About us
Museum Development East Midlands (MDEM) is part of a national network of Museum Development providers across England. MDEM offers a continually updated programme of activities and support targeted at the needs of accredited museums and those with Working Towards Accreditation status.
Museum Development East Midlands has four key aims:
Our Mission and Purpose
MDEM is primarily funded by Arts Council England (ACE) and hosted by Leicestershire County Council.
The Programme Board oversees delivery of the programme against agreed targets and comprises representatives of accredited museums across the region.
MDEM is committed to equalities across all areas of its operation and to reducing the environmental impact of the programme.
Who we are
Meet the Museum Development East Midlands team
If you have a question or query and would like to know if we can help, get in touch with us, either by telephone or email. We look forward to hearing from you.
Claire Browne
Museum Development Manager
T: 07973 800072
E: claire.browne@leics.gov.uk
Management of the programme, grants and funding advice, organisational change and related enquiries, setting up a new museum and local, regional and national partnership opportunities.
Sarah Hartshorne
Museum Development Programme Officer
T: 07526 930069
E: sarah.hartshorne@leics.gov.uk
Working days: Mon, Tues, Wed, Thurs
Training, development programmes and regional networks. Annual data survey and organisational health check, website and communications.
Laura Hughes
Museum Development Project Officer
T: 07526 930074
E: laura.hughes@leics.gov.uk
Financial administration, grants administration, e-newsletter, county forums support, general enquiries.
Anita Hollinshead
T: 07876 166742
E: anitahollinshead@hotmail.com
Collections advice, training and grant advice. Regional Emergency and Risk Network (ERN).
Heather Lomas
Organisational Health Programme Facilitator and Regional Accreditation Adviser
T: 07809 771066 / 01986 784477
E: office@heatherlomas.co.uk
Organisational Health Programme enquiries, Accreditation advice and support, Accreditation Mentors Network and recruitment of new mentors.
Recent News
See our news page 
Job Vacancies – Epworth Old Rectory
Epworth Old Rectory is the former home of the Wesley family, the founders of the worldwide Methodist movement. It offers inspiration and learning for all people, with particular significance for Christians as a place of pilgrimage. As an Accredited museum, it tells...
Museum Accreditation Scheme update November 2021
Arts Council England (ACE) has updated the series of FAQs regarding the roll out of the Accreditation returns schedule, detailed information is here...
Digital Storytelling Programme
Coming in February 2022: a short programme of three sessions run in partnership with MDEM and Culture24 supporting digital storytelling with a collections focus. https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/digital-storytelling-with-a-collections-focus-tickets-181680771077 Is your...
Job Vacancies – Epworth Old Rectory
Epworth Old Rectory is the former home of the Wesley family, the founders of the worldwide Methodist movement. It offers inspiration and learning for all people, with particular significance for Christians as a place of pilgrimage. As an Accredited museum, it tells...
Museum Accreditation Scheme update November 2021
Arts Council England (ACE) has updated the series of FAQs regarding the roll out of the Accreditation returns schedule, detailed information is here...
Latest Tweets
See our twitter page
At @BuxtonMuseum children are encouraged to discover, touch and play through its interactive displays. Investigate insects, shark teeth or micro ... shells under the microscope 🔬 dress up like a Roman 🛡 or check out what the bear is wearing today 🐻 #ManifestoMonday
Join Patagonia grantee The @Carbon_Literacy Project for this online Introduction to Carbon Literacy for Museums, hosted by @MusDevEM. Learn how your ... museum can utilise the brand new Carbon Literacy Museums Toolkit to become more environmentally sustainable.
Want your museum to become more sustainable and join the fight against climate change? Sign up to our free event 11th Jan to find out how: ... https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/greener-museums-taking-action-against-climate-change-tickets-202880560217