Transforming Collections: Rethinking Collections and Collecting, online Zoom
What should we do with all this stuff? Join Happy Museum Project and MD North to explore how together we might unblock the barriers to repurposing our collections, and create genuine public benefit.
In order for our organisations to survive and to thrive, we urgently need to re-think our approach to collections and collecting. Environmentally, financially, socially, professionally and ethically, our work and our organisations are not sustainable: the scale of the challenge for many is existential, they are struggling to survive. How might we better and more fully serve our public and our purpose, as well as creating more positive impacts which contribute to a stronger future? How do we build confidence and empower museum and heritage workers to think holistically and to take more radical steps?
This is one of a series of conversations that have been taking place across the UK, led by a partnership between Happy Museum, Association of Independent Museums, National Museum Director’s Council and the National Trust, exploring how to address the mounting challenges facing museum collections. There is a need to build on developments so far and create a coherent vision for change, with practical pathways for organisations to make bold, informed decisions about their collections. There is potential to rehome some objects and collections, but there is also a need for mutual support and guidance to advocate with governing bodies, manage reputational risk and simplify the transfer and disposal process. Join us for the first in a series of sessions exploring how we can start to think differently about our collections and collecting.
This session is open to people working and volunteering in Accredited Museums and Museums Working Towards Accreditation in the North of England.
Facilitators
Hilary Jennings works freelance across the arts and cultural sectors with work focused around project management, facilitation, coaching, mentoring and mediation. She has extensive experience in leadership development working on learning programmes with Cultural Leadership Programme, Clore Leadership, Engage and the British Council.
She has particular interest in holistic approaches to the climate crisis which build connections between arts, culture, and community. Since 2015 she has been Director of the Happy Museum Project which explores how the museum sector can respond to the need to create a more sustainable future. The project works through action learning cohorts of museum practitioners – creating space, focus, provocation and permission to experiment, cutting across disciplines and hierarchies and encouraging people to collaborate and scale up their response.
Her work also has a strong focus on network development. She is a Steering Group member for the Culture Health and Wellbeing Alliance, the Co-Creating Change Alliance and the CtrlSHIFT network and is a past Trustee of the global Transition Network.
More details about her work can be found on her Linkedin profile.
Gaby Porter worked in from curatorial and managerial roles in a range of museums before moving to independent work with cultural bodies and partnerships across the UK in learning, leadership and governance and in thinking afresh about purpose and programme.
She worked closely with Anne Murch on the development of Inspiring Learning for All, a national framework for accessible learning and development in museums, libraries and archives. She was Co-Director of the Museum Leaders Programme at the University of East Anglia from 2004 to 2012.
She volunteers for local charities including the Green Team, supporting young people to increase their sense of wellbeing, confidence and skills through spending time and undertaking conservation tasks in local woodlands.