MD North Forum, Quilter’s Guild, York, 27 November 2025
Join us for our in-person museum forum meeting at the Quilter’s Guild in York. Our forums offer you “a professional day out” – a chance to catch up with your museum colleagues in the region, visit an interesting venue, get the most out of being at a site, hear some interesting case studies – and enjoy being out in a different museum with different colleagues!
Forums usually start with tea and coffee from 10am and introductions from 10:30am. A delicious, complimentary lunch is provided. Meetings usually finish around 3:30-4pm.
Every forum will involve a chance to view and discuss at least one aspect of the host site, hear short case studies from different speakers, and network with colleagues.
The theme for the day is making collections accessible through exhibitions, public programmes and outreach.
Agenda
10:00-10:30 Arrival and Refreshments
10:30-10:50 MD North Update, Liz Denton, Museum Development Adviser, Museum Development North
10.50-11:30 Heather Audin, Curator, Quilter’s Guild, Accessing Audiences – Exhibitions, Activities and Outreach
11:30-11:40 Comfort break
11:40-12:30 News from your venue
12:30-13:00 Lunch
13:00-13:45 Tour of Exhibition and Stores with Heather Audin, Curator and Katy Jones, Deputy Chief Executive Officer
13:45-14:15 Alistair McLean, Curator of Natural Science & Ruthe Heskin, Community Coordinator (Green Connections), Sheffield Museums, Green Connections – Connecting residents of Darnall to natural heritage
14:15-14:45 Rachel Moaby, Heritage Director, Sunny Bank Mills Museum and Archive Ltd, Accessibility for all – a West Yorkshire textile collections journey
14:45-15:15 Christina Henzel, Heritage Engagement Officer, York Civic Trust, Our Place: Acomb and Westfield – Exploring Its Identity with Its Community
15:15-15:30 Closing Discussion, MDN Thanks & Signposting, Liz Denton, Museum Development Adviser, Museum Development North
15:30 Optional visit to Merchant Adventurers’ Hall, York, Merchant Adventurers’ Hall | One of the finest medieval guild halls in the World
Whilst we hope there’s something in the plan for the day that appeals to you, we often find that it’s the unexpected and spontaneous conversations that spark most ideas and opportunities! So, join us for a refreshing, professional day out and see what fresh thinking you can gain.
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: There is ramped access into the building with step free access to the exhibition gallery and into the store, with a small ramp into the meeting room. There is an accessible toilet in the entrance area.
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.
For more information, please contact: sue.hughes@museumdevelopmentnorth.org.uk.