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  • Robert Plant concert – join the draw to get a free ticket

    Robert Plant concert – join the draw to get a free ticket

    Following filming that took place at the Museum to promote their new album, we have been offered some tickets by Robert Plant for his Saving Grace tour at the O2 Apollo, Manchester on Monday 15 December at 7pm. We have 4 tickets available. Please send an expression of interest to [email protected] or pop into Hartill’s office and Jo will ensure your name is included in the draw. Please do this by the end of the working day on Monday 8 December.
    You will need to cover your own travel expenses.
  • Colleague Christmas discount at the Museum shop

    Colleague Christmas discount at the Museum shop

    We’re pleased to offer our colleagues a 25% discount on selected Christmas products in the shop. This special offer runs from 28th November to 26th December.

    Enjoy festive gifts including:

    • Blankets by Han Crafted is a solo-maker small brand that creates gifts celebrating the Black Country through unique, home-inspired designs.  
    • Feliz Navibab t-shirt and more products by Punks & Chancers – Sustainable creations by Birmingham makers, supporting the people and culture of Birmingham and the Black Country.
    • Museum Decorations – Beautiful festive pieces from Millprint and the Original Metal Sign Company. It’s the perfect chance to shop thoughtfully for Christmas while supporting local makers and the Museum.

    It’s the perfect opportunity to pick up something special for yourself or your loved ones this Christmas.

  • Colleague ticket purchase deadline

    Colleague ticket purchase deadline

    All colleague tickets for Glad Tidings will be released by the Ticketing Team for resale on Friday 5 December, so anyone wishing to purchase them will need to do so before this date.

  • Christmas 2025 payroll arrangements

    Christmas 2025 payroll arrangements

    Please note that the December pay date will be on Friday 19 December 2025.

    For hourly paid staff this will cover the four weeks from Monday 24 November to Sunday 21 December.

    January 2026 pay will be paid on Friday 23 January 2026 (one week before the last Friday in the month).

    For hourly pay staff this will cover the four weeks from Monday 22 December 2025 to Sunday 18 January 2026.

    February 2026 pay date will be Friday 27 February 2026 and there will be five weeks between the January and February pay dates.

  • Tickets for Red By Night and Peaky Blinders Nights – March events 2026

    Tickets for Red By Night and Peaky Blinders Nights – March events 2026

    As you may be aware we’re moving to a new ticketing system in January 2026. To give our early events of 2026 the best chance to sell, we’ve created a temporary ticketing page which supports the sales of Peaky Blinders Night (Saturday 14 March 2026) and Red By Night (Saturday 21 March 2026). Tickets for these events were launched at noon yesterday and we’re excited to say we’ve already seen sales coming in. Tickets are available to the public via the website:​
    ​
    Peaky Blinders Nights
    ​
    Red By Night
    ​
    The project team are working hard on the development and launch of the new permanent ticketing system which will launch in January. Should you wish to purchase staff tickets for either Red By Night or Peaky Blinders Night in March, these will be made available in January when the permanent system is in place. This will also be the case for our business partner tickets. Thank you for your support and patience.
  • Burnt Tree Junction Works Starting 10 November 2025

    Burnt Tree Junction Works Starting 10 November 2025

    From Monday 10 November 2025, essential highway improvement works will begin at Burnt Tree Junction, on the border of Dudley and Sandwell. These works form part of the Cross City Bus Improvement Scheme, which aims to improve journey times and create safer routes for pedestrians and cyclists across the West Midlands.

    What’s Happening. See more information in this leaflet. 

    – Lane closures and temporary traffic lights at the A4123 and A461 junction.
    – Works will take place in phases over nine months, continuing into summer 2026.
    – Expect changes to road layouts, bus stops, and routes during this period.

    For Motorists

    Please avoid Burnt Tree Junction where possible.
    Consider alternative routes via Tipton, Oldbury, or West Bromwich, or use the motorway for longer journeys.

    For Bus Users

    Please allow extra time and check your journey before you travel.
    Route 126 is diverted, 74 has a change to service, and 87 has a revised timetable.
    Plan your journey and allow extra time at: journeyplanner.tfwm.org.uk
    For the latest updates, please visit: www.tfwm.org.uk

    Travel Advice
    Plan ahead: Journey times may be longer than usual.

    Consider alternative routes: Avoid travelling near Burnt Tree where possible.

    Public transport: Some bus routes will be affected – 126 diverted, 74 and 87 adjusted.

    Travel outside peak hours: If possible, avoid 07am–09am and 14pm–16pm during term time.

    Cycle or walk: For short local trips, consider walking or cycling.

     

  • Dog Days – New Trial Starting Thursday 6 November

    Dog Days – New Trial Starting Thursday 6 November

    From Thursday 6 November, we will be trialling allowing visitors to bring their dogs to the Museum on Thursdays and Sundays only.

    Here’s a round up of everything you need to know:

    • The trial will cover Thursdays and Sundays from Thursday 6 November to Sunday 4 January. All other days of the week will continue to be no dogs (with the exception of Guide dogs and assistance dogs). Dogs are not permitted at events.
    • Dogs will not be permitted to enter any Museum buildings except the Visitor Centre and the Workers’ Institute Café (excluding Guide and assistance dogs – permitted to enter all buildings).
    • Amenities will be provided as follows:
      • Water bowls will be located outside the Visitor Centre (front), Drift Mine, Langer’s Army & Navy Stores (side), Workers’ Institute & Cafe (courtyard), Bottle & Glass Inn (yard)
      • Dog poo bins will be located at the following places:
        • The side of the wooden bins in the Workers’ Institute Courtyard
        • Fence at the colliery
        • Side of the wooden bin in Folkes Park
        • Front wall at Brook Entrance
    • Dogs are permitted on transport, at the conductors’ discretion, and not on seats. On double decker buses, dogs are permitted on the lower deck only.
    • School parties who have booked to visit us on Thursdays between these dates have been informed about the change.
    • Our friends at Dudley Canal and Caverns are unable to accommodate dogs on their boat trips throughout the trial (with the exception of Guide or assistance dogs).

    Following this trial, the Museum will evaluate how the trial went. Depending on the outcome, we will then consider doing another trial, making the change permanent, or moving back to a no-dogs policy.

     

    Full terms and conditions have been prepared for all visitors to follow, along with a web page which cites our “Canine Code”. This emphasises the following points clearly:

    1. Dogs must be kept on a short, non-retractable lead, supervised and under control at all times. Our admissions team will operate a free lead-swap scheme for those that turn up with an unsuitable lead.
    2. Visitors must clean up after their dog – bins are provided across the Museum.
    3. Dogs cannot enter museum buildings, except for the Visitor Centre and the Workers’ Institute Cafe.
    4. Dogs are permitted to enter the fairground but cannot go on any ride.
    5. Dogs must not enter the playing area at Folkes Park. Signage will be in place on Dog Days, given this is the only outdoor location of the Museum that dogs cannot enter.
    6. Dogs must not enter the canal or any other body of water on site.
    7. Generally, dogs are permitted on the lower levels of historic transport (not on seats) at the conductor’s discretion.

    Visitors will also be advised about the following best-practise when near the Museum’s animals:

    1. Always keep dogs on a short lead and close control when near animals.
    2. Do not approach horses with a dog when they are out on site or in their paddock.
    3. Cross the road or give wide berth if animals are near the path.

    If you are concerned about the behaviour of a dog on site, or witness any misconduct or damage caused by a dog, please inform the duty manager who will engage with the dog owner as appropriate.

  • New Chair of the Museum’s Board of Trustees – Professor Martin Levermore

    New Chair of the Museum’s Board of Trustees – Professor Martin Levermore

    We’re excited to announce the appointment of Professor Martin Levermore as new Chair, following an extensive search. Professor Levermore will take up the role in October 2025, chairing a Board of Trustees of 15 with ultimate responsibility for the award-winning Museum’s operation, performance and development.

    Duncan Bedhall, Acting Chair since April 2025, said, “Martin greatly impressed the selection panel with his strategic clarity, vision, business experience and acumen, understanding of the Black Country and the role and contribution of the Museum to a better society. All that, much more and Martin’s humility made him the standout choice. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Dr Paul Belford, Chair from 2020 and a Trustee since 2016, for his highly effective leadership. And as I return to the backbenches so to speak, I want to thank my fellow Trustees and Andrew for all their support and encouragement during my interim leadership of the Board.”

    Professor Levermore said, “I feel honoured, delighted and excited in equal measure to be appointed as the Museum’s new Chair. As a West Midlander and living in Bloxwich – deep in the Black Country – I have admired the Museum for a long time. I am so looking forward to working with my fellow Trustees on the Board and Andrew’s team to ensure the Museum continues to thrive. The Museum is an essential part of the connected tissue of our region, and I want to ensure it makes an even greater contribution to the innovation and national understanding of the Black Country, its future economic growth and prosperity, wellbeing and positive social mobility.”

    Andrew Lovett OBE, Chief Executive, said “What a pleasure it is to welcome Martin to the Museum; the seventh long-term chair since the charitable trust was established 50 years ago in 1975. I know Martin shares my belief that the Museum is a force for good in the service of the Black Country community and has so much more to give. I’m especially enthusiastic to draw-on Martin’s strategic thinking, regional reputation and deep humanitarian skills. I also want to add my heartfelt thanks to Dr Paul Belford and Duncan Bedhall for their support and leadership.”

  • Systems Project – Update

    Systems Project – Update

    We’re on an exciting journey with the Bloomberg project, which is all about overhauling our ticketing system, website and business processes to make life easier for both our visitors and our teams.

    Our aim is to give visitors a frictionless digital experience – removing barriers to booking and payment – while providing our frontline teams with a system that’s easier to use, more reliable, and better equipped for the future.

    Here’s what’s happened so far:

    We reviewed a wide range of potential suppliers and invited eight to submit proposals.
    From there, we shortlisted three for detailed evaluation.
    After careful review, we’ve chosen Fusemetrix as our new supplier to replace our long-standing CRM/ticketing system, Tessitura.
    At the same time, we’ve been improving our Tessitura data – removing 196,433 old records and tidying up over 60,000 postcode details.
    Thank you to the Working Group for collating data and product requirements ahead of implementation.

    What’s next:

    Our official project kick-off with Fusemetrix is set for 1 October 2025.
    More data cleansing in Tessitura.
    Moving into the implementation with Fusemetrix, with a planned go-live in January 2026.

    What this will mean in practice:

    Easier booking and payment, with new payment methods available.
    Online booking for more visitors, including voucher holders, travel partners and groups.
    Integration with online ticket agencies, helping more people book with us.
    A simpler journey for visitors, and for staff an intuitive, modern system with greater functionality to better serve our visitors.

    Any questions contact Sam Davies at [email protected]

  • Print Room folder clean-up and signage storage reminder

    Print Room folder clean-up and signage storage reminder

    Dear colleagues,

    A quick reminder that the Print Room folder in the Canalside office is not a place to store documents. Once you have printed what you need, please remove your files from the folder.

    All existing documents in the Print Room folder will be deleted in one week, so please make sure you move any posters or signs you want to keep to a safe folder before then.

    We also want to remind everyone about the Signage folder, which is where notices for visitors, menus, and programme posters are stored:

    S:Signage

    For your reference, a copy of the old Print Room documents has been saved in the Signage folder, just in case you need to check anything.

    Finally, a big thank you to our IT team for helping make the Print Room more spacious, tidy, and easy to use.

    Thank you.