The work of the Development Officer has focussed around the following areas over the last few months. In addition there has been on-going work to ensure that the Museums Association is aware of issues from Wales, and Wales is aware of programmes being promoted by the MA. Attendance at meetings all over Wales and in London is essential to do this.

Advocacy

One of the main areas is to ensure that the Federation and the Museums Association can advocate on issues relating to the Welsh Museum community. The current 'crisis’ in Welsh Museums (if it is so) has taken time – collecting information, and writing letters. This especially refers to the threat to Bangor Museum – a threat to completely close a major museum, perhaps unprecedented in Wales. There is also continued uncertainty around the MLA Purchase Grant Funds. Although the Federation and the MA need to keep this in hand, it would seem that as CyMAL is very supportive of Welsh Museums (and Archives) continuing to receive this support that its continuation is likely. However the detail is not yet known.

The Development Officer has drafted responses for the Federation (and the MA if appropriate) to consultations as they have arisen.

Meetings & Events

The Development Officer seems to be known for a robust attitude in trying to get people to events. It is no use the profession in Wales complaining about the lack of opportunities to meet if they don’t respond to what is on offer. A small number of people attended a CPD event in Merthyr in February, and there was a reasonable attendance at the Cilip conference in Llandrindod in May (despite CyMAL’s generous sponsorship of museum places they were not all taken up). Help and support has also been given in the organisation of MA events in Wales in June and July.

Museums Association work

• Organisation of translation of Disposal Toolkit into Welsh – download a copy from the MA website (revised Code of Ethics in Welsh coming soon).

• Attempting to see if the Diversify programme can be extended to Wales

• Developing a pilot project in Wales under the Effective Collections programme.

• Updates from Wales for the Pay in Museums guidelines.

There have also been important discussions about the future funding of the post (current post finishes in September) so that some capacity can continue.

Post supported by CyMAL.

JM June 08

© 2007 The Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales