Brew Up! Industrial and Social Heritage Collections Network
Brew Up! brings together people who work with industrial and social history collections in the North of England to explore a range of issues when caring for, and working with, these diverse collections. Throughout the day colleagues across the region will share their learning and there will be plenty of opportunities to network.
Volunteers are the backbone of industrial and social heritage preservation, with key roles in leading, governing, developing, sustaining, maintaining and carrying out the daily running/front of house presentation of industrial heritage museums. This is a massive strength in terms of the skills, experience and passion those volunteers bring, but also a major undertaking against changing social and economic patterns when recruiting, retaining, diversifying and fitting volunteers to the many roles in industrial heritage museums seems an ever growing challenge.
With presentations, discussion groups and networking opportunities, this ‘Brew Up’ session will explore best practice around volunteering at industrial heritage sites. Talks/case studies will present examples of volunteer management in the sector, and we’ll use the experience of those attending to explore some of the issues, challenges and solutions through group discussion.
Hosted by the British Commercial Vehicle Museum – based on part of the former British Leyland works and housing an important collection of British made commercial vehicles – we’ll also have a tour of the museum and an opportunity to discuss the key role, as a volunteer based organisation, which volunteers play at all levels of the museum and its activities.
For more information on the venue visit here.
Catering: As part of MD North’s commitment to environmental responsibility and carbon reduction, catering for our in-person events is vegetarian and vegan. We encourage you to bring a reusable hot drink cup and water bottle, and perhaps a Tupperware to take home any leftovers to minimise food waste.
Access: This event will take place in the Conference Suite at the British Commercial Vehicle Museum. The museum is on one level, and the Conference Suite is at the front of the building. As noted above, there is free parking at the museum (with disabled spaces). Wheelchair-accessible toilet facilities equipped with handrails and emergency cords are available in the museum/Conference Suite.
Booking: Please only book if you are committed to attending, so that we give everyone a timely opportunity to book and remove the added paperwork required in dealing with cancellations. If for some reason you can no longer attend, please let us know asap so we can reallocate your place.
Agenda
10:30-11.00 Arrival and Refreshments
11.00-11.05 MDN Welcome Alan Bentley, Museum Development Adviser, Museum Development North
11:10-11:30 Tim Haley, British Commercial Vehicle Museum
11:30-11:50 Ian Lomax, Avro Heritage Museum
11:50-12.10 Edmea Gori, Crewe Heritage Trust
12.10-12:30 Philip Butler and Rebecca Brown, Lancashire County Council Museum Service: The Unlocking Collections Volunteer Development Project
12:30-1:15 Lunch
1:15-2.15 Guided Tour of the British Commercial Vehicle Museum
2.15-2.25 MDN News Update: Alan Bentley
2:15-2.50 Breakout Activity/Group Discussion: Key issues for volunteer development at Industrial Heritage Sites
2.50-3.00 Thanks and final thoughts