Projects

Museum Development Projects Running from July 2011 – March 2012

1) Improving Museum Fundraising

10 museums will benefit from individual expert support to help review current fundraising methods and to explore fundraising potential from a range of opportunities including: managed donations; individual giving; philanthropy; sponsorship; legacies etc.  A fundraising action plan will be developed to feed into current long term business planning.  The programme will also consider what measures need to be put in place now to help the museum meet its full potential in the long term.

The programme would appeal to museums planning a major development or project for which a long term fundraising plan is needed or, as part of a review of business planning to ensure fundraising opportunities are fully explored as part of the planning process.

The programme will also meet with other museums on the programme from time to time for training and information sharing.

2) Museum Board Succession Planning

5 museums will benefit from expert advice and support towards developing a succession plan for their boards/ governing bodies.  The programme will consider what makes a good board member, what the museum needs from a board member, how and who to recruit,  and meeting expectations of new board members. The programme will include training and networking opportunities with other museums on the programme.

3)  Volunteer Development

This programme builds on last year's highly successful Flagship Volunteer Providers project.  14 museums will be individually supported to create an action plan based on the needs of each museum and will meet other museums to share ideas and experiences, benchmark and explore all aspects of volunteer recruitment, retention, management and policy.  The programme aims to help increase volunteer numbers, diversify volunteers and develop best practice. Relationships will be explored will other volunteer networks and providers e.g. volunteer centres and a small grant fund will allow implementation of aspects of action plans.

4) Improving Collections Management

10 museums will benefit from expert guidance, training and access to specialists to help assess the significance of the whole or a part of the collection (in terms of significance to users; locally, regionally or nationally) to inform future collections strategies.

The programme will look at collections review that can help manage proactive disposal where applicable but also improve access to collections. The programme will benefit museums that are keen to grasp a new outlook and strategic approach to collections management as embodied in the new Accreditation standard (to be launched in October).   It is anticipated that participants will become champions of a new approach to collections management in the region. A small grant fund will be available to help implement aspects of action plans.

5) Increasing users and improving quality of experience

This project will be developed in Leicestershire and Northamptonshire; pursuing themed joint marketing initiatives, providing training to support improvement of the quality of visitor experience and support to analyse data about visitors to inform better marketing.  The programme will work closely with the tourism sector.  Museums will be invited to participate once the project themes have been finalised.

For further information contact your MDO or

Claire Browne
Regional Museum Development Manager
Renaissance East Midlands

Tel: 0116 305 4112
Email: claire.browne@leics.gov.uk