Dates For Your Diary – Upcoming AIM Events

We have created this at a glance guide to all upcoming AIM events so you can see what events are right for you, and also how to book. If you need any other information about these AIM events, please email: sassy@aim-museums.co.uk

8 September 2016 – Cardiff

AIM Wales Events – UK Launch of AIM Admissions Research Report and AIM Hallmarks in Wales

UK Launch of AIM Admissions Research Report (morning session)

This morning event will launch the official report containing vital research into the impact of charging for admissions on museums and heritage sites, including results from the recent admissions survey. Attendees will receive copies of the summarised report before enjoying a buffet lunch.

AIM Hallmarks in Wales (afternoon session)

Attendees are invited to lunch followed by an afternoon session exploring the AIM Hallmarks of Prospering Museums. Guest speakers will reflect on their own leadership approaches and organisational development in light of the Hallmarks and there will be more information about the AIM Hallmarks programme. Thanks to funding from Welsh Government, AIM members in Wales are now eligible to apply for grants via the AIM Hallmarks Awards.

Attendees are welcome to attend either or both events with a buffet lunch included.

Further information and booking: AIM Wales Events  

Join AIM in Wales on 8 Sept for the UK launch of the admissions research and the launch of the AIM Hallmarks in Wales

Wednesday 28 September – Birmingham

Monday 14 November – London

Reviewing Your Board For Succession Planning

Led by Joy Allen of Leading Governance, this seminar is for any board which needs to recruit new trustees or broaden its range of skills, this interactive workshop will provide practical tips for board succession planning, including how to conduct a useful skills audit and recruitment methods in practice.

Further information and booking: Reviewing Your Board For Succession Planning

Reviewing Your Board For Succession Planning will help any board that needs to recruit new Trustees – join us in Birmingham or London

Tuesday 4 October – London

Delivering Excellent Heritage Projects: Free AIM Biffa Award Seminar

If you are about to start a new capital heritage project or want to deliver a successful interpretation project, this seminar at the London Transport Museum will inspire you and give you the confidence you need. Museums and heritage sites embarking on a major development project will gain invaluable top tips on how to manage processes and planning, how to avoid pitfalls and recognise opportunities and how to manage communications and relationships with key stakeholders and volunteers.

Further information and booking: Delivering Excellent Heritage Projects

Museums and heritage sites embarking on a major development project will gain invaluable top tips at our Biffa Award funded seminar in London

19 October – London

Engaging Board Meetings

Led by Anne Murch and Gaby Porter, this workshop is for anyone who has ever felt that their board could be engaging with big, exciting questions as well as the routine oversight of their organisation. It will aim to answer questions such as “How do we engage board members in creative conversations and invite them to contribute their ideas with enthusiasm?” as well as enabling boards to ensure they bring their attention to what matters most for the organisation.

Further information and booking: Engaging Board Meetings

This workshop is for anyone who has ever felt that their board could be engaging with big, exciting questions as well as the routine oversight of their organisation

 

New AIM Seminars For Heritage Trustees

As part of the AIM Hallmarks Governance Programme, AIM is launching a new series of in-depth seminars for trustees of AIM member museums, galleries and heritage organisations.

These free seminars will build on the introductory regional workshops for trustees held in March and April and will offer greater insight into some of the topics raised by attendees at those events. For further information or to book your places, please email: shanna@aim-museums.co.uk

 

Engaging Board Meetings

Led by Anne Murch and Gaby Porter, this workshop is for anyone who has ever felt that their board could be engaging with big, exciting questions as well as the routine oversight of their organisation. It will aim to answer questions such as “How do we engage board members in creative conversations and invite them to contribute their ideas with enthusiasm?” as well as enabling boards to ensure they bring their attention to what matters most for the organisation.

 

Thursday 7 July, 12.30 – 4.30 at Manchester Cathedral Visitor Centre

Wednesday 19 October, 11.30 – 3.30 in London

 

Strengthening The Chair/Chief Executive Relationship

Led by Hilary Barnard and Ruth Lesirge, this seminar will explore what good shared leadership between Chair and Chief Executives looks like in practice. Designed to enable participants to develop an effective supportive and productive Chair/Chief Executive leadership model, it is essential that the Chair and Chief Executive attend as a pair.

 

Friday 15 July, 11.30 – 3.30, Bond Dickinson in London

Monday 12 December, 11.30 – 3.30 at Bar Convent, York

 

Reviewing Your Board For Succession Planning

Led by Joy Allen of Leading Governance, this seminar is for any board which needs to recruit new trustees or broaden its range of skills, this interactive workshop will provide practical tips for board succession planning, including how to conduct a useful skills audit and recruitment methods in practice.

 

Wednesday 28 September, 11.30 – 3.30 at Birmingham and Midland Institute

Monday 14 November, 11.30 – 3.30, in London

 

For further information or to book your place on any of these seminars, or to receive a copy of the latest AIM Newsletter for Heritage Trustees, please email: shanna@aim-museums.co.uk

If you would like to receive future editions of the AIM Newsletter for Heritage Trustees, please sign up here: AIM Heritage Trustees Newsletter Sign Up

The AIM Hallmarks Governance Programme is sponsored by Development Partners. Development Partners specialise in fundraising for heritage and cultural organisations. From strategic advice and campaign management to communications and bid-writing, the DP team works with Trustees, staff and volunteers to give organisations the best chance of success. Please visit the Development Partners website for further information: www.development-partners.co.uk

 

Sharing Experiences & Ideas: AIM Sessions For Heritage Trustees

It was a gloriously warm and sunny day that greeted us in Coventry yesterday for the latest AIM trustee session held at The Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. The session was the latest in a series of activities that AIM has created as part of the AIM Hallmarks Governance Programme to support trustees from AIM member organisations and across the whole heritage sector.

Funded by Arts Council England and sponsored by Development Partners, the session started with an introduction to the overall AIM Hallmarks by Trainer, Rachel Hunter, who outlined how clearer museum governance can help trustees to understand their collective and individual roles and responsibilities. Alongside the AIM Hallmarks, the AIM Golden Rules for Good Governance featured prominently as a useful guide to best governance practice.

Session Trainer, Rachel Hunter, has been leading the sessions across England along with Marilyn Scott

Trustees from museums and heritage organisations across the Midlands and South West attended the session and the positive and upbeat atmosphere in the room matched the weather outside as they shared experiences and discovered practical ideas that they could put into place at their own museum. Some of the top tips from the participants included:

*Pose agenda items as questions – to help save time and to help trustees really understand what is needed

*Make time for away days – to give trustees time to think about overall governance and not only the day to day running of the organisation

*Put governance on the agenda – to ensure that it is discussed alongside organisational topics

*Write for digital – amend your annual report for the web and include images to help make a compelling story for your museum

*Advertise your trustee vacancies – if you need more trustees, advertise vacancies if possible. The AIM Trustee Portal is ideal for this

*Make your AGM work for you – use your AGM to meet and greet the public, local stakeholders and to aid transparency

*Keep updated on governance topics – sign up for the new AIM Trustee Newsletter to help stay on top of governance issues

There are still a few AIM trustee sessions left to run, so I asked Rachel Hunter why people should consider attending. “These sessions bring together board members from independent museums of all sizes and allow participants to learn from each other,” she explained. “The sessions give trustees the opportunity to step back and reflect on what they are doing and how they can make positive improvements and changes at their organisation.”

 

Sharing experiences and exchanging ideas with other trustees gives chance to reflect

Upcoming AIM Trustee Sessions

 Seven Stories, Newcastle – 18 April 2016

Lime St, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2PQ

Website: Seven Stories

3pm – 5pm cake and refreshments included

Galleries of Justice Museum, Nottingham – 19 April 2016

High Pavement, Nottingham, NG1 1HN

Website: Galleries of Justice Museum

3pm – 5pm cake and refreshments included

Hughes Hall, Cambridge – 20 April 2016

Wollaston Rd, Cambridge CB1 2EW

Website: Hughes Hall

3pm – 5pm cake and refreshments included

Throughout this year and next, AIM will also be launching other new initiatives to support Trustees including workshops, a dedicated governance newsletter and board development programmes. If you would like to keep informed about these exciting new schemes, please sign up for the Trustee Newsletter or email: helenw@aim-museums.co.uk

 How To Book

Please download the booking form below and email it back to: emma@aim-museums.co.uk

Booking Form: BOOKING FORM Trustee events 2

“Inspiring And Useful”: AIM Hallmarks Governance Sessions For Trustees

AIM has recently introduced a series of special sessions tailored to meet the needs of trustees which are free for trustees from AIM member and non-member galleries, heritage sites and museums. The sessions have been created to give museum and heritage trustees from across the heritage sector in England a chance to reflect, to share experiences with other trustees from different organisations and to inspire and inform their current and future governance strategies.

Funded by Arts Council England and sponsored by Development Partners, the sessions are led by experienced governance experts, Rachel Hunter and Marilyn Scott, who both include case studies and examples of governance issues that they have personally faced as board members or museum staff themselves. These personal insights into governance strategy, vision, purpose and leadership help to illustrate the critical role that trustees play in shaping the heritage sector.

Yesterday in Exeter, twelve trustees from museums and heritage sites across the south West attended the session held at the Royal Albert Memorial Museum and the session provided a good opportunity for them to meet their peers – as well as the chance to meet AIM staff face to face and to ask any questions relating to the overall AIM Hallmarks Governance Programme.

“The session was very well and efficiently run,” said Colin Vosper, a Trustee at Torquay Museum. “This was a very useful event and I met some interesting people too. The session also highlighted the value of ‘away days’ to divorce trustees from the workplace to for allow blue-sky thinking; plus the importance of succession planning with a regular rotation of trustees. I would thoroughly recommend these sessions to other heritage sector trustees.”

Please encourage your trustees to attend these sessions if possible and to sign up for the new AIM Trustee Newsletter.

You can book free places by downloading the booking form: booking-form-trustee-events-2 and returning it via email to: emma@aim-museums.co.uk

 

Upcoming dates/venues for the Trustee Sessions

 

The Bar Convent, York – 13 April 2016

17 Blossom St, York YO24 1AQ

Website: The Bar Convent

3pm – 5pm cake and refreshments included

 

The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum, Coventry – 14 April 2016

Jordan Well, Coventry CV1 5QP

Website: The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum

3pm – 5pm cake and refreshments included

 

Seven Stories, Newcastle – 18 April 2016

Lime St, Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2PQ

Website: Seven Stories

3pm – 5pm cake and refreshments included

 

Galleries of Justice Museum, Nottingham – 19 April 2016

High Pavement, Nottingham, NG1 1HN

Website: Galleries of Justice Museum

3pm – 5pm cake and refreshments included

 

Hughes Hall, Cambridge – 20 April 2016

Wollaston Rd, Cambridge CB1 2EW

Website: Hughes Hall

3pm – 5pm cake and refreshments included

Throughout this year and next, AIM will also be launching other new initiatives to support Trustees including workshops, a dedicated governance newsletter and board development programmes. If you would like to keep informed about these exciting new schemes, please email: helenw@aim-museums.co.uk

 

 

Helping Museum Trustees to Get Ahead: Free AIM Governance Sessions

Being a museum or heritage trustee is a rewarding but sometimes daunting task, so as part of the AIM Hallmarks Governance Programme, AIM has introduced a series of special sessions tailored to meet the needs of trustees today.

These free sessions are suitable for all trustees: you might be a new trustee and unsure of your responsibilities or a more experienced trustee who would like the opportunity to network and share your experiences with others – no matter what your background, these sessions will help you to gain confidence in your role.

Supported by Arts Council England and sponsored by Development Partners, each session will show you how to strengthen governance in your museum to help it prosper and thrive. The sessions will also inspire and revitalise the way you work by offering fresh thinking, a chance for reflection and a mutually supportive peer network.

The sessions will inspire and revitalise the way you work by offering fresh thinking, a chance for reflection and a mutually supportive peer network

 

Participants will benefit from:

*A session covering the roles and responsibilities of Trustees led by a governance expert

*The chance to share ideas and experiences with Trustees from other museums in your region

*An overview of the AIM Hallmarks Governance Programme: the chance to find out how the AIM Hallmarks can support your museum, and to request further support

*The opportunity to build a mutually supportive peer network

*The chance to sign up for the new AIM Trustees newsletter, further workshops, Chairs’ lunch at AIM Conference in Edinburgh and future funding news

*Refreshments and AIM governance material will also be included

*At most events, trustees will also have the opportunity to visit the host museums, with tours offered in some cases

“Good governance is critical to the success of an organisation, but can sometimes be put aside due to the day to day operations,” explained Rachel Hunter, who along with Marilyn Scott will be leading the sessions on behalf of AIM. “These sessions will give Trustees the chance to focus on their role, to assess how they contribute and to think about where governance features on their board agendas.”

Dates and Venues

Woking: The Lightbox – 14 March 2016 (3-5pm)

Exeter: The Royal Albert Memorial Museum & Art Gallery – 15 March 2016 (3 – 5pm)

London: The Museum of the Order of St John– 16 March 2016 (3-5pm)

Manchester: The People’s History Museum – 23 March 2016 (2.30 – 4.30pm)

York:  The Bar Convent – 13 April 2016 (3-5pm)

Coventry:  The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum– 14 April 2016 (3 – 5pm)

Newcastle: Seven Stories – 18 April 2016 (3 – 5pm)

Nottingham: Galleries of Justice Museum – 19 April 2016 (3 – 5pm)

Cambridge: Hughes Hall – 20 April 2016 (3 – 5pm)

Further information about each venue, websites and directions: AIM Hallmarks Governance Programme

Event Schedule

Welcome and introductions

Presentation: Strengthening your museum with better governance

Discussion: Roles and responsibilities, leadership for trustees and for managers

The AIM Hallmarks Governance Programme: Your chance to find out more

Tea, cake and networking

How To Book

Please download a form:  booking-form-trustee-events-2 and email it to: emma@aim-museums.co.uk

Governance Session Information Sheet: Trustee Sessions Information Sheet

If you can’t attend any of these sessions but would like to subscribe to the new AIM Governance newsletter, please email: emma@aim-museums.co.uk

 

Welsh Grants for AIM National Conference 2015

The Federation of Museums & Art Galleries Wales is offering grants under its Training and Conference Grant programme to enable museum staff (paid or volunteers) in Wales to attend the Association of Independent Museums 2015 Conference.

The 2015 AIM Conference will be held at Brunel’s ss Great Britain Bristol, from 18-20 June. The theme is ‘The Hallmarks of Prospering Museums’. Details here: AIM National Conference 2015

         A fine day at ss Great Britain

*Grants available up to £250 maximum per person to contribute towards conference fees, travel, the conference dinner and two nights’ accommodation.

*First come first served (limited funding available)

*Priority to independent museums, and museum mentors / museum development officers

*Not normally more than 2 per museum (in addition to a museum mentor)

*N.B. Early bird discounts on conference fees for AIM members before April 17th – we expect you to apply for these rates.

AIM National Conference is an ideal opportunity to mix with other staff and volunteers in independent museums. It is a very friendly conference, and focuses on practical issues presented by people who have done it.  Those who went in previous years found it very useful.

Clifton Suspension Bridge – on the AIM Conference Study Tour this year

Note: Other Federation Grant eligibility rules apply.

Application Form: WF AIM Application Form

Any queries to:  John Marjoram, Federation Development Officer:   john@arenig.demon.co.uk

AIM would like to thank The Federation of Museums & Art Galleries of Wales for their support.

 Images courtesy of ss Great Britain and Clifton Suspension Bridge Trust

AIM National Conference 2015

AIM National Conference  18 – 20 June 2015

‘The Hallmarks of Prospering Museums’

This year, the AIM National Conference will be held at the award-winning Brunel’s ss Great Britain in Bristol, with an exciting new conference format that develops the new AIM Hallmarks through three themes: Leadership, Purpose and Governance; Innovation in Visitor Experience and Entrepreneurialism and Income Generation.

The conference will feature 30 guest speakers, 12 breakout sessions, new surgery sessions and keynote speeches from some of the UK’s leading cultural experts including the Chairs, Directors or CEOs of: ss Great Britain, London Transport Museum, ALVA, HLF, Battersea Arts Centre, Development Partners, Imperial War Museum, Derby Silk Museum, Creative United, Tiverton Museum, Museum of Dartmoor Life, Gordon Highlanders Museum, Royal West of England Academy, Bexley Heritage Trust, Birmingham Conservation Trust, Association of Cultural Enterprises, Luton Museums and National Football Museum.

NEW for this year will also be a ‘Question Time Debate’ with a guest panel, Chaired by Matthew Tanner.

The Panel:

Richard Evans (Director, Beamish, The Living Museum of the North)

Diane Lees (Director-General, Imperial War Museum)

Judy Niner (Director of Development Partners and Chair of Cogges Manor Farm)

John Orna-Ornstein (Director of Museums, Arts Council England)

Evening social events, industry exhibitors and a Saturday Study Tour that will visit three of Bristol’s most historic locations means that the AIM National Conference 2015 is ideal for anyone connected to the UK’s heritage sector.

With more speakers and relevant topics than ever before, plus plenty of networking and idea sharing opportunities, by attending AIM conference you will discover a range of practical approaches to help your museum or heritage organisation prosper.

Image courtesy of ss Great Britain http://www.ssgreatbritain.org/

Our special Early Bird booking rate starts at just £45 per day for AIM members and runs until April 17th.

Download the AIM National Conference Brochure: conference 2015 booklet WEB

For how to book, prices and a conference schedule, please visit the AIM website and view ‘EVENTS’ tab at:

AIM WEBSITE AND EVENTS

Follow all conference updates on Twitter @AIMuseums #2015AIM

AIM would like to thank Brunel’s ss Great Britain and our conference sponsors Development Partners

New AIM Quick Guides: Donation Boxes in Museums

AIM is pleased to introduce the first of a new series of publications called ‘Quick Guides’.

The AIM QUICK GUIDES have been developed to provide useful and relevant information across a range of topics to help support the work of independent museums.

Researched and written by Professionals in the museum sector, the QUICK GUIDES offer practical help in a shorter format to our SUCCESS GUIDES allowing us to cover particular topics in more depth.

These guides can be viewed online in PDF format or downloaded and printed.

The first publication in this series is ‘Donation Boxes in Museums’ which has been produced by Judy Niner and Amy Richards of Development Partners, sponsors of the AIM National Conference 2015 June 18 – 20 at ss Great Britain, Bristol.

Donation Boxes in Museums

On-site donations can play an important role in a museum’s overall fundraising strategy for two principal reasons.

First, the very presence of a donation box reinforces the charitable nature of the museum. Secondly, the income itself (with Gift Aid) can be significant, whether unrestricted or allocated to a specific project.

This new Quick Guide will support you with the box design, placement and promotion of your donation boxes, plus it offers tips on donation amounts and Gift Aid too.

Download Donation Boxes Quick Guides