Helpdesk

Iplicit

FuseMetrix

Planday

My ePayWindow

Intranet

Category: Museum sector

  • Museums & Resilient Leadership (MRL) programme 19/20 – Applications now open

    Museums & Resilient Leadership (MRL) programme 19/20 – Applications now open

    The Museums & Resilient Leadership Programme (MRL) has been run by the Museum for the last 5 years, thanks to funding from Arts Council England.  It’s a year-long programme aimed at those working in the cultural sector who wish to develop their leadership ambitions, particularly (but not exclusively) to those at the mid-point of their career.  The Programme will help you become more resilient and work out how you can best make a contribution to our sector.

    A place is secured each year for a member of staff from BCLM.  Applications for the MRL 2019-2020 Programme are now open, & will be until 5pm on 31 January 2019.  You can apply via this link – http://www.museumresilience.com/application-mrl-2019-2020/.

    If you’re interested in applying but want to find out more, or discuss your eligibility, then please take a look at the website (http://www.museumresilience.com/), or you can contact Jo Turner to arrange a chat with Andrew or one of the MRL Directors.  You should also discuss your interest with your line manager.

  • November Directors’ Bi-Monthly Report now online

    November Directors’ Bi-Monthly Report now online

    Please click on the link below to read the November report.

    Director’s Bi-monthly Report 29-11-18

  • For Information – A National Portfolio Organisation 2018-2022

    For Information – A National Portfolio Organisation 2018-2022

    As of 1 April 2018, we are officially an Arts Council England (ACE) National Portfolio Organisation (NPO). This follows three successful years as an ACE-funded Major Partner Museum (MPM).

    We’ll receive £550,000 for each of the four years of investment, a significant amount of which will support our major development project BCLM: Forging Ahead including the growth and development of our STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art & Maths) Learning Programme and Community Engagement Programme with communities across the Black Country.

    We’ll also continue to lead the successful Museums & Resilient Leadership programme from 2018-2022.

    Our move to an NPO brings with it several staff changes:

    Hayley McCafferty-David, recruited as MPM project Manager in 2015 now moves fully into her role as BCLM: Forging Ahead Project Manager.

    Glenis Williams, recruited under the MPM programme in 2015 to help fulfil the Museum’s audience development objectives now moves into her role as full-time Community Engagement Manager to continue working towards widening participation with specific communities as part of BCLM: Forging Ahead. Glenis will also be interviewing shortly for a new Community Engagement Assistant to support in the delivery of this important work. More to follow once that appointment has been made.

    Dianne Rivers, recruited as MPM Volunteer Coordinator now moves into a Volunteer Manager role to continue to develop our growing volunteer programme. Ricki Boden also continues with us as Volunteer Team Administrator.

    Each of these members of staff have contributed so much to the Museum over the last three years and I’m delighted that we are able to retain their abilities as we move to a National Portfolio Organisation.

     

    The Museum’s success in becoming an NPO also sees Grant Bird’s appointment to a new Audience Analyst position. Grant is a very experienced market researcher, having spent more than fifteen years in consumer research prior to his current role as Curator (Domestic & Cultural Life). He will be starting in his new position on Monday 9 April. In addition to his substantive role as Audience Analyst, Grant will also be taking on some additional responsibility as manager of the Marketing & Communications team during Catherine Furnival’s maternity leave.

     

  • AIM Annual Conference – Opportunity to Attend

    The AIM annual conference this year takes place at the British Motor Museum, Gaydon across the two days of 21 and 22 June 2018.

    The theme for 2018 is ‘Changing Gear’. Day 1 will draw on important new research exploring how museums can attract more diverse audiences for the benefit of everyone whilst on day 2 finance will be the focus and will include ideas on alternative income generation and inspirational ideas on financial leadership

    As in previous years we are offering 2 staff the opportunity to attend this year’s conference, with travel for each day 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.

    If you are interested in attending, please complete the application form (available in the HR section of the ‘Documents’ tab above) and return to [email protected] by 5pm on Friday 27 April 2018. Staff will be selected based on their application and informed in early May.

     

  • Rationalisation of Tram Collection – update

    This update follows the news article posted in October regarding the deaccessioning of the four tram bodies under tarpaulins by the Albion Depot:

    • Cable Tram (1975/014/001) – Birmingham Central Tramways cable car – the only surviving example of its type – has been donated to and collected by the National Tramway Museum, Crich where, it will be preserved, and possibly restored.
    • Tram 75 (1975/016/002) – Due to the condition of the woodwork of Tividale single-deck, Tram 75, the roof has been lowered to prevent collapse. The body will be investigated to see whether there are any remaining elements that could be utilised for a potential future refurbishment of Tram 34.
    • Tram 102 (1984/466/002) – Tividale single-deck, Tram 102 will be posted on the Museums Association’s ‘Find An Object’ service. It is being offered to any other Museum that would be interested in acquiring it for their collection.
    • Tram 361 (1998/036/001)-. Lisbon Tram, Tram 361. As per tram 102 immediately above.

     

    In addition, the following of Tram Movements have also taken place:

    Wolverhampton Corporation Tramways horse-drawn double-decker, Tram 23, has been moved from Albion Depot to the Tall Vehicle Shed.  Tram 23 will form part of the new display within the Tall Vehicle Shed that will be opened in March 2018.

    Albion Depot now contains the Wolverhampton Corporation Tramways double-decker Tram 49 and the Tividale single-deckers Tram 5 and Tram 34.  Tram 19 has been moved inside the Albion Depot to improve the long-term preservation of this unique tram.  Tram 19 was built by Dick Kerr Preston, circa 1901, as a narrow gauge open-top double decker tram and probably operated on the Dudley-Stourbridge route.  Only the grounded body now survives, the structure is in fair condition with remnants of the high-quality interior. Externally, fragments of a cream and maroon livery along with the inscription ‘WG Bond, General Manager’ are visible on the side.

     

    Image – Birmingham Central Tramways car being loaded for its journey to Crich

  • Free Entry for National Lottery Players

    On Saturday 18 November, we’re offering free entry to National Lottery Players as a thank you for the funding we’ve received from The Heritage Lottery Fund towards BCLM: Forging Ahead.

    All people will need to do is show their lottery ticket for draws between 13 & 26 November when they arrive at the Museum for free entry (Terms & conditions apply – see below).

    We hope that lots of people will visit – some of whom may never have visited before – so please give everyone on that day the same warm welcome as ever and let’s get them excited about Forging Ahead.

     

    Ts & Cs

    Valid for entry to the Museum on Saturday 18 November between 10am and 4pm only. Lottery ticket shown must be for a National Lottery game (including Lotto, Euromillions, Thunderball, Hotpicks and National Lottery scratchcards) between 13 & 26 November (proof of online National Lottery play valid). Each valid proof of play shown admits one person free of charge. Maximum of 5 proofs of play per party. Not valid in conjunction with any other offer. Free entry does not qualify for an UnChained Annual Pass.

     

  • 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.

  • AEOM Conference Success

    Last week we hosted the 28th biennial conference of the Association European Open Air Museums.  We welcomed 130 delegates from 60 different open-air museums from 20 countries as far-flung and diverse as Romania, Czech Republic, Poland, Estonia, Germany, Sweden, Australia, Canada and the USA.  It was an honour to be chosen to host the conference, on behalf of the UK, and a great example of our international links and the high regard people have for BCLM.

    You can probably imagine that 130 museum professionals, from some of the world’s best and biggest open-air museums are pretty tough judges, but we passed all measures with flying colours, especially when it came to the friendliness, enthusiasm and knowledge of our staff and volunteers.

    The conference was an enormous success, and represented the very best of team efforts; either those directly involved in conference organisation, or doing your day-job and showing the Museum off at its best.  So thank you to you all.  It was a world-class performance.

    I was also asked and I am delighted to, pass-on grateful thanks to everyone at the Museum, from retiring President, Katarina Frost Director of the Vallby Open Air Museum, Sweden, and the Association’s new President, Dr Henrik Zipsane, Director of the Jamtli Foundation, Sweden.

    Andrew

  • Black Country History Day

     

    Black Country History Day

    Saturday 7th October 2017- 10am-4pm

    Large Lecture Theatre, Floor 1, Arts Building, Edgbaston Campus, University of Birmingham B15  2TT

    The Black Country Society and the Centre for West Midlands History at the University of Birmingham are organising this day school which is designed for anyone interested in the history of the area. The Black Country Society, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, promotes interest in the past, present and future of the Black Country.

    The Museum has 10 free tickets available to those that would like to attend Black Country History Day. If you are interested in this event, please complete the form below outlining why you would like to attend. Closing date: Friday 8th September 2017

     

    10.00am Introduction, Dr Malcolm Dick, University of Birmingham
    10.10am Graham Worton, ‘Creating a Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark for the future – from the natural and human heritage of the past’
    11.10am Break
    11.30am Keith Hodgkins, ‘Black Country Building Stones’
    12.30pm Lunch
    1.20pm   David Mills, ‘A Short History of the Leather Trade’
    2.20pm  Break
    2.40pm Judith Davies, ‘The trials and tribulations of Samuel Cook: Dudley’s famous nineteenth-century Radical’
    3.40pm Questions and discussion, led by Dr Malcolm Dick
    4.00pm Finish

     

    Dr Malcolm Dick is Director of the Centre for West Midlands History at the University of Birmingham.

    Graham Worton is Dudley Keeper of Geology and Black Country UNESCO Global Geopark Lead, based at the new Dudley Museum facility at the Dudley Archives and Local History Centre.

    Keith Hodgkins is President of the Black Country Society, Chairman of Tipton Civic

    Society and also Co-chairs the Black Country Society’s Industrial Archaeology Group.  He has written several books about Tipton and has worked for both West Midlands County Council and Wolverhampton City Council as an architect.

    David Mills is Assistant Curator at Walsall Leather Museum. He is the author of two novels, which fictionalise historical stories from our locality, as well as compiling two books of oral history transcripts based on over 100 oral history recordings. He is a graduate of Wolverhampton University and has a MA from Leicester University.

    Judith Davies is researching political, religious and social change in Dudley c.18151865 for a University of Birmingham PhD, after completing the MA in West Midlands History. She is Black Country born and bred and returned to Brierley Hill after retiring as a librarian in Northamptonshire. Judith also volunteers at Dudley Archives.

     

    [ninja_form id=9]

  • Useful Information – AEOM Conference Update

    From 21 – 25 August we will be hosting 130 international delegates for the biennial Association of European Open Air Museums Conference.

    Open Air Museum professionals from Europe, Australia, Canada, the US and the UK (including some of our own staff) will be taking part in a variety of workshops, presentations, dinners and guided tours at BCLM and Ironbridge Gorge Museums as they explore the key theme of the Conference, ‘The Resilient, Entrepreneurial Museum and Master Planning.

    The conference sessions taking place here have been added to the Museum-wide calendar and you can find further information about the programme in the Useful Information section of the Documents tab above.

    We look forward to welcoming our international colleagues to BCLM in just a couple of weeks’ time!