UNITED KINGDOM MARITIME COLLECTIONS STRATEGY

Notes from the meeting held on HMS Belfast, 25 March 2004

Attendees: Roy Clare, Martin Bellamy, Richard Holdsworth, Mark Jones, Margarette Lincoln, Janet Owen, Charles Payton, David Penn, Stephen Riley, Trevor Robotham, Tony Tibbles, Janet Small taking notes

Apologies: David Jenkins, Jonathan Griffin, Matthew Tanner, Jane Insley, Bill Ferris, John Lippiett, Campbell McMurray, Ian Whitehead, John Edwards, David Thompson

Minutes of the previous meeting: Approved as read

Updates:

1. Collection Interface Reviews
   
   a) Marine Engineering: The draft brief for the scoping exercise was tabled and discussed. Chatham and Glasgow highlighted that they were undertaking internal reviews of their own collections which could contribute to a broader survey. The collections at the Scottish Maritime Museum should also be considered. Both NMM and NMSI would find the results of such an exercise valuable in their collection review projects and would need the information by end September 2004. TR reported back on the UKMCS Collections working group visit to HMS Sultan, as part of an away day in Portsmouth in December 2004. UKMCS should consider HMS Sultan as an important potential partner in terms of contemporary collecting – it brings together key examples of marine engine in use by the Navy at any one point in time, and associated training materials, to train Navy engineers.
   
   Action: JI at NMSI and JO at NMM to identify how the project might be funded and who might carry out the activity. JI to lead on implementation as appropriate.
   
   Second paragraph of brief – change power generation to propulsion
   
   
   b) Uniforms: An interim paper was presented to the group, prepared by Amy Miller (NMM) and Richard Noyce (RNM). It outlined progress to date in determining collecting remits of the respective bodies, and needed further development particularly in relation to the role of the Imperial War Museum. On hold until AM returns from maternity leave.
   
   Action: Incorporate definition of uniform – all-encompassing items of clothing provided for a job
   
   Complete review and confirm collecting remits, including further discussion with IWM
   
   c) Ordnance: IWM and NMM are in individual discussion with Explosion – the
   Museum of Naval Firepower in Gosport to determine whether it is a suitable home for transfer of their ordnance material.
   
   Navigation Equipment and Control Communication: CMcM and Chris Henry (Explosion Museum) are proposing to arrange a seminar in the Summer of 2004 in Portsmouth to discuss the collecting policies of key organisations working in this area, and how they can be streamlined.
   
   Action: CMcM/ CH to organise seminar
   
   
2. Regional Gateway Museums
   
   RH tabled a paper prepared by JO/RH mapping the current UKMCS gateway
   museums to the confirmed Regional Museum Hub structure. It identified four regions in which the gateway museums are not members of the regional museum hubs: London: it was agreed that NMM should retain its gateway status North West: it was agreed that NML should retain its gateway status South West: it was agreed that SS Great Britain should retain its gateway status West Midlands: it was proposed that West Midlands Libraries, Museums and Archives Council should be approached re potential candidate.
   
   Action: Write to the new Head of Museum Partnerships at NML, Rachel Mulhearne, to inform her of the work of UKMCS and perhaps invite to meeting
   
   Write to Kathy Gee, WMLAC, re West Midlands gateway museum candidate
   
   Add ‘National’ to the second section title ‘Mapping Gateway Museums…’
   
   Prepare a succinct report on UKMCS work to date for distribution to key stakeholders including Regional Museum Hubs/Gateways.
   
   
3. Conservation Audit
   
   TT tabled a paper updating the meeting on progress with this work. The focus of the first phase is ship-model collections, which will inform the NSMCC proposal and establish a pilot model for reviewing conservation needs of other maritime collections.
   
   Action: TT to continue taking the project forward and report back findings to the next UKMCS meeting
   
   
4. Website Review
   
   In Autumn 2003, NMM circulated a questionnaire seeking feedback on the UKMCS Website. Response was limited but all comments have been taken on board.
   
   
5. UKMCS Education Paper
   
   The UKMCS education paper, previously circulated, was distributed to 70 key
   stakeholders in February 2004, including DCMS, DfES and UKMCS gateway
   museums. The NMM is currently funding a curriculum mapping exercise as part of SeaBritain 2005, to identify ways of including maritime subjects in teaching. The results will be available for teachers in June 2004 and will go live online in September 2004.

   Action: Place SeaBritain 2005 mapping project on September 2004 agenda
   

6. PortCities
   
   ML reported that the NMM PortCities project is due to end in September 2004. This Partnership project will be evaluated by September. The site has received
   approximately 1 million hits per month. This has been a good start and the initiative could be opened up to other PortCities. We need to consider a strategy to promote involvement from all the regions.

   Action: Raise regional strategy at next meeting
   

7. National Ship-Model Centre, Chatham
   
   RH reported that the HLF stage 1 bid had been submitted by the December 2003 deadline. The first fundraising event took place at IWM. Approx 1000 leaflets will be distributed to key stakeholders shortly to raise the profile of the project.
   
   
8. DCMS/ DfES Understanding Slavery Project
   
   TT reported back on progress with this project. The objective is to develop KS2 and 3 material for schools. Audience consultation was hampered by the tight time-scale set by the funding bodies but has resulted in useful feedback and was achieved on time. A summary of the Project report will be tabled at a future meeting. There is considerable potential to take partnership project working further in this area particularly in relation to community working and teacher training. We are awaiting a decision from DCMS/DfES regarding future funding for the project. JO and RC thanked all those involved in the project who had put in so much hard work to achieve the objectives within a very tight deadline.
   
   NB: since the meeting, DCMS has announced that a further £80,000 for 2004-05 and up to £160 000 in 2005-06 will be allocated to NMM for national-regional partnership working. It has been agreed that NMM will allocated this funding to take forward with its partners the priorities from Phase 1 of the Understanding Slavery Project.
   
   A meeting is being held on 30 April at the Royal Geographical Society to discuss initial plans for 2007 and beyond in this subject area. Museums known to be working in this area from across the country have been invited to attend.
   
   Action: Table 2003-04 report at next meeting

Items for discussion

1. Broadening Membership of UKMCS to archive organisations
   
   Action: It was agreed that a paper reviewing options would be prepared for discussion with potential archive members.
   
   
2. Maritime Archaeology
   
   MJ gave a verbal report of MRAT activity in this area. Projects they are involved in include:

   a) Assessment of the Henry V wreck in the Hamble which is at risk of exposure
   
   b) Evaluation of the Vasa problem
   
   c) Possible rescue of remains of Mary Rose of MoD decides to deepen the Solent
   
   d) Royal Society of Chemistry is working closely with MRAT to develop learning material with links to the Mary Rose Website
   
   e) Groups studying for Masters degrees in Maritime Archaeological Conservation at the University of Southampton are researching the following: Mary Rose, Dover Bronze Age boat, Newport wreck, Vasa
   
   f) Victory Sail will be on temporary display from April-October 2005
   
   g) International conference on Heritage Microbiology and Science takes place in June 2005.
   

3. SeaBritain 2005
   
   SR gave a verbal report of progress Sea Britain 2005 – SR Sea Britain was launched on 21 October 2003, by The Duke of Edinburgh [Patron of Sea Britain]. A 16 strong steering group has been formed, led by David Quarmby who is a Friend of the NMM and Chairman of the British Tourism Authority. Among the main strategic partners are: The National Trust, BBC, Navy, Nelson Commemorative Committee.
   
   Visit Britain is a funding partner of Sea Britain. Deirdre Livingstone and Stefanie Armbrust have been seconded to the SB project team. The SB website will be the principle means of communication drawing in material.
   
   There are two planned publications; Waterside England published May 2004, and the Annual Holiday Planner published Jan 2005. Stephanie will be looking towards developing a database of organisations with a potential 3000 contacts, which will produce a powerful database for the future, and will raise awareness across the fields of the Marine Environment, tourism, sport and recreation and The Navy.
   
   On 21 October the Royal Navy are planning a major event in Portsmouth and the Solent, by staging ‘the largest Fleet review the world has ever seen’ along with a ‘son et luminere’ and a drumhead celebration. SB will try to spread other events into the shoulder periods. Liverpool, Newcastle and the West Country are developing their own programmes. The BBC, a major partner, is planning a series of 12-24 mainstream programmes covering events. The launch of Sea Britain will be a series of countrywide road shows communicating with Museums, Galleries and Local Authorities. The public launch is planned for September 2004 to coincide with the Southampton Boat show: with a follow up at the London Boat Show in Jan/Feb 05. The aim is to create a legacy out of 2005 and beyond.
   
   
4. Temporary Exhibitions
   
   CW tabled a paper in absentia updating the meeting on progress re Life at Sea, and raising questions for discussion re future activity in this area. It was agreed to discuss this fully at the next meeting.

AOB

1. Peter Marsden tabled a brief update on the historic ships paper
   
   
2. The Maritime Curators Group meeting in Amsterdam provisionally proposed for 23-25 June is still to be confirmed
   
   
3. The Riverside Museum Glasgow has applied for HLF funding, currently at stage 1, and has recruited education and research teams
   
   
4. 'Glenlee’ has been charted by Glds. Co. for 25 years, with a service level agreement by the Clyde Maritime Trust
   
   
5. The newly formed Naval Heritage committee will be meeting twice a year and will be chaired by the Second Sea Lord. The date of the first meeting is yet to be advised.

   Action: Send letter of welcome to the Chairman designate. Offer representation from UKMCS.

Date of next meeting: To be arranged for late-September