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Category: General News

  • BCLM: Forging Ahead – Gas Showroom begins its journey

    BCLM: Forging Ahead – Gas Showroom begins its journey

     The demolition schedule of the first of Forging Ahead’s translocated buildings, the West Bromwich Gas Showroom, is being set on Tuesday, 24 October.

    As such, the following day we’ll be launching our public call-out for memories of the building in the hope that lots of people will come forward with interesting stories surrounding the building from the 40s-60s.

    If you hear of anyone – member of the public or visitor – who would like to share a memory or story of the showroom with us, please put them in touch with our Collections team either via email – [email protected], phone – 0121 557 9643 or in person (via reception).

    Please do not take any personal details yourself.

    Likewise, if you have any personal stories you would like to share, please pop in and see the Collections team in the Rolfe Street offices.

     

     

    A bit about the showroom:

    The Gas Showroom gives us the opportunity to tell a range of stories from the 40s to the 60s – from the bombing of the Black Country in World War Two to Cannon’s innovation in gas cookers – and allows us to recreate 1950s cookery demonstrations.

    Whilst the condition of the building means we can’t take it ‘brick-by-brick’, we are specifically hoping to save the central stone staircase – perhaps the most memorable feature of the showroom – as well as the Gas Service signage, bricks, windows and lintels to allow us to rebuild the frontage exactly as it would have been in the 1950s.

  • Easier Intranet Access

    Easier Intranet Access

    You can now access the Museum intranet via your mobile phone or tablet!

    As long as you’re on the Museum site, you can access the intranet from any mobile device when you log into the staff wi-fi.

    To remind you, here are the wi-fi log in details:

    Network – Staff

    Password – Coal&Steam&WiFi

    Once you’re logged in, just visit intranet.bclm.int to stay up to date with news and opportunities from across the Museum and to get access to policies and documents.

    Don’t forget, you can also access the intranet using the computers located in the following areas:

    • Guide Hut
    • Mine office
    • Staff Room above Emile Doo’s
    • Rolfe Street Kitchen (screen only)

     

    Other Intranet developments coming soon….

    • Improved news streams on the screens in the above areas
    • A new custom form within the Museum’s online helpdesk facility allowing you to submit news items for inclusion on the intranet

     

  • An Evening of Light & Sound – Sat 18 November

    An Evening of Light & Sound – Sat 18 November

    Some of you have already taken part in filming and recording for the installations of our Arts Council funded Arts project – thanks again to those of you who have!  The time is now coming to publicly reveal the launch event, ‘An Evening of Light & Sound’ which is a free entry event taking place on Saturday 18 November.

    The project will see projections of light and sound across the Museum including a SlipGrid wall in Admissions, massive projections on the Limekilns, immersive work under the Rolling mill, touch instigated light and sound at Lenches, plus a number of other exciting pieces including possibly the smallest cinema in the world! All of the installations will be made up of sights and sounds filmed and recorded here at the museum, either by the artist himself, groups who have taken part in workshops, or the images you and the public are currently loading to Instagram.

    Everyone is welcome at the event so long as they pre-book their free tickets. Booking will go live publicly on Monday 23 October but tickets will be available to book for staff and volunteers at www.bclm.com/lightandsound from this Friday 20 October.

    We would also  love staff & volunteers to take part in the full ‘dress rehearsal’ on the evening of Friday 17 November where we invite you to take photos and film for use by the artist, Andy Mckeown during the launch the following night. More info about the dress rehearsal to follow.

     

    Image above – a sneak peak of the scale of imaging being used. This is a photograph from our archive, projected on the Limekilns during a test run last week…I hope it gives a flavour of the show to come

  • Round Pound Countdown…

    The legal tender status of the round £1 coin will be withdrawn from 23.59 on Sunday 15 October 2017.  From this date, we will no longer be accepting these coins anywhere in the Museum.

    If a visitor tries to pay for anything with a round £1 coin after this date, please tell them politely that it is no longer legal tender. They will still be able to bank their round coins…..or, until the end of the year, they can drop them into one of our collection boxes and help support our work as an educational charity!

  • We need your photos

    We are nearing the delivery of the Art Council funded Arts Commissioning project and our contracted artist, Andy McKeown from Wild Strawberry, wants staff and visitors to be fully involved in the content of the displays.  The project will be previewed on Thu 19 October at the Festival of Light and then launched to the public at an event on Sat 18 November.

    Andy works with digitally projected light shows and also sound. He wants your ‘snaps’ to be part of the massive artworks that will be projected onto the Limekilns, a SlipGrid wall in reception and under the Rolling Mill. All you need to do is take a photo of your favourite place in the museum and add it to Instagram with the hashtag #BCLMStaffView.

    Visitors will also be encouraged to enter their photos by using the tag #BCLMMyView.

    In addition there will be a full ‘dress rehearsal’ on the evening of Friday 17 November and staff will be invited to attend and take photographs which will be added to the final delivery the following night.

    Tessa Lovell

    Head of Visitor Engagement

  • Have you got your Dementia Friends badge?

    Sixty volunteers and staff recently took part in Dementia Friends training which enhances awareness and increases our capacity to help in small ways to our visitors who have dementia. Training such as this has the potential to make somebody’s visit just that little bit better.

    If you took part in that training, we would like you to wear badges which have been lovingly handmade by Nerina Morson, some of our volunteers and the Knit and Natter Group. Please get in touch with your line manager if you’d like one.

    Thanks to all who took part, and to those who are here creating moments of magic for all of our visitors each and every day!

     

  • Mr Morrall Helped with a Blinder of a Wedding!

    Don’t they look “blinding” ?

    Earlier this year, Debbie Gordon and her family visited the Museum and, were quite literally “sized up” by Mr Morrall!  Debbie’s son David was engaged to be married to his fiancée Charlotte on 28th July at a Peaky Blinders themed wedding in Newark, Nottinghamshire.

    Upon entering Morrall’s Gentleman’s Outfitters and talking to Mr Morrall himself about his business and the clothes and accessories that he still sells, the family were excited to see a selection of “Peaky” style flat caps which just happened to be perfect for the Groomsmen at the wedding.

    True to her word, Debbie (Mother of the Groom) has sent us this fantastic photo of the Groomsmen looking Peaky-Blinding-Great!

    We’re delighted to have helped dress the men and be part of David and Charlotte’s special day and hope they now have fond memories of Black, Country Living Museum, Mr Morrall…. and his flat caps!

    Well done to the Demonstration Team who work in Morrall’s, and especially well done for a fantastic sales performance over the Peaky Blinders fortnight – Keep up the “blinding” work !

  • Rationalisation of the Tram Collection

    In considering the future requirements of the Museum to operate trams and the proposed extension of the tramway, the Museum Board, in line with the Museum’s Collections Development Policy, has approved the deaccessioning of the four tram bodies under tarpaulins by the Albion Depot:

    1. Cable Tram (1975/014/001) – Birmingham Central Tramways cable car, built by Falcon works, Loughborough, 1888. Thought to be the only surviving example of its type, the grounded tram body is in very poor condition. The National Tramway Museum, Crich, has agreed to accept the transfer of this important tram to their collection.

    The following trams will be offered to other museums, in line with the Museums Association Code of Ethics:

    1. Tram 75 (1975/016/002) – Dudley Stourbridge & District, single-deck car, built in Tividale, 1919. Similar to 5 & 34.
    1. Tram 102 (1984/466/002) – Dudley Stourbridge & District, single-deck car, built in Tividale, 1920. Similar to 5 & 34. 
    1. Tram 361 (1998/036/001) – Built by J Stephenson Co, New York, single-deck Tram No,361 was delivered to the Lisbon Tramway Network (Rede de eléctricos de Lisboa, Portugal) in Heavily rebuilt in 1947-49 and again in 1959-61, it survived in service in Lisbon, Portugal until the mid-1990s.

    All the vehicles are in poor condition and do not offer any useful spares, either for repurposing on our operational fleet or for research purposes. In addition, the Cable Tram and 361 fall outside of the Collections Development Policy (Section 4.3), which requires collections to have a reputable and clear Black Country provenance.

  • Director’s Bimonthly Report – September 2018

    You will now be able to find the Director’s Bi-monthly report for September 2018 here: Director’s Bi-monthly Report 28-09-17. This and previous reports are kept in the Intranet documents tab at the top of the page. This report briefs the board on notable progress under the Museum’s six strategic aims including:

    • Develop our distinctiveness and brand
    • Safeguard, enrich and use our collections
    • Transform the visitor journey
    • Increase visitor attendance
    • Achieve national and international impact
    • Grow and diversify our income

     

  • Staffing Restructure Proposal – Retail & Admissions, Hire & Hospitality and Development

    Background

    Securing funding for BCLM: Forging Ahead, coupled with the continued growth of the Museum’s visitor and support/donor base has resulted in the need to review and propose a restructure in three areas of the Museum’s operation.  The purpose of this proposed restructure is to improve results by providing the capacity and skills within the Museum teams to develop long-term relationships with visitors, supporters, donors, customers and corporate organisations.

    The proposals, outlined here, would establish a staff structure to enable the Museum to continue to grow audience engagement and secure the financial support to enable BCLM: Forging Ahead to be achieved in full.

    The Proposals

    The roles and responsibilities of the teams and functions, as well as those that they interact with, have been reviewed by the Leadership Team, and the Head of Retail & Admissions and General Manager (Food & Drink).

    As a result of this review the following is proposed:

    • Introduction of new staff structures for Retail & Admissions and Development.
    • Some changes to responsibilities and functions.

    The proposals, if adopted, would place the following roles at risk of redundancy:

    • Hire & Hospitality Sales Manager
    • Development Manager (Individuals & Corporate)
    • Team Managers, Retail & Admissions (x2 posts)

    Objectives

    In summary, the proposals are designed to have the following impacts on the Museum:

    (a)        Enhanced customer service, through a more customer focused and centralised function for visitor enquiries, bookings and Museum membership.

    (b)        Improved, long-term, financially-beneficial relationships with businesses.

    (c)        Improved levels of financial and in-kind backing from supporters and donors.

    (d)        Enhanced marketing and cross-promotions due to improved market and customer intelligence.

    (e)        Improved retail results through better retail management and product development for the Museum Shops and the ability to grow onsite retail opportunities.

    Consultation Process and Timetable

    Initial individual meetings have taken place with staff whose posts are at risk of redundancy and the proposals have also been shared with the Staff Consultative Forum.

    We are now releasing them to staff for a four week period for information sharing, consultation and to respond to requests for clarification. You can find hard copies of the proposal document, including proposed structures, functions, responsibilities and further details in the following communal staff areas:

    • Rolfe St office noticeboard
    • The Guide Hut noticeboard
    • Staff room above Emile Doo’s Chemist

    Concurrently, internal and external recruitment and assimilation exercises will be taking place alongside any external recruitment activity as required, in-line with best practice and the Museum’s statutory obligations, under the guidance of the Museum’s Head of Human Resource Development.

    The proposed new roles will be advertised across a range of external sources and on the BCLM website and staff intranet. Staff who wish to apply may obtain copies of application forms and job profiles from the Visitor Reception.

    No appointments will be made until the period of consultation has come to an end on 6 November. The consultation period may be extended if there are alternatives proposed which may require further investigation.