Looking forward to the Eurovision Song Contest? Us too! Why not get involved in the Sweepstake?
1st prize: all sweepstake proceeds
2nd prize: a bottle of Prosecco
3rd prize: a box of chocolates
£1 per lucky dip.
If you would like to join, please see a People & Culture Team member.
The closing date to Enter is Friday 12th May 2023 (limited luck dip)
Visitor attendance
To Sunday 23 April, we have welcomed 75,600 visitors. That is 9% ahead of the target we set. We are 5% ahead of this time last year.
We’ve already had a few days where we’ve welcomed over 2,000 visitors in a single day (during Easter). We have budgeted to expect to welcome over 2,000 visitors for 51 days, including our evening events programme. There are 33 days when we expect to welcome 2,000+ during the day and 17 days where we will welcome 3,000+ visitors, including those attending evening events.
Growth is coming from people benefitting from using their Unchained Annual Passes, and we continue to see visitors booking tickets later and later – a national trend.
Recent visits
We’ve had a couple of high-profile visits to the Museum recently. First, we had Prime Minister Rishi Sunak followed by our Patron of at least 43 years, HRH The Duke of Gloucester.
Environmental
We have become a member of a West Midlands Sustainability Group, led by Paul Crofts (Chief Operating Officer). We have also formed an internal Steering Group to press ahead with priorities and actions we have already been taking.
Forging Ahead
Museum teams are taking over from Balfour Beatty, the construction contractor; more and more work is being directly managed by us. We are continuing to develop new costumed characters associated with the new developments. The new Learning Centre is now open, as is the new Changing Places in the Brook building.
Strategy
Thanks to those staff and volunteers who attended the in-person consultation session and contributed to the online consultation. This was circulated to external stakeholders as well; we received over 1.500 responses from all sorts of stakeholders. The values that resonate most strongly with staff and volunteers are: 1st – inclusive and welcoming, 2nd – collaboration, 3rd – learn and be curious, 4th – pride, and 5th – maintain our financial independence.
Welcomes
Early April we welcomed Kate Goode and Martin Crage, Site Cleaners, to our Cleaning & Porterage team. Both bring many years of commercial cleaning experience.
Josh Cuthbert joined our Enterprise as Head Chef/Team Manager (Production). Josh has over 10 years’ experience in the catering industry including a wealth of kitchen management experience from previous roles.
Last month we also welcomed a number of casual colleagues in our Car Park, Enterprise and Historic Character teams.
Looking ahead, in May we will be having Rhi Edwards join our Interpretation & Research team as Interpretation Coordinator. Rhi will be starting a fixed-term contract at the Museum over the next 12 months to support with the Forging Ahead project. Rhi comes from the Stourbridge Glass Museum where they worked as an Assistant Curator.
We also want to congratulate a number of colleagues who, after our most recent Historic Character recruitment, will be taking up permanent posts this month: Ajay Pall, Amit Persaud, Andrea Williams, Bryce Bealey, Matthew Robinson, Geoff Nixon, Sebastian Edwards, Jack Price, Hannah Marrocco-Pearson, Oliver Clee, and Sam Payne.
Farewells
Huw Davis (Project Manager) and Andy Curtis ( Clerk of Works) will sadly be leaving us this month now that the New Historic Town is finally built. Both Huw and Andy’s enthusiasm, dedication and most of all construction knowledge have been central to bringing alive the Museum’s Forging Ahead vision. We extend our sincere thanks to both Andy and Huw for their hard work, patience and perseverance and wish them well in their next venture.
Matt Hunton, Site Cleaner, also left at the end of April after 5 and a half years, to further develop his career in maintenance/carpentry within the social housing sector.
This week, Beki Challoner leaves her role as Visitor Welcome Manager. Beki managed the Museum’s Admissions function over the last 18 months, one of her most notable achievements was supporting and facilitating the opening of the Visitor Welcome Centre. Beki will be relocating to Northampton and taking on a new senior management role at Silverstone Museum.
Our sincere thanks and well wishes to all.
Sadly Departed
Our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of colleagues who sadly departed over the last month:
Sheila Shipman (Historic Character and Friends of BCLM Member, from 1980 to 2019)
Maurice Parker (Friends of President Member, from 1985 to 2023)
This year, we’re inviting staff and volunteers to brush up their skills and take part in a British Sign Language workshop. Come along and join in the fun by taking part in an interactive session led by a qualified British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter.
At the Museum, we want to be as accessible and inclusive as possible in everything we do. Get involved and learn a handful of British Sign Language words to help us become more inclusive, giving all of our visitors a great visitor experience.
Workshop Dates:
Additional Details:
Thank you.
Why not learn BSL phrases to get you started?
Phrases for Front of House Staff
As more phases of our new development start to open, the Audiences & Communications team is leading the creation of a new general map and access map, working with a design agency that has created visitor maps for Chester Zoo and Imperial War Museum.
The team has compiled a short survey so that you can share your thoughts on how the new maps should be designed. Please note there is nothing to view or download.
Please complete our questionnaire online. The survey will close on Tuesday 2 May at midday.
Please note that while we value all feedback, the A&C team will hold the final decision.
Thank you for taking part, and apologies to everyone who was unable to access the online questionnaire when they first tried.
Event overview
Date(s): From Sat 6 – Mon 8 May
Concept:
“There’s a Coronation party – and you’re invited! Become a part of our Coronation community at the Black Country Living Museum and experience what it was like to celebrate our monarchs over time and across the commonwealth.”
The whole site will be heavily decorated as if the whole community are preparing for the celebrations. A street party will take place between 11:30 – 3:30pm in the village with brass bands, thanksgiving, street races/games and sing-alongs. Visitors can take part in a range of traditional activities and food making associated with coronation celebration: jam tarts, crown bread loaf, jelly. Celebratory food will be available in outlets across the site – as well as from street hawkers during the street party.
“Another chance to meet Mr Singh – this time around the Elephant and Castle – along with the formidable landlady Doris May Davis. Don’t get caught by Miss Robbins – the bossy do-gooding party organiser who will give you one of her to do lists!”
Visitors can use their UnChained pass for this event.
Please see the Programme overview for more details.
If you have any questions, please contact a member of the Programming team (located in Canalside offices).
Thank you.
Hi,
If you have a question you would like to be asked at our upcoming All Colleague Briefings, there are anonymous question slips in staff rest areas that can be returned to a member of People & Culture or deposited in the black box outside of their office in Canalside (past the kitchen at the far end).
Alternatively, you can download the Q&A slip and email to [email protected].
If you have any questions, please contact a member of the People & Culture team.
Thank you.
Hi all,
The Programming team is looking for staff feedback on our Easter programme.
Please share any feedback you may have, whether you worked the event or came as a visitor – every little helps!
Thank you.
Our deaf Curating for Change Fellow, Claudia Davies, is carrying out a museum-wide project to tell the stories of D/deaf, neurodivergent and disabled people in the Black Country. We are currently seeking a co-production group to help Claudia with this project.
The co-production group will play a vital role in developing stories of disabled people in the Black Country, sharing lived experiences and opinions to:
To join the group, or to find out more, please email Claudia: [email protected] Applications from D/deaf, neurodivergent and disabled people living in the Black Country are actively encouraged.
Find out more about Curating for Change.
