Hampshire and Isle of Wight Museums' Forum

Welcome to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Museums' Forum!

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Museums Development Advisory Panel (MDAP) invite you to a day of networking and learning at The Arc, Winchester on 5th February 2025. This event is a fantastic opportunity for museum professionals across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight to connect, share ideas, and gain valuable insights into what's happening in the wider museum world.

The day will include keynote speakers, Q&As, breakout sessions, and plenty of chances to catch up with colleagues and friends. Whether you're a Director, Curator, Educator, Volunteer or Freelancer, this event is not to be missed!

Refreshments and lunch included with ticket.

Programme

We are excited to announce the Keynote speaker will be Nicola Grahamslaw from SS Great Britain.

Small Steps, Big Savings: Sustainability Insights from the SS Great Britain

Isambard Kingdom Brunel's 1843 SS Great Britain was the world’s first iron ship. This pioneering new material and construction technique offered strength and longevity but is now the ship's biggest weakness, demanding a desert-like conservation environment to prevent corrosion and keep the hull stable.

Nicola Grahamslaw, a chartered engineer specialising in heat and energy, became the SS Great Britain's first "Ship's Conservation Engineer" in 2018. Tasked with making a series of small-scale optimisations to reduce energy consumption, she discovered that the insight gained through this work, combined with the help of local networks and small grants, could deliver a much bigger result than the Trust initially thought possible.

In this session, Nicola will share how these small adjustments created opportunities for big savings, winning "Sustainable Project of the Year" at the 2023 Museums & Heritage Awards. She will share the SS Great Britain Trust's ambitious decarbonisation roadmap, along with small steps which museums of all sizes can take towards big savings, improved resilience and reduced environmental impact.

More details about the programme will be released in early January. The day will include news and updates from Museum Development South West, case studies from around the region, breakout sessions and opportunities to connect with funders and other organisations supporting the sector. Please arrive between 9.30-10 for tea/coffee and registration. Refreshments and Lunch will be provided.

We can't wait to see you there!

Host or Publisher Hants/IOW Museum Development Advisory Panel (MDAP)