The Federation has recently taken the opportunity to find out how similar organisations are working throughout the UK, in a paper we organised for the Museums Association Conference in October. The Federation saw the conference as an opportunity to let the wider museum community know about the work we have been doing in Wales since the arrival of CyMAL. However we were keen to find out what others were doing as well and after some initial discussion we agreed that partnership working was a theme all the speakers had a great deal to say about.

We wanted to ensure that our speakers could speak on behalf of the UK as a whole so a representative from each of the home nations gave a paper. Chris Delaney, President of the Federation and Heritage Manager, Carmarthenshire County Council, chaired the session and presented the first paper. In ‘Wales – Working Together’ he commented on the background to the emergence of CyMAL in 2004. He explained that this had presented the Federation of Museums and Galleries in Wales with an opportunity to fill the void left by the demise of CMW and the challenge of working with a new organisation.

He went on to explain how the Federation has restructured to become a charity with defined aims and a business plan to deliver them. Membership has increased, funds have also increased quite dramatically and the Federation has received substantial project grants. The profession is Wales is also working more closely than it has ever done before. Difficulties he highlighted were the inevitable problems of communication with members, which are being tackled through a newsletter three times a year, an ever expanding web site and an e mail group.

Chris commented that we have established new partnerships and are now working on projects with a diverse range of organisations. The Federation is more involved in decision-making and there is a feeling of empowerment amongst many members, although there is a need to involve many others in the processes. We are recognised by CyMAL as the voice of museums in Wales, are regularly consulted by CyMAL and work closely with them.

The Federation is developing a strong advocacy role as CyMAL are not in a position to do so. There also possible developments ahead as the new role for the Federation is demanding and the committee are now seeking funding to employ a Development Officer to drive the business plan.

Susan Lansdale Network Coordinator East Midlands Museums Service, spoke next with an imaginatively named paper, ‘A Dance to the Music of our Times’.

On 1 April 2002, the new regional agency for the East Midlands was formed and EmmS (East Midlands Museums Service) changed from an area museum council to a regional museum membership network. Since then, a new and vital role for EmmS has emerged, as it has: -

• become the primary channel of communication between the region’s museum community, EMMLAC and the EM Hub;

• provided a forum for museums, their governing bodies, staff and volunteers;

• evolved into an independent voice for the region’s museums;

• developed areas of work to support members;

• facilitated self-help.

The presentation looked at the changing role of EmmS over the past four years and the experience gained through the process. Susan gave practical examples of ways they have been communicating with and supporting the museum community, and to developing partnership working and projects, and to the need for networks and partnership working in the future. One particularly imaginative project was a Front of House Network across the region providing training and support to custodial staff. They are also operating a small grants scheme.

Briony Crozier is Assistant Director Northern Ireland Museums Council Museum Networks in Northern Ireland. Her paper provided a brief introduction to the museums sector in Northern Ireland. It considered the networks that exist at present; introduced the Review of Public Administration and consequent impacts on museums; and explore the potential for increased partnership and collaboration between museums and with other sectors that may result. In her paper Briony commented on the fact that the Review of Public Administration would perhaps lead to a greater role for community and voluntary museums and how potential changes in boundaries have meant museums have already begun to look at potential partners they may be grouped with.

Finally we heard from Jane McKinlay, Regional Development Manager, Scottish Museums Council. Her paper looked specifically at ‘The Regional Development Challenge Fund: Partnership working in practice’. The Scottish Executive has provided a fund of £3 million as a response to ‘An Action Plan for Museums. The fund is supporting ten projects covering each local authority area in Scotland. The aim of the fund is to develop the capacity and sustainability of the museum sector through active partnerships: across local authority boundaries and between local authority and independent museums.

All the projects have one of the following broad themes: Learning, Access, Tourism or Workforce Development. The projects are already delivering real benefits to the wider museum sector in Scotland but there are many challenges in realising effective partnership working.

The session was well attended (particularly for the last day) and after a couple of questions from members of the Welsh contingent (thanks Frank and Emma!) there was some discussion involving professionals from across the UK. Someone from the south west asked how the different organisations were finding dealing with lots of similar bodies, something that the Federation doesn’t have to worry about. There was a question about the relationship between EmmS and EMLAC, and from London about the use of freelance museum professionals in these networks. A member of the Scottish Federation asked Chris specifically about how we set ourselves up in Wales as a ‘new style’ federation.

There was I feel a variety of benefits in giving this paper. It enabled us to link up with similar organisations and some of the ideas they are working on will be taken back to the Federation Committee. It has raised the profile of museums in Wales, which is something we are keen to develop. It also encouraged those involved with putting the paper together to look at what we have achieved and how we can take this forward for the future.

Rachael Rogers

November 2005

© 2007 The Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales