UNITED KINGDOM MARITIME COLLECTIONS STRATEGY

Notes from the meeting held on HMS Belfast, 4 October 2004

Attendees: Roy Clare (Chair). John Lippiett. Arthur Credland. Bill Ferris. Campbell McMurray. Jane Insley. Janet Owen. Kirsty Hartsiotis. Matthew Tanner. Tony Tibbles. David Penn. Richard Holdsworth. David Jenkins. John Edwards. Margarette Lincoln.

Apologies: Martyn Heighton. Jonathan Griffin. Michael McCaughan. Charles Payton.

Minutes of the last meeting: Approved
Matters arising: None

Brief updates on progress

1. Collection Interface Reviews:

Ordnance

(DP) IWM is holding discussions with EXPLOSION! (Museum of Naval Firepower), regarding reserve naval ordnance items.

Marine Engineering

(JO) NMM is proceeding with a survey.
(JI) As reported in the Brief Update, the NMSI is not yet in a position to resource a survey. However, it is hoped that in the near future a curator will be appointed who will be responsible for transport overall.
(RH) A new curator of engineering and technology has been appointed at Chatham; this will allow for forward planning.
(CMcM) A seminar will be held in 2005 to discuss collection interfaces re: navigation and communication, in light of the Naval Heritage Committee stock- take of holdings.
(RH) Suggested that the HLF might help fund some of this collection interface work, and that the committee should consider this option.

Ship-model Conservation Audit

(TT) Responses were still being received, and analysed. Further information provided on update briefing circulated prior to meeting.

Naval Heritage Committee

(CmcM) Following the inaugural meeting in July 2004, two programmes of action were decided on:
• Formulate a coherent strategic plan on naval heritage
• Produce an audit of naval heritage material.

It is hoped that by early November, the committee will have some idea of the scope of this vast amount of material.
A letter to the First Sea Lord, from UKMCS, was well received.
Overall, good progress is being made.

DCMS/DfES Understanding Slavery Initiative

(JO) The 2nd Phase will commence shortly.
A parliamentary debate will take place on 15 October to discuss 2007 and commemorating the abolition of the slave trade.

A letter was sent in July to the Rt Hon Tessa Jowell (DCMS), explaining the work of this partnership project, and the broader museum discussions held at the RGS in April, 2004.

The Home Office has set up a committee to consider 2007. Members include community representatives, historians, academics, and other prominent individuals.

SeaBritain 2005

The launch took place last week at the Trafalgar Festival. The website is now operational, and provides comprehensive mapping of maritime subjects to the National Curriculum. The team is based at the NMM.

UKMCS Annual Report

A brief progress report was given.
The MLA is holding a seminar for museums associated with a new funding stream with the UKMCS being held up as a template for good practice.

The MLA is interested in attaining a closer focus of their three elements. UKMCS has a distinct role in maintaining MLA’s profile.

Action: For further discussion at the next meeting, and also consider inviting a representative from the MLA to the next UKMCS meeting.

Action: JO to write a short response to MA Collections paper, on behalf of the UKMCS

2. Regional Gateway Museums

The committee agreed the four projects proposed in the paper ‘A Strategy for Development’. A positive reply has been received from Kathy Gee (Director, WM RMLAC), which is was agreed should be followed up by UKMCS.

DJ reported that the regional structure in Wales is developing. A meeting in Swansea could be organized next year for Welsh museums.

Gateway Museums act as conduits across the UK, therefore it is important to establish good communications, and raise awareness of these links. This could take the form of a larger and more technical leaflet, giving contact details of the regional agencies and hubs. Raising awareness in the Museums Journal would also be beneficial, and UKMCS should consider approaching the MA with a view to requesting a maritime issue during 2005.

Action: JO is to attend a meeting organised by the Scottish Museums Council and Aberdeen Museum, to promote UKMCS and PortCities.
JO/RH/CMcM to draft a gateway museum map before the next meeting.

3. National Ship-Model Collection Centre

(BF) Although a bid for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund has been declined on the grounds that they felt there was little public need for such a facility, discussions are still ongoing. The Centre at Chatham is within the Thames Gateway area, and therefore potentially attracts funding from regeneration monies. Apart from Development Agency approval, the local authority is keen to support this project, and local MP’s have also lobbied for support. RC and BF will meet HLF representatives this afternoon for further discussions.

4. National Maritime Museum Collection Dispersal Programme

The NMM is undertaking a review of specific areas in their Collection. Items suitable for dispersal will be offered to various organisations on a transfer or loan basis. Letters concerning Ordnance objects will be dispatched shortly.

Items for discussion

1. Temporary exhibitions

(JE) ‘Life at Sea’ proved to be a successful exhibition at Aberdeen, and produced a substantial increase in visitor figures. The Museum arranged for a number of wide-ranging events, including school visits, lecture, workshops and family-orientated programmes. Some of these activities will be extended to provide a link with the SeaBritain programme in 2005.

Valuable lessons have been learnt, and this will leave a lasting legacy. Co-ordination skills are vital, and the considerable amount of administrative work needs to be shared in future exhibitions. JE would consider preparing an article for the MJ.
HLF has provided funding to meet various costs required for the travelling exhibition.
It was suggested that the life of the exhibition could be extended via a website, either as part of the UKMCS site, or by way of a link. An article in Museums Journal would also be beneficial.

It was noted that there is an increased interest in travelling exhibitions. The Science Museum and a number of Museum Hubs are exploring ways to send certain collections on tour. Gallery spaces would need to be increased, and the Hubs are investigating this.

2. PortCities UK

(ML) The funding for this project has been extended to the end of October in order to complete ‘Time Pirates’. The project is keen to consider developing further partnerships with UKMCS members, to increase coverage in the UK. Costings are given in the Report, but smaller museums could still join by selecting specific topics or timelines. For example, the Canal Museum has proposed a project involving ice transportation. Scottish Museums have also been approached and are potentially interested; a meeting will be held in Aberdeen next month to discuss this further.

Digitising collections is essential, and UKMCS should look at the possibilities of an overall portal that would provide access to regional collections. PortCities could be utilized for this purpose.

Action: UKMCS members are encouraged to consider if they would like to participate in expanding this project, and discuss ideas at the spring 2005 meeting. Contact Margarette Lincoln for further assistance.

3. UKMCS Collecting Strategy: Uniforms

The UKMCS approved the proposed Uniforms Collecting Strategy, but asked for it to recognise the relationship between national, regional and local collections. The NMM, RNM, and IWM should consider the needs and interests of local and regional museums when collecting.

AOB

1. UKMCS and Archives

RH noted that there were various major maritime archives that were not being represented at the UKMCS meetings. Whilst it was important that the committee did not become too large, some representation would strengthen links, and enable information to be cascaded.

Guidance with the archives from the Mary Rose was needed, and it was suggested that help from the TNA would be forthcoming.

Hull will be submitting an HLF bid for their planned archive centre. This will be incorporated with links to local education authorities.

Action: CMcM/JO offered to investigate the feasibility of extending the UKMCS membership to include archive representation. It might be appropriate to ask a representative from TNA to sit on the committee.

2. Brunel/SS Great Britain

MT reported that a request for maritime material had been well received, and a report will be produced. As some of the information is too sensitive to be placed on the UKMCS website, the report will be e-mailed to members.

3. Scottish Maritime Museum

Nothing further to report. CMcM will endeavour to produce a paper for the next meeting of the Maritime Curators Group.

4. Mary Rose

Spraying has been completed. Further dives have uncovered more relics.
Timewatch television programme to be broadcast on 29 October.

HLF bid will be submitted at the end of 2004; if successful, plans to bring the collection together can go ahead.

5. NMGW

DJ reported that Swansea Museum has welcomed their new director – Steph Mastoris. The Museum will open in July 2005, with the official opening in the following October.

Date of next meeting: 18 April 2005