delegates an opportunity to reinvigorate purpose and plot new routes to goals.   Thanks to support from organisations across the cultural sector, there are 31 bursaries available that cover the full cost of an AMA Conference delegate place and are open for application until the end of April. Plus, for the first time the AMA are offering bursaries that also cover travel and accommodation.

Find out more and apply for an AMA Conference 2022 bursary click here.

Digital Heritage Hub launch 100 digital questions answered

Digital Heritage Hub is managed by Arts Marketing Association (AMA) in partnership with The Heritage Digital Consortium and The University of Leeds. It received Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and National Lottery funding, distributed by The Heritage Fund as part of their Digital Skills for Heritage initiative. The Digital Heritage Hub is free and answers small to medium sized heritage organisations most pressing and frequently asked digital questions. The platform launched earlier this month with articles, checklists and other resources designed across four themes:

  • Digital engagement
  • Digital content
  • Digital leadership
  • Digital planning

click here for full list of resources.

Arts 4 Dementia

If you or a colleague are offering or planning to offer arts activities, talks or tours for people living with mild cognitive impairment or early-stage dementia, you may be interested in our early-stage dementia awareness training specifically aimed at those working in the arts. Arts 4 Dementia have trained over 900 people from local organisations and national bodies such as The National Ballet and The Science Museum. Their interactive training day aims to give arts facilitators increased skills and confidence in communicating and working creatively with people experiencing the early stages of dementia and their companions. They help facilitators and organisations work towards reaching new audiences, make their institutions and art practice more inclusive, and increase their impact in the community through in-person and virtual activities. 

The next training will be at the Science Museum on Monday 23 May 2022, 9:45 AM to 5 PM, you can read about tickets and information here.  Arts 4 Dementia can also develop a bespoke course for your organisation or community. For any questions regarding our training please contact us on 020 3633 9954 or email [email protected]

Wikimedia UK

Wikimedia UK has received funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund Digital Skills for Heritage Initiative in 2021. Wikipedia is read 22 billion times a month, making it one of the most visited websites in the world. It is a crucial way to share knowledge. Wikimedia UK is a registered charity and has received funding from the NLHF to help heritage and cultural organisations develop skills, tools and communities of practice for the sustainable digital preservation of heritage.

The two-year Connected Heritage Project aims to raise digital skills and confidence across the UK heritage sector. They would like to invite partners who share a commitment to increasing the engagement and representation of marginalised people and subjects. In a one-hour webinar Leah Emary and Dr. Lucy Hinnie will introduce the Wikimedia projects, including Wikipedia, and outline the benefits of engaging with these sites. The talk will last for about 45 minutes, with 15 minutes for questions and discussion with the audience. After this webinar, participants will understand more about open knowledge; know how to follow up if they would like to continue with the project; and have resources and materials to make a case for participation to organisation leaders.

To sign up for a Zoom webinar, please select from the following dates, and register via Eventbrite. You need only attend one webinar. Sessions are free, open and no prior Wiki experience is required.

  • Wednesday 15th June
  • Friday 12th August
  • Thursday 13th October

Our Potluck Wikithons are designed to offer a taster of what a Wikithon would offer for a partner organisation. Participants are encouraged to bring along material that they would like to work with, and we will train them in how to edit Wikipedia and add material to Wikimedia Commons. They are a lot of fun, and a great way to see what it is that we offer.

  • Friday 27th May
  • Thursday 21st July
  • Friday 30th September

Frequently asked questions can be found here. If you’re interested in the project but can’t attend an event, please sign up to our mailing list. Any questions can be directed to [email protected].