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Category: General News

  • Updated COVID guidelines for staff

    Following the Government announcement of the easing of COVID restrictions from Thursday 27th January, the following control measures will remain in place across site. All other restrictions are no longer valid, unless mentioned below.

    • All visitors will be encouraged to wear a face covering in indoor settings.
    • All staff are required to wear a face covering, unless exempt, in indoor public settings and are encouraged to wear a face covering in indoor settings where they may come into close contact with someone who is not in their household e.g. corridors.
    • Visitors are encouraged to maintain a 2 metre distance from those not in their household. Staff should maintain a 2 metre distance from visitors and always at least 1 metre from colleagues.
    • Break spaces and times will be fixed to reduce mixing between teams.
    • Morning briefings will remain separate.
    • Screens will remain in place.
    • Rooms should be ventilated during or after use as appropriate.
    • Sanitising stations will remain in place.
    • Shared spaces should be sanitised with the materials provided after use.
    • Visitors and staff must not attend site if they have symptoms or have tested positive for COVID-19, or have been advised to self-isolate by Test and Trace. Colleagues should continue to regularly test with Lateral Flow Devices and must self-isolate immediately; and notify People & Culture if they either receive a positive result or develop symptoms.

    These measures will be reviewed in 4 weeks or sooner if government advice changes.

    You will notice that individual COVID-19 signage across museum buildings will be removed in coming days in favour of larger messaging at key locations along the visitor journey. Such an approach will retain clear recommendations to our visitors, whilst allowing us to showcase the museum at its best.  

  • BCLM Win “Being Social” category at Digital Culture Awards

    We are thrilled to have been awarded in the “Being Social” category at Arts Council England and the Digital Culture Network’s Digital Culture awards this week! The award recognises our work on TikTok, praising our success in increasing awareness and engagement with new audiences.

    This category at the awards was judged by Adam Kozary, Head of Digital at the Audience Agency, who said:

    “The Black Country Living Museum should be celebrated for sheer global impact, ruthlessly exploiting their niche and showing the rest of the sector how to engage with TikTok. They – and their fellow shortlistees – hold that rare combination of a deep understanding of what their organisation is for, the creative mind to spark ideas and the technical skills to make it happen.“

    Tiina Hill, senior manager of Digital Culture Network, said:

    “We received hundreds of submissions and thousands of votes in this year’s Digital Culture Awards, demonstrating the need to acknowledge and celebrate the creativity of our sector. Arts and cultural organisations across the country have innovated how they connect and engage audiences in-person and online, whilst also embracing digital to adapt their ways of working and find new ways of generating income.“

    We’d like to once again extend a huge thank you to everyone that has been involved with our work on TikTok and other social media channels so far. After our hiatus, the Audiences & Comms team is excited to relaunch the TikTok channel this February to continue increasing awareness of the Museum and engaging with new audiences once again.

  • Dudley’s Holocaust Commemoration service – invitation to join online

    Dudley’s annual Holocaust Commemoration will take place online at noon on Friday 28th January with key-note speaker Janine Webber BEM.

    As a young child, Janine Webber survived the Holocaust by moving between hiding places in occupied Poland, and witnessed the Nazis seizing and murdering other members of her family. She moved to the UK in 1956 where she met her husband. She was awarded the British Empire Medal in 2017 for services to Holocaust Education.

    The annual event is organised by Dudley College’s Students Union, the Holocaust Educational Trust and a small group of volunteers.

    The event will include a presentation from a local student who visited Auschwitz with the Holocaust Educational Trust and have contributions from local faith and civic leaders including the Bishop of Dudley, Rabbi Margaret Jacobi and the leader of Dudley Council, Councillor Patrick Harley.

    It will be very easy for anyone with access to a smartphone, tablet or computer to join the event. If you would like to join, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/HolocaustMemorial22

  • People News Update 20/01/22

    Welcomes

    As referenced on last month’s People News Paul Raybould has joined us as our Senior Motor Mechanic, Bonnie Wilkes as Enterprise Team Manager and Janine Downes as Head of Public Programmes.

    Farewells

    This month we are saying farewell to Liam Parkes. Liam left the Museum earlier this month after three years, as the Museum’s Engineering Manager.  Liam’s role was initially part of our Collection Care and Management team and latterly part of the Maintenance team. Liam leaves to concentrate on his personal interests and opportunities.

    Grant Bird, Head of Audiences & Communications will be leaving the Museum on 11 February 2022 after four years with us. Grant started with us as a volunteer in Collections and during his time here has worked not only as Head of Audiences & Communications but also as an Audience Analyst, Communications and Marketing Manager, Curator (Domestic & Cultural Life) and Acting Director of Visitor Engagement. Grant sadly leaves us to pursue free lance and consultancy work.

    We have also said goodbye to Teresa Bullows, Sales & Ticketing Administrator, and Ben Owens, Painter and Decorator, as referenced in last month’s People News, Janet Andrews, Retail & Admissions Assistant.

    Other News

    Many of you will know Emily Smith as Casual colleague within the Museum’s Enterprise team and as one of our TikTok characters. Emily having now completed her University studies, is starting her professional career as a Coordinator within our Audience and Communications team. Emily is a another example of the careers that are possible for colleagues who initially join the Museum to offer Casual support.

    As part of the recent recruitment we have also offered several historic characters from our casual pool permanent positions.

  • AIM Annual Conference

    The AIM (Association of Independent Museums) annual Conference will be held at Port Sunlight Village, Wirral, on 16-17 June 2022. 

    This year’s conference theme of ‘Making it happen’ will see colleagues from across the UK explore the vision for independent Museums as we recover from the challenges of the pandemic.

    Sessions will highlight how to implement the changes sector debates call for with practical and relevant examples from Museums of all shapes and sizes. As ever with AIM Conference, delegates can look forward to a schedule packed with inspirational and practical advice, debate and discussion.

    As in previous years we are offering staff the opportunity to attend this year’s conference, with travel and accommodation provided. All you need to do is complete an application and provide us with some information as to how you think this will be of benefit to you in your role here at BCLM.

    More information is available on the AIM website. https://aim-museums.co.uk/aim-national-conference-2022/

    If you are interested in attending, please complete the AIM application form (available in the documents section of the intranet under forms for staff or by using: http://pmm.d88.mywebsitetransfer.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/AIM-application-2022.docx) and return to [email protected] by 5pm on Friday 11 February 2022. Staff will be selected based on their application and informed in early March.

  • New Year message from Andrew

    We sat down with Andrew last week, ahead of today’s reopening, who shared his reflections on the Museum’s successes in 2021 and hopes for the new year. You can watch the full interview below or click through to YouTube here.

  • Calling all Volunteers – Birmingham Commonwealth Games 2022

    Help make history by becoming a volunteer at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

    Applications opened on 12 January for volunteers to join the cast of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games Opening and Closing Ceremonies. 

    Organisers are inviting Midlands-based people who are passionate about music, dance – and can move a beat, to apply to be part of something spectacular this summer. Athletes Hosts are also required to welcome the athletes taking part in the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. This role should appeal to those who want to be part of the ceremony but don’t want to appear on stage.

    Successful applicants will perform in front of a full capacity audience in Birmingham’s newly developed Alexandra Stadium, as well as a worldwide broadcast audience of up to one billion people.

    The Birmingham 2022 Ceremonies Team is made up of some of the finest West Midlands creative talent, including, theatre director Iqbal Khan, award-winning writer Maeve Clarke, rapper Joshua ‘RTKal’ Holness, and Peaky Blinders creator, Steven Knight.  This team is calling for the most ambitious, outgoing, and dedicated local people to apply to be part of the performance that opens and closes the biggest sporting celebration since the London 2012 Olympic Games.

    There are 2000 volunteer roles available and anyone over the age of 18 can apply. Applications close Monday 7 February

    Help make history by becoming a volunteer at Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games

    Applicants can find more information and register their interest for this great opportunity by completing the online applications form at birmingham2022.com/ceremonies

  • Forging Ahead – an invitation to see what’s behind the hoardings

    Forging Ahead – an invitation to see what’s behind the hoardings

    Buildings are going up, and the launch of Forging Ahead is getting ever closer – with so much now happening, staff are invited to take part in events to have a closer look at the construction and learn more about what is going on behind those hoardings.

    Briefing sessions will start in the WI and then take staff for a look in the Historic Development and Industrial Area compounds, followed by a walk up to see the new Visitor Centre from the terrace area outside Rolfe Street. PPE (hard hats, boots, etc.) is not required.

    Sessions will last about an hour with a maximum of 10 staff at each session. Places will be allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Attendance is voluntary and in your own time, with sessions taking place on selected Mondays at 2pm and Tuesdays at 10am over the next few months:

    • Tuesday 23rd November 2021, 10am – 11am
    • Monday 6th December 2021, 2pm – 3pm
    • Monday 17th January 2022, 2pm – 3pm – FULLY BOOKED
    • Tuesday 1st February 2022, 10am – 11am – FULLY BOOKED
    • Monday 14th February 2022, 2pm – 3pm – FULLY BOOKED
    • Tuesday 1st March 2022, 10am – 11am – FULLY BOOKED

    Click here to sign up to one of the above sessions.

    Please note that only colleagues with BCLM email addresses will be able to access this online sign up form. If you would like to attend one of the above sessions and do not have a BCLM email address, please contact your Line Manager or People & Culture who will be able to sign up on your behalf.

  • Andrew Lovett recognised in New Year Honours

    Andrew Lovett has been awarded an OBE in the recent New Years’ Honours announcements.

    As Chair of the Association of Independent Museums (AIM), Andrew has been recognised for his services to Cultural Heritage, particularly during Covid-19. He is among several figures from the sector named in the New Year announcements.

    Speaking on New Year’s Day Andrew said:

    “The Board of AIM put their trust in me when they elected me Chair in 2019, and I took the hint to do the very best I could for our members. That was thrown into sharp relief by the pandemic, when many beloved museums and heritage sites were facing bankruptcy.

    “At that time of crisis, I characterised the alternative to swift public-sector investment as a ‘messy fire-sale of assets, peoples’ lives and their communities.’ We are all here to thrive, not just survive. For visitors. That is the return on investment. It seems to me, this honour simply reflects the value people attach to their museums – especially museums that enjoy and thrive because of their independence. I am very grateful for, and humbled by, the appreciation shown for the part I was privileged to play, allowing a future to be seen.”

    Colleagues from others museums who also received honours include Bill Griffiths of Milton Keynes Museum, Christopher Moore vice-chair at Bletchley Park Trust, as well as Judith Owens at Titanic Belfast , Dame Di Lees at Imperial War Museum, Sir Laurie Magnus and Sally Embree at Historic England, Darren Barker at Great Yarmouth Preservation Trust, Alexis Page at English Heritage, Robert Franklin and Roger Highfield at the Science Museum Group and Louise Smith at DCMS, who played a major role in developing and securing the Culture Recovery Fund.

    Congratulations to Andrew and everyone recognised in the New Years’ Honours for their work in championing our cultural heritage.

  • Action for Happiness: Happier January

    Action for Happiness is a movement of people committed to building a happier and more caring society.

    Each month they release a “Monthly Action Calendar” which are packed with actions you can take to help create a happier and kinder world.

    This month’s theme is Happier January. This month, we’re encouraging everyone to focus on small steps to try to boost happiness – for ourselves and others around us – to spread kindness and hopefully inspire others to do the same.

    Let’s all use their calendar below, or the Action for Happiness App, to do more good this month.