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  • All Colleague Briefings – September 2025

    All Colleague Briefings – September 2025

    As part of our continual programme of ensuring engagement and communication across the Museum’s operational and strategic activity, we will be holding briefings to update all colleagues on the Museum’s progress for 2025.
    These briefings will take place on:
    • Tuesday 9 September (in Hall 2).
    • Friday 12 September (in The Workers’ Institute).  
    • Saturday 13 September (in The Workers’ Institute).

    All the briefings will commence at 9am, finishing at 9.30am.

    • Many of you will already be scheduled by your line managers to attend one of these sessions. If you have not yet been scheduled, please contact your line manager.
    • All contracted colleagues are mandated to attend these sessions. We would also strongly urge colleagues from both our volunteer and casual community to all attend.
    • You only need to attend one of the briefing sessions.

    Can you please sign up using the following link: All Colleague Briefings September 2025

    Slips will be available for colleagues to submit questions or comments in advance.  These can be submitted anonymously, which is especially helpful for anyone unable to attend or who prefer not to speak up on the day. We will place some in break areas, but they will be available from line managers at morning briefings.
    If you have any trouble signing up for the briefing because you do not have a BCLM email address, please speak to your line manager who will be able to add your name for you.
  • 🎭 BCLM Panto Auditions – Get Involved! 🎭

    🎭 BCLM Panto Auditions – Get Involved! 🎭

    We’re excited to announce auditions for the Museum’s very first all colleague pantomime, taking place on 26 January 2026!

    Auditions will be held on 11 and 13 August 2025 – and we’d love for you to get involved!

    Whether you fancy yourself in the spotlight or prefer working behind the scenes, there’s something for everyone. As well as acting roles, we’re also looking for enthusiastic team members to help with IT, stage décor, costume, and hair & make-up.

    Audition pack available here; Snow White Audition Pack. If you would like a printed copy or more information, please email: [email protected].

    Tickets will be available closer to the time so colleagues and their families can come along and enjoy a bostin’ panto together!

    Please note: If you’re unable to attend on either of the dates above, we’ll do our best to arrange an alternative audition where possible. Scripts and character details will be shared nearer the time.

  • Programme overview – Summer Lates

    Programme overview – Summer Lates

    Date and times:
    Every Friday in August .
    4pm – 8pm.
    Concept:
    The Summer lates are back! Every night in August, we’re extending our opening hours until 8pm. Demonstrating the best of the museum has to offer, there’s the chain maker’s strike, plenty of games, and decade dance classes, as well as bostin’ Black Country food, live music, and a performance of ‘Return to Sender’ by BCT. 
    Take a look at the event flyer.
    For more information, please see the context sheet.
    Contact: [email protected] (Programme)
  • Woodside Library – Latest update

    Woodside Library – Latest update

    We’re pleased to provide an update regarding Woodside Library. We have now appointed a new contractor, Weatheroak Developments, who will be completing the remaining works on the library.

    The works will resume with the new contractor from Monday 11 August. Please be advised that there will be vehicles moving on site before 10am while works continue, so colleagues are asked to be mindful of this when moving around the area during those key pre-opening hours.

    It is hoped that works will be completed this year, in preparation for opening in 2026.

    Future updates on progress will be shared via our usual channels when we have them.

  • A mid-year Collections Development Group update

    A mid-year Collections Development Group update

    Thank you all for your continued support in helping the Collections & Interpretation team promote and implement our Collections Donations Procedure. 

    We’re really pleased to say that we’re seeing a noticeable reduction in unsolicited donations being left onsite or sent in without prior contact. This is a brilliant step forward – so thank you for your help in making this happen. It’s making a real difference in helping us enhance the collection responsibly, with the right due diligence in place. 

    You can find a copy of the  Collections Donations Procedure here.

    We also have printed leaflets available across the site to hand out to prospective donors so they’re guided through the donation process.  

    Last year, we established our  Collections Development Group, a cross-team group that meets monthly to review proposed donations and develop the designated collection. 

    Please, see here  a few highlights from the past six months.

    Thank you again for helping us strengthen, safeguard and share our collection.  

    If you have any questions or suggestions, or come across potential donations, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team [email protected]  

  • People News – July 2025

    People News – July 2025

    Welcomes

    In June and July, we were delighted to welcome several new colleagues across the Museum, including Historic Characters to the Historic Character Team, Site Cleaners to the Cleaning & Recycling Team, and Enterprise Team Members to the Enterprise Team.

    If you see our new colleagues on site, do say hello.

    Changes

    We are pleased to announce the following changes;

    Alice Gibbins has been appointed Enterprise Team Manager (Corporate Sales).

    Josh Cuthbert has taken on the role of Enterprise Operations Manager.

    Natalie Danks is now Ticketing Supervisor for the ticketing Team.

    Please join us in congratulating them on their new roles.

    Leavers

    In June Katarzyna Pluccienizak left us to pursue an exciting new opportunity in corporate events and hospitality.

    This month we also bid farewell to Anna Marie Hare, Admissions team member after many years supporting the admissions team.

    We wish them every success in their future endeavours.

  • Letter from the Museum’s Patron – HRH The Duke of Gloucester

    Letter from the Museum’s Patron – HRH The Duke of Gloucester

    Lieutenant Colonel Alastair Todd LVO, Private Secretary to HRH The Duke of Gloucester, recently sent a letter to the Museum on behalf of His Royal Highness. In it, he congratulates us on receiving Gold in the ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’ category at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.

    The letter has been copied below, or you can read a scan of the letter.

    “His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester, as Patron of the Black Country Living Museum, has asked me to convey his hearty congratulations on the news that you achieved ‘Gold’ in the ‘Large Visitor Attraction of the Year’ category of the Visit England Awards for Excellence.

    This is an outstanding and well-deserved achievement which is a fitting reward for the hard work, enthusiasm and commitment of you and your team who have made the Museum a ‘must-see’ destination. The £30 million Forging Ahead project has clearly been an enormous success and has contributed to increased visitor numbers as well as a renewed focus on the Museum and all that it has to offer.

    The Duke would wish to convey his very best wishes to you and all at the Black Country Living Museum, and looks forward to visiting again in the future.”

  • H&W Craft workshop – Embroidery

    H&W Craft workshop – Embroidery

    Join us for embroidery workshops with Valarie Plummer!

    Discover the art of embroidery! Whether you’re a complete beginner or looking to brush up on your skills, these drop-in sessions are the perfect way to get creative and unwind.

    When:

    • Tuesday 29 July

    • Tuesday 5 August

    • Tuesday 12 August – No session

    • Tuesday 19 August

    • Tuesday 26 August

    Time: Drop in anytime between 4:30pm – 6pm

    Where: Café Black Country

    Cost: Absolutely free! All materials are provided, and you’re welcome to take your work home to keep practicing.

    Bring your friends, bring your family – everyone’s welcome.

    We can’t wait to see you there!

  • Summer Activity Club – discount for colleagues

    Summer Activity Club – discount for colleagues

    We are pleased to be offering colleagues a discretionary discount on our Summer Activity Club (suitable for 7 – 11 year olds).

    Throughout the club, children will take part in engaging activities designed to inspire imagination and confidence, all set against the backdrop of our rich industrial heritage. You can find out more information and view a sample itinerary for the sessions on our website Three Day Summer Activity Club.

    Each activity club booking is for three dates – Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, allowing children to form relationships with their fellow club members and build the activities up to a final showcase of their creations.

    Each session runs for 4 hours and includes lunch;

    • Week 1: 30, 31 July, 1 August
    • Week 2: 6, 7, 8 August
    • Week 3: 13, 14, 15 August

    Each week follows the same programme, so please choose one week from the available dates above when booking. The price for the club, which includes 3 x 4 hour sessions and food, is £82.50 however colleagues can benefit from a discounted price of £74.25 (equivalent to £24.75 per session). Bookings must be made via the Ticketing team either in person (Ticketing are located in Canalside offices) or by telephone. Please note that spaces are limited and will be offered on a first come first served basis.

    Please note discount is available on the 2025 Summer Activity Club only. As the Museum is offering this discount at its discretion, we reserve the right to remove it any time. By offering this discretionary discount the Museum is under no obligation to offer a similar discount for future activities of a similar nature.

  • 1940s Weekend – colleague survey

    1940s Weekend – colleague survey

    Thank you to everyone who participated in our 1940s Weekend (Daytime). We’ve had some brilliant feedback from our visitors and now we need to hear from you!

    Please take a few minutes to fill in our colleague survey to tell us what you think by clicking here.

    (Please note, this is the survey for DAYTIME. An Evening survey will be circulated soon!)

    What we did well:

    “I wouldn’t even know where to start, everything was amazing. From the people in costume, acting and telling stories to the cleanliness of the place. It’s amazing. The market was a great surprise and the availability of drinking water was greatly appreciated in the heat. It was my partner’s first time and it lived up to how much me and my family love the place.”

    In general, visitors commented on the atmosphere, the things they could do/get involved in, friendly staff and the Lancaster Bomber (and Fish & Chips, no surprises there…!)

    • 72% Excellent, 20% Good = 92% Overall Satisfaction Rating.
    • 47% Excellent, 35% Good = 82% Food & Drink Satisfaction Rating.
    • 90% of visitors used the map during their visit.
    • 30% of visitors came for the first time.

    “It’s hard to pick a favourite. It was my first ever visit, after having wanted to visit for many years, and I felt transported in time by the attention to detail in the way the streets and exterior and interior of the buildings were presented and the ambience created by music throughout the museum…Thank you to everyone for their efforts and keep up the good work! I can’t wait to come back!”

    What we can learn from:

    In general, visitors commented on the business of site both at admissions and food/drink outlets. A lot of these comments also mentioned the hot weather which exacerbated their waiting time. There are a lot of comments that mentions access requirements not being met which marries with the data (below).

    • 14% Strongly Disagree, 3% Disagree = 17% of people said the Museum didn’t meet their personal physical access requirements.
    • I have a greater understanding of migration into the Black Country 67% (this is significantly lower than other learning questions).

    “Have a disability entrance as my child is disabled and couldn’t cope with the huge queue to get in. We couldn’t find access to any form of disability queue or staff member to be able to get help. He has an access pass but didn’t seem anyway to get the support needed for access to the event”

    Well done to all teams and please do complete the survey. For any specific questions on the programme or feedback, please email [email protected]