Conference 22–24 October Glasgow · 2009-11-30 · Conference 07 06 Liz Cameron Chair, Culture and Sport Glasgow Liz Cameron is a Glaswegian. She worked as a lecturer before first

Conference guide

Conference22–24 OctoberGlasgow

MUSEUMS ASSOCIATIONEVENTS

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Glasgow is home to some of the most imaginative and innovative museums and is a suitable backdrop to a conference programme that is equally forward thinking. The themes of the conference address many of the pertinent issues for the sector and we are privileged to have a range of eminent keynote speakers and international figures from museums and the wider cultural sector joining us. We would like to welcome and thank them all.

Following its acclaimed refurbishment, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum will feature prominently and you will have the opportunity to visit it as part of an open-evening across Glasgow’s museums. Mark O’Neill, head of arts and museums, Culture and Sport Glasgow, and the author and broadcaster Muriel Gray will offer their perspectives on this new model museum.

In other keynote speeches Will Hutton, the chief executive of The Work Foundation, assesses the state of the cultural economy and provides an insight into public value in museums; John Falk and Lynn Dierking, internationally renowned figures in museum and science education, explore new approaches to audience development; and Maurice Davies, deputy director of the Museums Association, offers his perspective on the future priorities for museums.

The programme offers you the opportunity to meet and learn from other professionals. We hope you will also make the time to view the latest products and services at the exhibition, where we will be holding a range of seminars and workshops. We are also celebrating the relaunch of our magazine, Museums Journal, which we hope will reflect our increasingly progressive sector.

We look forward to welcoming you to the conference.

Virginia Tandy

President, Museums Association

Welcome

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The Museums Association would like to thank the following organisations for their generous support: Culture and Sport Glasgow; Glasgow Science Centre; Lord Provost’s Office, Glasgow City Council; Museums, Libraries and Archives Council; The Hunterian Museum; The Lighthouse, Glasgow

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ThemesConference 2007 will cover many different subjects and will include, but not be limited to, sessions that explore three central themes:

1Collections-related knowledgeKnowledge brings collections to life. The Museums Association’s Collections for the Future report argues that knowledge associated with collections is as important for museums as the collections themselves. We examine developments since its publication and explore the different ways of generating, renewing, disseminating and challenging collections-related knowledge.

2Increasing visitor numbers Attendance figures justify funding and demonstrate relevance. All museums want a greater number and variety of visitors. We look at what new working practices can be adopted to meet targets and respond to current agendas. We also take a critical look at whether more visitors necessarily mean better museums.

3Measuring valueThe rhetoric of the cultural sector is changing. There is increasing frustration with targets and scepticism about performance indicators. We investigate the emerging notions of cultural, intrinsic and public value. Will a greater range of ‘values’ bring museums closer to government? Could they enable museums to set better, more independent objectives for themselves? Or, might they compromise museums’ accountability?

The future of museums The future of museums will be discussed throughout the conference, with a number of sessions devoted to new paradigms, emerging trends and the new environments in which museums will operate over the next decade or so.

Fringe events Fringe events take place throughout the conference and exhibition. They include CPD surgeries, a marketplace, specialist group meetings, awards, drinks receptions, on-site sessions and much more.

Delegates can also visit the Glasgow Science Centre free of charge throughout the three-day event.

Exhibition and Exhibition seminars The exhibition brings together leading companies specialising in serving the museum sector. It provides you with an opportunity to talk directly to expert suppliers and consultants, view the latest innovations, and take away ideas and inspiration for your museum or gallery.

A programme of seminars runs alongside the exhibition, presenting opinions, provoking discussion and offering you advice on a host of practical subjects.

For more information see your exhibition guide.

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0900-0930 Opening address: Liz Cameron Lomond

0930-1700 Exhibition open Halls 1&2

0930-1015 Diversify coffee and cakes (invitation only) Boisdale

0930-1015 Elected members’ coffee and cakes (invitation only) Alsh

0930-1015 Coffee Halls 1&2

0940-1015 Exhibition opening and welcome: Liz Cameron Halls 1&2

1015-1045 Keynote: Will Hutton Lomond

1015-1630 Exhibition seminars (open to all) Halls 1&2

1045-1200 Concurrent sessions:

The bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade: lessons and legacies Lomond

The engaged gallery of modern art Carron

Sustainability: is your museum doomed? Alsh

Developing interactive exhibits Boisdale

Royal Museum project Dochart

1200-1300 Lunch Halls 1&2

1200-1645 CPD surgery (open to all) Halls 1&2

1200-1615 Marketplace (open to all) Loch Suite Foyer

1215-1300 Networking lunch (invitation only) Alsh

1300-1430 On-site session: Minds-on: stimulating creative enquiry Glasgow Science Centre in young learners

1300-1400 Annual general meeting Lomond

1400-1445 Presidential address: Virginia Tandy Lomond

1445-1515 Tea Halls 1&2

1500-1615 On-site session: New scientists: bringing secondary science to life Glasgow Science Centre


Attracting more visitors Lomond

Developing in-house collections knowledge Carron

Linking museums and heritage Alsh

Are performance indicators worthwhile? Boisdale

A UK museum of migration? Dochart

1645-1700 Museums Journal relaunch drinks reception (open to all) Halls 1&2

1700-1800 Keynotes: Mark O’Neill and Muriel Gray Lomond

1815-2100 Networking reception (open to all) Kelvingrove & Glasgow Museums

MondaySummary

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Liz Cameron Chair, Culture and Sport Glasgow

Liz Cameron is a Glaswegian. She worked as a lecturer before first being elected to Glasgow Council in 1992. She became Lord Provost in 2003. She has been actively involved in many cultural organisations, including the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, the Scottish Arts Council and Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. Under her leadership, the city council agreed the establishment of 26 lifelong learning centres in city libraries and the £26m Kelvingrove refurbishment programme.

Glasgow’s museums, libraries and leisure centres are now run by Culture and Sport Glasgow, a charitable company. Liz Cameron will outline the benefits this has had, welcome everyone to Glasgow and open the conference and exhibition.

Monday

0900-0930Opening address Lomond

Will Hutton Chief executive, The Work Foundation

Will Hutton has recently led work on a Department for Culture, Media and Sport Green Paper on the creative industries. He worked in finance before joining the BBC as a producer and reporter. For four years he was editor-in-chief of The Observer and he continues to write a weekly column. He is the author of several best-selling books including The State We’re In. His latest book, The Writing on the Wall: China and the West in the 21st Century, was published in January. As well as his work for The Work Foundation, he is a governor of the London School of Economics, an honorary fellow at Mansfield College, Oxford, a visiting professor at Manchester University Business School and Bristol University and a member of the Scott Trust.

Museums and the cultural economy Will Hutton assesses the state of the UK cultural economy. He explains its importance to the future of the wider UK economy and outlines what steps are needed to nurture creativity through education and skills, access to finance, technology, infrastructure, research and diversity. He offers his perspective on the notion of public value, with particular reference to museums.

1015-1045Keynote Lomond

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The bicentennary of the abolition of the slave trade: lessons and legacies Lomond

The bicentennary has generated unprecedented discussion. What lessons have been learned about handling controversy and heightened media attention? How can momentum be sustained in developing permanent representations of slavery and its legacies?

Chair Richard Benjamin, Head of International Slavery Museum

Speakers Sarwat Siddiqui, Community history curator for content, Museum of Bristol

Rita McLean, Head of museums and heritage services, Birmingham

Tony Tibbles, Keeper of maritime history, National Museums Liverpool

Delegates are invited to visit the marketplace and view This is Our Story – a National Trust Scotland travelling display on Scotland and the slave trade.

The engaged gallery of modern art Carron

Working practices at Glasgow’s Gallery of Modern Art place engagement with excluded communities at the heart of planning its entire public programme. Learn more about this approach and the underlying values on which it is based. Join a network of staff committed to engaging with contemporary life.

Chair Richard Sandell, Deputy head, Department of Museum Studies, University of Leicester

Speakers Victoria Hollows, Manager, Gallery of Modern Art

Helen O’Donoghue, Education manager, Irish Museum of Modern Art

Veronica Sekules, Head of education and research, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia

Sustainability: is your museum doomed? Alsh

Join a facilitated interactive discussion to explore your museum’s economic, social and environmental sustainability. Compare notes with your colleagues on models of good, and bad, practice and help shape a future Museums Association report on sustainability.

Speakers Maurice Davies, Deputy director, Museums Association

Sarah Staniforth, Historic properties director, National Trust

Delegates are invited to visit the marketplace and view EXPOSED The Poster Show – a touring poster exhibition featuring thought-provoking images showing how climate change is already affecting National Trust gardens and buildings, people and wildlife, coastline and countryside, and how they are adapting.

1045-1200Concurrent sessions

Monday

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Developing interactive exhibits Boisdale

Understanding and integrating issues as diverse as demographics, learning theory, aesthetics, health and safety and durability is essential to creating good interactives. Staff from the Glasgow Science Centre explain how their exhibits are prototyped and tested.

Chair Robin Hoyle, Director of science, Glasgow Science Centre

Panellists Avril Edmond, Exhibition development manager, Glasgow Science Centre

Clara Lim, Project officer, Glasgow Science Centre

Lindsay Hogg, Science and interpretation officer, Glasgow Science Centre

Clare Abel, Science education coordinator, Glasgow Science Centre

Lynn Dierking, Sea grant professor in free-choice learning, Oregon State University

Royal Museum project Dochart

The Royal Museum project is a £46.4m capital project which aims to improve access to the museum by creating new street level entrances and circulation routes; provide exciting new learning and enterprise opportunities; increase the number of objects on display through the redisplay of more than half the galleries, all within an intellectual and physical framework which unites the Royal Museum and the Museum of Scotland buildings into the largest museum complex outside London.

Panel members Gordon Rintoul, Director, National Museums Scotland

Jem Fraser, Project director, Royal Museum

Gareth Hoskins, Director, Gareth Hoskins Architects

Minds-on: stimulating creative enquiry in young learners

Take part in activities to stimulate creativity and problem solving. The Bristol ALPS project (Active Learning in Primary Science) is a professional development programme that enables education staff to develop long-term relationships with local schools to deliver the science curriculum. Its insights are relevant to all educators.

Chair Rebeca Medrano Arnaez, Schools officer, At-Bristol

Speakers Stuart Naylor, Director, Millgate House Education

Brenda Keogh, Director, Millgate House Education

Penny Thompson, Smart Science CPD leader, Centre for Science Education, Sheffield Hallam University


1300-1430On-site session Glasgow Science Centre

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The annual general meeting will outline the Museums Association’s activities over the past year and its plans for the future. Open to MA members

Virginia Tandy Director, Manchester City Galleries and president, Museums Association

Virginia Tandy has worked in a range of roles in cultural organisations in the north west of England. Since 1998 she has been the director of Manchester City Galleries, which is the lead hub for the north west delivery of Renaissance in the Regions. She sits on the boards of a number of regional and national bodies, and was elected president of the Museums Association in 2006.

The president discusses challenges and opportunities for the sector and offers her perspective on the conference themes. She is joined by colleagues who developed the themes:

Nikola Burdon, Policy officer, Museums Association

Kate Farmery, Head of services, Manchester City Galleries

Sara Selwood, Head of department of cultural policy and management, City University

New scientists: bringing secondary science to life

Developing aspirations and attainment in secondary science is crucial if we are to build the more scientifically literate society that our future demands. A science centre and two natural history museums outline the issues and the role they can play in inspiring 14-19 year olds. Concludes with a tour of the Glasgow Science Centre, where this session takes place.

Chair Teresa Wild, Director of policy and planning, Natural History Museum

Speakers Steve McLean, Senior manager, Tyne & Wear Museums

Andrew Lee, Project manager of real world science, Natural History Museum

Robin Hoyle, Director of science, Glasgow Science Centre

1300-1400Annual general meeting Lomond

1400-1445Presidential address Lomond

1500-1615On-site session Glasgow Science Centre

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Attracting more visitors Lomond

Find out what keeps certain visitors away from your museum. Get fresh ideas on how to bring them in. Experts who increased attendance at their museums explain how to do so at yours.

Chair Virginia Tandy, Director, Manchester City Galleries and president, Museums Association

Speakers Catherine Holden, Director of marketing and development, National Museums Scotland

Kate White, Access and public relations manager, Pitt Rivers Museum

Increasing visitor numbers

Developing in-house collections knowledge Carron

Learn how museums can develop in-house expertise more effectively, particularly through peer review, training new entrants and succession-planning.

Chair Nick Merriman, Director, The Manchester Museum, University of Manchester

Speakers Margaret Serpico, Honorary research fellow, Institute of Archaeology, University College London

Maurice Davies, Deputy director, Museums Association

Richard Taylor, Senior curator, knowledge and access,National Railway Museum

Collections-related knowledge

Linking museums and heritage Alsh

Whether you consider yourself a member of the museum sector or the heritage sector, come along and debate if museums have more to learn from historic places or vice versa. We will be looking at similarities and differences between the two sectors and how we can work more closely together.

Chair Sarah Staniforth, Historic properties director, National Trust

Speakers Anna Keay, Properties presentation director, English Heritage

Sandy Nairne, Director, National Portrait Gallery

Lucy Worsley, Chief curator, Historic Royal Palaces


Monday

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Are performance indicators worthwhile? Boisdale

How are performance indicators constructed? Why are they as they are? What contribution do they make to policy development? A civil servant, a consultant and a data analyst discuss the issues.

Chair Sara Selwood, Head of department of cultural policy and management, City University

Speakers Ben Cowell, Head of museums sponsorship unit, Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Adrian Babbidge, Director, Egeria Heritage Consultancy

Jo Hargreaves, Director, Morris Hargreaves McIntyre

Measuring value

A UK museum of migration? Dochart

In other countries high-profile museums of migration make sense of the complex histories of their diverse societies, to encourage tolerance and respect. No such museum exists in the UK. Do we need one? Led by a former UK minister for immigration and an overseas colleague.

Chair Barbara Roche, Former minister with responsibility for immigration

Speakers Zelda Baveystock, Lecturer, International Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies, University of Newcastle

Gareth Griffiths, Director, British Empire and Commonwealth Museum

Cathrine Kyø Hermansen, Director, Danish Immigration Museum

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Monday concludes with two keynote presentations relating to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, introduced by Bridget McConnell, chief executive of Culture and Sport Glasgow.

Mark O’Neill, Head of arts and museums, Culture and Sport Glasgow

Mark O’Neill was born in Ireland, and has worked in museums in Glasgow since 1985. He was responsible for the development of Springburn community museum, the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art and the Open Museum. He also led the redisplay of the People’s Palace and the refurbishment of Kelvingrove. He has published and lectured widely on museum philosophy and practice.

Kelvingrove: a new paradigm for museums? Kelvingrove consciously draws on its Victorian roots as an institution devoted to public education through objects. It also seeks to build on a century of visitor psychology and sociology. By telling the most interesting stories about the most interesting objects – not summarising subject disciplines – it works with how people actually make meaning in museums. Grouped in broad themes, individual stories can be changed without having to renew entire galleries – creating genuinely flexible displays.

Muriel Gray, Author and broadcaster

Muriel Gray was born in Glasgow and studied at the Glasgow School of Art. Perhaps best known as a TV presenter and producer, she has also worked as an illustrator, head of design at the National Museum of Antiquities, Edinburgh and is the only woman to have been rector of Edinburgh University. She is a script-writer, newspaper columnist, best-selling novelist and author of a book on mountaineering. She was this year’s chair of the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction. She wrote the official guide and is a lifelong supporter of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

The spirit of Kelvingrove Kelvingrove has been a cultural anchor for generations of visitors of all backgrounds, inspiring huge affection and support. Muriel Gray draws on her experiences of Kelvingrove at different stages of her life and career and picks personal highlights of the galleries as they now are. She explores Kelvingrove’s role in the life of the city and what museums elsewhere could learn from it in building community, inspiring creativity and fostering a spirit of enquiry.

1700-1800Keynotes Lomond

Monday

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The exhibition brings together leading companies specialising in serving the museum sector. It provides you with an opportunity to talk directly to expert suppliers and consultants, view the latest innovations, and take away ideas and inspiration for your museum or gallery.

To see the full range of exhibitors, please see your exhibition guide. Open to all

A programme of exhibition seminars that present opinions, provoke discussion and offer you advice on a host of practical subjects.

For more information see your exhibition guide. Open to all

0930-1700Exhibition Halls 1&2

1815-2100Networking reception Kelvingrove & Glasgow Museums

All delegates and exhibitors are invited to spend an evening at some of Glasgow’s most prestigious museums and galleries. Hosted by the Lord Provost of Glasgow and the president of the Museums Association, the evening begins at Kelvingrove and moves on to the Hunterian Museum, the Gallery of Modern Art and the Museum of Transport.

This event is free and includes entertainment, refreshments and transport to Kelvingrove. Coaches depart from the front entrance of the SECC from 1805. From 1930 a shuttle service will run from Kelvingrove to the Hunterian Museum and the Gallery of Modern Art.

With support from Event Communications Ltd Open to all

1015-1630Exhibition seminars Halls 1&2

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0930-1015 Diversify coffee and cakes Boisdale Join other diversify trainees for coffee and discussion.Invitation only

0930-1015 Elected members’ coffee and cakes Alsh Invitation only

1200-1645 CPD surgery Halls 1&2 Meet one of our CPD assessors to talk about any aspects of your professional development. Appointments available Monday and Tuesday. Open to all

1200-1615 Marketplace Loch Suite Foyer Delegates and visitors can meet staff from a range of organisations who are ready to answer questions and provide information on their work.

Also on display are EXPOSED The Poster Show – the National Trust’s touring exhibition on the effects of climate change and This is Our Story – a National Trust Scotland travelling display about Scotland and the slave trade. Open to all

1215-1300 Networking lunch Alsh A networking lunch for first-time delegates and prospective AMAs. Invitation only

1645-1700Museums Journal relaunch drinks reception Halls 1&2 Open to all

Monday

Fringe events

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0900-0930 Keynote: Maurice Davies Lomond


Measuring economic impact Lomond

2020 vision: museums and the new world order Carron

Quantity vs quality: increasing visitor numbers or deepening engagement? Alsh

Reviving collections through new intellectual perspectives Boisdale

Making Kelvingrove: nuts and bolts Dochart

Our workforce matters Leven

0945-1545 Exhibition seminars (open to all) Halls 1&2

0930-1700 Exhibition open Halls 1&2

1045-1130 Coffee Halls 1&2

1115-1230 Concurrent session: Shared treasures: putting stored collections to work Alsh


Measuring educational and social impact Lomond

Using museum collections as research resources Carron

Working with prisoners Boisdale

Improving narrative Dochart

Does programming drive attendance? Leven

1245-1600 CPD surgery (open to all) Halls 1&2

1245-1400 Lunch Halls 1&2

1300-1400 AMA lunch (invitation only) Alsh

1300-1400 British Council lunch (invitation only) Boisdale

1400-1500 Keynotes: John Falk and Lynn Dierking Lomond


What does the public think it wants from museums? Lomond

Handing over intellectual control? Carron

Who comes and why? The role of identity-related motivation Alsh

Nurturing cultural diversity Boisdale

The power of objects Dochart

Success on a shoestring Leven

1615-1700 Tea Halls 1&2

1615-1700 Exhibitor awards and drinks (open to all) Halls 1&2

1700-1800 Plenary session: Crystal balls: the museum of the future Lomond

2000-2345 Conference dinner and party (ticket holders only) Glasgow Science Centre

TuesdaySummary

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Measuring economic impact Lomond

Why should museums be valued in terms of their contribution to the economy – publicly-funded museums in particular? How is evidence of museums’ economic impact assembled? Do the figures stack up? Is the Treasury convinced by the arguments? Discuss the issues that economic impact studies raise for museums.


Speakers Kate Bellamy, Secretary, National Museum Directors’ Conference

Javier Stanziola, Head of research and evidence, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

Stuart Davies, Visiting professor, University of Bournemouth

Measuring value

0900-0930Keynote Lomond


Tuesday

Maurice Davies Deputy director, Museums Association

Maurice Davies edited Museums Journal from 1989-1995. He has been involved in several sector initiatives, including the Mayor of London’s heritage diversity task force; the Department for Culture, Media and Sport illicit trade advisory panel and human remains working group, and Arts Council England’s review of the presentation of the contemporary visual arts. He recently held a visiting fellowship at the University of East Anglia, researching entry to the museum workforce.

Don’t look back in anger Maurice Davies looks back at the past decade and forward to the next. Many museums are transformed with the help of increased public spending and lottery funding. They have a clearer sense of purpose as old tensions have been resolved, between access and preservation and between education and curation. Progress has been considerable, but tensions remain. What challenges lie ahead and what should our priorities be?

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2020 vision: museums and the new world order Carron

Visitor expectations are changing fast, as technology and social agendas develop. How will changing patterns of consumer consumption affect our sector? Will environmental concerns influence travel patterns? Museum professionals and forecasters share their vision.

Chair Ylva French, Executive director, The Campaign for Museums

Speakers John Lennon, Director, Moffat Institute, Glasgow Caledonain University

Steve Inch, Director of regeneration, Glasgow Council

Callum Lumsden, Managing director, Lumsden Design Partnership

Brendan Dick, Director, BT Scotland

Quantity vs quality: increasing visitor numbers or deepening engagement? Alsh

We museum professionals know that success isn’t just measured by head counts or visitor profile surveys. We want the public to make meaning from their visit. What new – or not so new – approaches could lead to sustained participation through quality of engagement?

Chair Helen Rees Leahy, Director, Centre for Museology, University of Manchester

Speakers Kate Brindley, Director, Bristol’s Museums, Galleries & Archives

Hanah Rudman, Director, Rudman Consulting


Reviving collections through new intellectual perspectives Boisdale

Bringing new intellectual perspectives to a collection can be as refreshing as acquiring a new collection. This session examines various approaches including breaking down traditional subject boundaries and revealing hidden histories.

Chair Nikola Burdon, Policy officer, Museums Association

Speakers Jeff Cowton, Curator, Wordsworth Trust

Richard Sandell, Deputy head, Department of Museum Studies, University of Leicester


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Tuesday

Making Kelvingrove: nuts and bolts Dochart

Over 8,000 objects, 100 stories, one wonderful building. The restoration and redisplay of Kelvingrove required expertise in many disciplines, including: architecture; design; conservation; collections management; learning theory; and visitor research. Key contributors explain the practicalities of making a coherent, flexible and friendly museum.

Chair Mark O’Neill, Head of arts and museums, Culture and Sport Glasgow

Speakers Anthony McReavy, Project manager, Culture and Sport Glasgow

Sue Latimer, Senior education and access curator, Culture and Sport Glasgow

Jane Rowlands, Conservation manager, Culture and Sport Glasgow

Martin Bellamy, Research manager, Culture and Sport Glasgow

Esther Dugdale, Senior designer, Event Communications Ltd

Our workforce matters Leven

The Museums Association’s forthcoming report on entry to the museum profession addresses lack of diversity, difficulty in recruiting to some posts and difficulty for many in securing their first job. Learn more about the problems and what can be done about them.

Chair Caitlin Griffiths, Head of professional issues, Museums Association

Speakers Alec Coles, Director, Tyne and Wear Museums

Michael Houlihan, Director general, National Museums and Galleries of Wales

Hedley Swain, Head of museum policy, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

Shared treasures: putting stored collections to work Alsh

Glasgow museums aspire to make their stored objects as accessible as books in a reference library. In this workshop, experts bring objects from store to the conference and discuss how they have been used to foster learning and inspire new art.

Workshop leader Ellen McAdam, Collections service manager, Glasgow Museums Resource Centre

Facilitators Janice Lane, Education and access manager, Glasgow Museums

Anne Wallace, Museums education officer, Glasgow Museums

Jacqueline Donachie, Artist

Nicholas Oddy, Lecturer, Glasgow School of Art

This session is followed on Wednesday afternoon by study tours to the Glasgow Museums Resource Centre. Places are limited and are open only to those who have pre-booked on the conference booking form.

1115-1230Concurrent session


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Measuring educational and social impact Lomond

Museums claim that their value resides in fostering creativity, spreading knowledge and ideas, promoting social cohesion and building civil society. But are such claims valid? Is there evidence to support them? Can such evidence be tested?


Panellists Sue Wilkinson, Director of policy and advocacy, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

Andrew Newman, Director, International Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies, University of Newcastle

John Falk, Sea grant professor in free-choice learning, Oregon State University

Measuring value

Using museum collections as research resources Carron

Despite museums naming their stored collections research collections, too often they are underused as a research resource. Discover how to make better links with external researchers in higher education and elsewhere.

Chair Michael Houlihan, Director general, National Museums and Galleries of Wales

Speakers Ann Gunn, Manager, Museums, Galleries and Collections Institute, University of St Andrews

Andrew Greg, Project director, National Inventory Research Project

Gordon Rintoul, Director, National Museums Scotland


Working with prisoners Boisdale

The Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge has used its Egyptian collections to carry out inspirational work with prisoners. Find out more about how it developed African-centred approaches to Egypt and resources for prison education departments. Share ideas with colleagues about new, exciting forms of outreach.

Chair Saira Law, Project manager, Fitzwilliam Museum

Speakers Sally-Ann Ashton, Senior keeper antiquities, Fitzwilliam Museum

Joyce Murdoch, Education and access officer, Imperial War Museum

Lucie Fitton, Inclusion officer, Museum of London

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Tuesday

1400-1500Keynotes Lomond

Improving narrative Dochart

What stories and whose stories should we tell? How can we tell them if material evidence is sparse? How can you respond to a variety of learning needs on a variety of budgets? A project manager, an interpretive planner and a designer compare perspectives.

Chair Sara Hilton, Director of projects, National Museums Liverpool

Speakers Peter Higgins, Creative director, Land Design Studio

Tim Gardon, Creative director, Tim Gardon Associates

Christian Lachel, Creative director, BRC Imagination Arts

Does programming drive attendance? Leven

Do temporary exhibitions and displays really drive attendance and diversify audiences? Or are museum professionals more interested in change more than museum visitors? This live debate seeks answers to these questions.

Chair Emma Parsons, Arts marketing and management consultant

Speakers Will Gompertz, Director of Tate Media, Tate

Michael Simpson, Head of exhibitions, Imperial War Museum North



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What does the public think it wants from museums? Lomond

Market research often suggests that many people perceive museums as primarily being for the benefit of their children rather than themselves. Do museums hold any appeal for adults apart from their displays and exhibitions? Do potential visitors’ experience inform the way in which curators’ programme and conceive interpretations? How crucial is it for museums to understand visitors’ aspirations if they are to be fit for purpose in the 21st century? Taking the Arts Council England’s radical Public Value Enquiry as a starting point, this session explores the issues.


Speakers Emily Keaney, Senior strategy officer for research, Arts Council England

Alec Coles, Director, Tyne & Wear Museums

Andrew Newman and Chris Whitehead, Lecturers, International Centre for Cultural and Heritage Studies, University of Newcastle

Measuring value


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John Falk and Lynn Dierking Sea grant professors in free-choice learning, Oregon State University

John Falk has a joint doctorate in biology and education. He held senior positions at the Smithsonian Institution and is the author of many scholarly publications in biology, psychology and education. He has also written and edited many science educational materials. Research priorities include the long-term impact of free-choice educational institutions on individuals and communities, and new business models for museums and other cultural institutions.

Lynn Dierking has a doctorate in science education. She held senior positions at the Smithsonian Institution and is an expert in the behaviour and learning of children, families and adults in free-choice learning settings. Her research priorities include the long-term impact of free-choice learning experiences on individuals and families, and the development and evaluation of community-based programmes.

Internationally recognised for their work in museum and science education, John Falk and Lynn Dierking are co-authors of works including The Museum Experience, Collaboration: Critical Criteria for Success, Learning from Museums: Visitor Experiences and the Making of Meaning, and Lessons without Limit: How Free-Choice Learning is Transforming Education.

Thriving in the 21st century Museums need to reconceptualise their role and reposition themselves for the knowledge age. They must reassess public needs and expectations and find new ways of measuring value if they wish to compete in a changing leisure market. They can do this by facilitating lifelong free-choice learning. John Falk and Lynn Dierking explore new approaches to audience development. They will also promote museums as sites for constructing identity and finding meaning. David Anderson, director, learning and interpretation, Victoria & Albert Museum, will join them in conversation.

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Tuesday

Handing over intellectual control? Carron

Should museums become more Wikipedia than Encyclopaedia Britannica? How can museums be authoritative without being authoritarian? An exploration into how much museums should draw on the experience and knowledge of their users.

Chair Suzanne Keene, Reader, museum and heritage studies, Institute of Archaeology, University College London

Speakers Ross Parry, Lecturer, Department of Museum Studies, University of Leicester


Margaret Greeves, Assistant director, Fitzwilliam Museum

Rebecca Wilhelm, Curator, Stockwood Park Museum

Nat Edwards, Programme manager, John Murray Archive, National Library of Scotland


Who comes and why? The role of identity-related motivationAlsh

This session explores recent research on the role of identity-related motivations for understanding who comes to museums. How and why do those motivations influence visitor behavior and learning?

Delegates will work in small groups to brainstorm how these findings can be applied. Led by John Falk.

This workshop is strictly limited to 35 participants and is open only to those who pre-booked on the conference booking form

Nurturing cultural diversityBoisdale

Institutions worldwide want to connect with a diverse audience in ways that make them feel welcome and identify with what they have to offer. But they are struggling to do this. This session will throw new light on the process of building museum education to meet the needs of diverse audiences. Led by Lynn Dierking.

This workshop is strictly limited to 35 participants and is open only to those who pre-booked on the conference booking form


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The power of objectsDochart

Drawing on extensive data the British Museum now has a real insight into visitors’ perceptions, motivations, expectations, behaviour, engagement and responses. Find out how this research is being used to improve the service to visitors and to redisplay and interpret collections.

Chair Andrew McIntyre, Director, Morris Hargreaves McIntyre

Speaker Xerxes Mazda, Keeper of learning and information, British Museum


Success on a shoestringLeven

Operating on a small budget? No support from Renaissance? You too can build new audiences, make collections more accessible and promote your community’s pride in its identity.

ChairChris Delaney, President, Federation of Museums and Galleries in Wales

Speakers Emma Lewis, Community memories project officer, Newport Museum and Art Gallery

Ann Mansell, Education officer, Usk Rural Life Museum

Owain Morgan-Lee, Head artist Resurgam Afloat project

Emma Lee, Learning and loans officer, Reading Museums Service

1700-1800Plenary session Lomond

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Crystal balls: the museum of the future

Where does the future lie? In 2020, will museums be more MySpace than the gallery spaces we know today? Will they all be telling stories or shifting their focus back to collections? Our three speakers will pose some vital questions for the sector and explore three very different visions for museums beyond 2020. Which of these is the most compelling for you? In this debate, you decide!

Chair Nick Winterbotham, Chief executive officer, Think Tank and Millennium Point

SpeakersDavid Anderson, Director of learning and interpretation, Victoria & Albert Museum

Jane Finnis, Director, 24 Hour Museum

Dan Snow, Broadcaster, writer and historian

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This year’s conference dinner and party takes place in the Glasgow Science Centre. Fascinating both architecturally and in its content, the centre has wonderful views of Glasgow. It provides the perfect setting to relax and enjoy an evening of good food, drinks and entertainment. Prepaid ticket holders only

The exhibition brings together leading national and international companies specialising in serving the museum sector. It provides you with an opportunity to talk directly to expert suppliers and consultants, view the latest innovations, discuss your needs on a one-to-one basis and take away ideas and inspiration for your museum or gallery. To see the full range of exhibitors, please see your exhibition guide. Open to all

0945-1545 Exhibition seminars Halls 1&2

A programme of exhibition seminars that present opinions, provoke discussion and offer you advice on a host of practical subjects. For more information see your exhibition guide. Open to all

2000-2345Conference dinner and party Glasgow Science Centre

0930-1700Exhibition Halls 1&2

Tuesday

1245-1600 CPD surgery Halls 1&2

Meet one of our CPD assessors to talk about any aspects of your professional development. Appointments, available Monday and Tuesday. Open to all

1300-1400 AMA lunch Alsh

A lunch, to celebrate the achievements of the Museums Association’s new Associate Members and their mentors. Invitation only

1300-1400 British Council lunch Boisdale

A lunch, hosted by the British Council, to welcome overseas guests to the Museums Association conference and the UK. Invitation only

1615-1700 Exhibitor awards Halls 1&2

A celebration of this year’s winners of the Museums Association Awards. Open to all

Fringe events

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Life after a capital project Lomond

Effective collections: the value of lending Carron

Understanding the future Alsh

Waking the dead: making archives accessible Boisdale 1

Cultural value and public value: what are they? What use are they for museums? Dochart

1100-1130 Coffee Hall 1


New exhibition review Lomond

Increasing visitor numbers: bringing it all together Carron

Presenting and sharing collections-related knowledge Alsh

Design education and the Mackintosh legacy Boisdale 1

1130-1300 Workshop: Arts and Humanities Research Council (invitation only) Boisdale 2

1300-1400 Lunch Hall 1

1315-1445 Meeting: British Museum UK Partnership (invitation only) Alsh

1345-1600 Study tours:

Opening the stores (pre-booked participants only) Glasgow Museums Resource Centre

The Mackintosh Trail (pre-booked participants only) The Lighthouse, Glasgow

1400-1630 Meeting: Group for Education in Museums Scotland (invitation only) Carron

1400-1700 Workshop: Arts and Humanities Research Council (invitation only) Boisdale 2

WednesdaySummary

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Life after a capital project Lomond

Once a venue reopens there is still much work to be done: maintaining relationships with stakeholders and transferring to operations, rectifying defects, maximising on the skills and experience gained, and measuring and reporting success. This session provides the opportunity to meet and learn from staff who have been involved in recently completed projects.

Chair Sara Hilton, Director of projects, National Museums Liverpool

Speakers Richard Schofield, Managing director, Rider Hunt Management Services Ltd

Sally Manuireva, Director of learning and knowledge, Sheffield Galleries & Museums Trust

Jonathan Platt, Head, heritage, regeneration and improvement, Lincolnshire County Council

John Millard, Deputy director, collections management, National Museums Liverpool

Effective collections: the value of lending Carron

Sharing collections through loans is essential if the sector is to fulfil its public obligations. Loaning objects carries risks, but sometimes museums can be too risk-averse. A range of experts discuss the philosophical and practical bases on which a better culture of lending can be achieved.

Chair Sally Cross, Collections coordinator, Museums Association

Panellists David Barrie, Director, Art Fund

Dawn Austwick, Director, Esmeé Fairbairn Foundation

David Clarke, Keeper of archaeology, National Museums of Scotland

Simon Cane, Chair, Institute of Conservation

Understanding the Future Alsh

Understanding the Future sets priorities for museums. These include: fulfilling their potential as learning resources; embracing their role in fostering, exploring, celebrating and questioning the identities of diverse communities; collections that will be more dynamic and better used; workforces that are dynamic, highly skilled and representative; and closer work between museums and partners outside the sector. Find out more from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council about what happens next.

Chair Roy Clare, Chief executive, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

Speakers Alison Hems, Programme director, Renaissance, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council



Wednesday

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Waking the dead: making archives accessible Boisdale 1

The John Murray Archive at the National Library of Scotland is one of the most important in the world, recording the private lives and ideas of some of the greatest thinkers of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries. A permanent exhibition now makes the archive accessible to diverse audiences. Learn about design solutions with clear, visitor-focused goals.

Chair David Stam, Former Andrew W Mellon director of research libraries, New York Public Library and librarian emeritus, Syracuse University

Speakers Nat Edwards, Programme manager, John Murray Archive, National Library of Scotland

Eithne Owens, Interpreter, Event Communications

Cultural value and public value: what are they? What use are they for museums? Dochart

What is cultural value? How does it relate to public value? Arts, built heritage and public broadcasting agencies all describe themselves as promoting cultural if not public value. But how useful are such terms in describing what museums already provide, or might they be useful by way of illustrating their potential? Are museums different to any other publicly-subsidised cultural sector in thinking about public value and cultural value? Does it matter?


Speakers Kate Oakley, Visiting professor, department of cultural policy and management, City University

John Holden, Head of culture, Demos

Measuring value

New exhibition review Lomond

The ideas behind Wilberforce House, Hull, and the Wellcome Collection, London will be discussed by a panel of experts.

Chair Javier Pes, Editor, Museum Practice

Panellists Maev Kennedy, Journalist, The Guardian

Rachel Souhami, Lecturer, Imperial College London

Jane Tyler, Head, professional services (museums) and Wilberforce project leader, Ferens Art Gallery


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Increasing visitor numbers: bringing it all together Carron

This session draws together all of the discussions on increasing visitor numbers that have taken place over the course of the conference. It renews calls for a strategic, whole organisation approach to audience development and provides fresh insight into the importance of services that enhance the visitor experience.

Chair Kate Farmery, Head of services, Manchester City Galleries

Speakers Seamus Smyth, Director, Morton Smyth Ltd

Alex Wood, Director, Holmes Wood Design Consultancy

Moira Gemmill, Director of projects and design, Victoria & Albert Museum


Presenting and sharing collections-related knowledge Alsh

Most museums have more information than they can ever present. But new technology and collaborative projects should enable them to share more information with visitors. This session draws together strands of discussion on collections-related knowledge that have taken place over the course of the conference.

Chair Nichola Johnson, Director, museology department and Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, University of East Anglia

Speakers Rowan Julie Brown, Curator of technology, National Museums Scotland

Robin Holgate, Head of interpretation and learning, Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester


Design education and the Mackintosh legacy Boisdale 1

An exploration of partnerships between museums, contemporary makers, arts agencies and educational institutions in promoting design education and excellence in professional practice. With particular reference to work in Glasgow and the Mackintosh legacy. Those joining the post-conference Mackintosh tour will benefit from this session.

Chair Catherine McDermott, Course leader, MA Curating Contemporary Design, Kingston University

Panellists Pamela Robertson, Senior curator, Hunterian Art Gallery, University of Glasgow

Lesley Riddell, Project designer, The Lighthouse, Glasgow

Leonie Bell, Programme director, The Lighthouse, Glasgow

Peter Trowles, Taffner curator, Mackintosh Collection, Glasgow School of Art

Susie O’Reilly, Project manager, Museumaker


Wednesday

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Fringe events

Study tours

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1130-1300Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) workshop Boisdale 2

A workshop for members of the AHRC. Invitation only

1315-1445British Museum UK Partnership meeting Alsh

A lunch and meeting for members of the British Museum UK Partnership.Invitation only

1400-1630Group for Education in Museums Scotland Carron Members of the group meet to discuss education in Scotland’s museums. Invitation only

1400-1700Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) workshop Boisdale 2

The workshop for members of the AHRC continues. Invitation only

1345-1600 Opening the stores These study tours take place at Glasgow Museums Resource Centre. It is a new purpose-built storage facility and visitor centre with 6,000 square metres of space housing collections that range from fine art to botanical specimens. Tour leaders explain some of the ways in which the potential of stored collections can be exploited and made available to all.

Coaches leave from the front entrance of the SECC from 1345. Coaches will return delegates to Glasgow centre from 1600. For pre-booked participants only

1345-1600 The Mackintosh Trail Charles Rennie Mackintosh, architect, designer and artist is celebrated around the world as one of the most creative figures of the early 20th century. This tour follows an earlier session, which refers to his legacy and takes in some of the sites where you can explore his creative genius and view his work.

Coaches leave from the front entrance of the SECC from 1345. Delegates are asked to make their return journey at a time that suits them. Coaches are not available for the return journey to Glasgow Centre or the airport. For pre-booked participants only

First floor

Floor plan

CarronDochart

Leven

ExhibitionHalls 1&2

Ground floor

Lomond

Boisdale Alsh

Restaurant

Bar

Loch Suite Foyer

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Registration All registration desks are located in the exhibition hall entrance on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and in the Loch Suite Foyer on Sunday.

Delegate registration desk is open: Sunday 21 October 1700-1900

Monday 22 October 0800-1730

Tuesday 23 October 0800-1745

Wednesday 24 October 0830-1300

Visitor registration desk is open: Monday 22 October 0930-1545

Tuesday 23 October

Sales desk is open: Monday 22 October 0800-1600

Tuesday 23 October 0800-1530

Badges Badges will identify the following: delegates, speakers, exhibitors, visitors and MA staff. Please ensure you wear your badge at all times.

Lunch and refreshments for delegates and speakers Lunch is served in Halls 1&2 on Monday and Tuesday and in Hall 1 on Wednesday at the times given in each day’s summary.

Tea and coffee is also served in Halls 1&2 on Monday and Tuesday and in Hall 1 on Wednesday at the times given in each day’s summary. Delegates and speakers entitled to lunch are identifiable by their badge.

Evening meals On Monday refreshments are served to all those attending the networking evening at Kelvingrove. Delegates and exhibitors not attending should make their own arrangements for dinner. For location details please refer to your delegate pack. Open to all

On Tuesday dinner is provided for those who have pre-booked the conference dinner and party at the Glasgow Science Centre. Delegates and exhibitors not attending should make their own arrangements for dinner. For location details please refer to your delegate pack. Ticket holders only

Exhibition The exhibition is open: Monday 22 October 0930-1700

Tuesday 23 October

Lunch and refreshments for exhibitors and visitors Those who have not pre-booked any of the lunch options can purchase snacks and refreshments from any of the outlets at the SECC.

All exhibitors will be issued with a quota of vouchers to exchange for coffees and teas.

Conference dinner and party If you wish to purchase or relinquish tickets for this event, please go to the sales desk during the times listed.

Please do not attend events which you have not booked or been invited to. Places are limited and this could lead to a rightful ticket holder or invitee losing their place.

Transport Transport is not provided from hotels to the SECC or the conference dinner and party. Transport will be provided for the networking evening at Glasgow Museums on Monday evening departing from the SECC at 1805. Ask at the registration desk for the coach departure location.

Voting cards If you are an institutional or individual member who has not received a voting card, please go to the registration desk and ask for Georgie Stagg.

Acknowledgements The Museums Association would like to thank those who contributed to the conference themes, in particular: Helen Wilkinson and Nikola Burdon, policy officers, Museums Association; Kate Farmery, head of services, Manchester City Galleries; and Sara Selwood, head of department of cultural policy and management, City University.

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Please read these instructions carefully to ensure you get the best out of the conference and exhibition

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Essential information

1000-151510000-1700

Documents

Conference 22–24 October Glasgow · 2009-11-30 · Conference 07 06 Liz Cameron Chair, Culture and Sport Glasgow Liz Cameron is a Glaswegian. She worked as a lecturer before first