Development Support 2018-2022

MDEM recognises that museum needs change over time so we provide a range of specialist support to address these needs based on what museums tell us, from the findings of the MDEM Business Diagnostic and the requirements of Museum Accreditation.

On the tab to the left, you’ll find information on current programmes of support, with information on content and how to get involved.

Summary of Support:

Advice and information – enquiry service, newsletter and website for sharing case studies and learning from across the region.

Regional Collections Adviser – Collections advice and information, training and small grants (up to £1000). Collections review and rationalisation support. Contact Anita Hollinshead for information.

Small grants (up to £1500) – Grant funding for projects that are hard to fund from other funding streams.  Grants fund purchase of materials, services and equipment linked to a museum’s forward plan and key priorities. 10% match funding required.

Training programme – flexible and responsive to needs of the sector; diverse range of  training events that focus on key areas of identified need e.g. audience development, collections, learning and engagement, environmental improvement, display and interpretation, Accreditation, workforce development, governance, policy and planning etc.

Facilitation of regional networks – Museum Mentors (Accreditation) Network; Trustees network; market town museums; lone workers; volunteers networks; support for county museums/ heritage forums.

Museum Accreditation support – advice, training and support for museums and mentors.

Organisational Reviews – facilitated ‘root and branch’ organisational reviews for c. 3 museums/ year – associated small grants, training, peer-reviews and ‘go and see’ visits. Contact Heather Lomas for more information.

Mystery Shopper   – User and non-user reviews of the visitor experience.

Audience Development – facilitated support and training for small cohorts of museums focusing on user/ non user and community consultation; marketing and promotion; diversifying audiences etc. through peer-review, ‘go and see’ visits, small grants to support action planning. We are also running our ’21st Century Visitor Attraction Programme’ to support work in this area.

Advocacy – sector data survey to report trends/ issues to stakeholders.

For more information contact: Claire Browne, MDEM Programme Manager claire.browne@leics.gov.uk