Information and support services

Working with other providers

There are many organisations providing education services. Some providers are large and have substantial resources while others are smaller with more specialist collections and largely volunteer run, but everyone can benefit from working together and sharing best practice and information.
It is useful to build links with other organisations to see if you can support work already being done or find a niche for your own expertise. Remember, though, that your collection is unique. You need to find out what other organisations are offering and complement rather than compete with them. Alternatively, especially in spread-out rural areas, similar resources can be offered across the region at different sites to provide a coherent service to educational consumers. Many funding streams are very keen to promote projects where there is co-operation between organisations. ‘Partnership’ is a word that crops up all the time in government and other funding opportunities.
If you don’t know where to start, try contacting other providers in your area. Most organisations will be willing to show you around and let you know what they are already doing and perhaps give you some advice or support. They should also be able to point you towards any support organisations that can offer help.

Local support groups

Local voluntary museum groups can act as forums for sharing and disseminating information. For example, in Cornwall you could contact:

Education Providers in Cornwall (EPIC)
EPIC Chairman: Mark Norris
c/o Newquay Zoo
Trenance Gardens
Newquay
TR7 2LZ
(01637) 873342
newquayzooed@hotmail.com

Museums and Galleries Network (MAGNET)
c/o Anita Pryor
Penwith District Council
St Clare
Penzance
TR18 3QW
(01736) 336865
anita.pryor@penwith.gov.uk

In other geographical areas talk to your local museums to see if there are any similar groups. If there aren’t perhaps you could start one up and get some advice from existing groups in other places on how to organise yourselves.

Hub museums and services

‘Renaissance in the Regions’ is a government initiative where funds are supplied to museums through a network of ‘hub’ museums whose remit is to develop their services to consumers and to provide practical support and information to other small and independent museums in their areas; much of this money has been earmarked by government for educational development. Some regions were chosen as pilots - the South West being one of these - and the scheme is now being rolled out to other areas.

The lead partner for the South West Museums Hub is:

Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery
0117 922 3571
www.bristol-city.gov.uk

Local partners are:

Plymouth City Museum and Art Gallery
(01752) 304774
www.plymouthmuseum.gov.uk

Royal Albert Memorial Museum and Art Gallery, Exeter
(01392) 665858
ramm@exeter.gov.uk

Royal Cornwall Museum,Truro
(01872) 272205
www.royalcornwallmuseum.org.uk

Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, Bournemouth
(01202) 451858
russell-cotes@bournemouth.gov.uk

For information on hubs and ‘Renaissance in the Regions’ visit:

www.mla.gov.uk

Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

The MLA (The Museums and Libraries & Archives Council – part of the DCMS – Department of Culture, Media and Sport) provide finance and support via Regional Museums, Libraries and Archives Councils, for example SWMLAC.

South West Museums Libraries and Archives Council (SWMLAC)
Creech Castle
Bathpool
Taunton
Somerset
TA1 2DX
www.swmlac.org.uk

There are also a number of local and regional museums officers providing support for museums across the region. They are variously employed by local authorities, hub museums, Museums’ Councils or sometimes a mixture of more than one agency. Information about the availability in your area should be provided by your nearest hub museum or Museums Council.

If you are an art gallery or are looking to do work with a creative feel you can also get funding and support from The Arts Council:

www.artscouncil.org.uk

and

www.creative-partnerships.com

Creative Partnerships also have regional offices where you can discuss ideas with project workers who have links with schools and artists.

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