Setting up a new museum

Setting up a New Museum

Workshops 5-7pm Wednesday 19th and Wednesday 26 February 2025

These interactive workshops will be led by Emma Chaplin and Heather Lomas, authors of AIM’s popular ‘Setting up a new museum’ success guide.

The workshops will provide all you need to know if you are considering setting up a new museum. Following museum sector standards and best practice, alongside AIM’s Hallmarks of Prospering Museums, participants will be guided through the building blocks that underpin the success of a new museum project.

What can participants expect?

• Discussion of all aspects of running a museum, from museum management and governance to collections, purpose, visitor focus and leadership to finance.

• How to use best practice standards to plan your new museum.

• An understanding of the world that museums operate in, its lead organisations and sources of support.

• A guide to funding opportunities that are available to new museums

• An opportunity to discuss your own museum projects and get expert feedback

• Learning alongside a peer group with similar ambitions and challenges

Emma Chaplin is a highly experienced and respected museum professional, having led the Association of Independent Museums from 2018-21 and developed a successful consultancy business from 2009-18, building on senior management and curatorial roles in independent and local authority museums. Her work is characterised by her energy, professionalism and deep knowledge of the museum and heritage sector and its networks. She has relaunched her consultancy business and is currently working with clients on collections management challenges, funding applications and business development work whilst also working with Museum Development North West as the Accreditation Scheme Advisor for the region’s museums. www.emmachaplin.co.uk

Heather Lomas is a cultural heritage consultant, she specialises in supporting museums and heritage organisations with their development, including organisational change, good governance, management and development of collections, project management, volunteer development, consultation and facilitation.

Heather is an AIM Prospering Boards consultant and has provided recent workshops for AIM focussed on business planning and succession planning for trustees.

She provides advice as part of the Arts Council Museum Accreditation Scheme for Museums Development in the East Midlands and the North East and she is also a consultant for the National Lottery Heritage Fund providing monitor and mentor support and expert advice, particularly around business/organisational development and grant monitoring.

www.heatherlomas.co.uk

Host or Publisher Association of Independent Museums