UNITED KINGDOM MARITIME COLLECTIONS STRATEGY

Notes from the meeting held on HMS Belfast, 29 April, 2003

Attendees: Roy Clare, Margarette Lincoln, Janet Owen, Sarah McCormick, Matthew Tanner, David Penn, Campbell McMurray, Peter Cowling, Richard Holdsworth, John Edwards, Robert McWilliams, David Thompson, John Lippiett, Tony Tibbles, Tim Boon, David Jenkins, (National Museums & Galleries of Wales), James Steward, (Gt. Yarmouth Museum Offices), Michael McCaughan, (Ulster Folk & transport Museum). Tony Condor, (National Waterways Museum), Martin Bellamy, (Glasgow Museums).

Apologies: Charles Payton. Ian Whitehead

Minutes of previous meeting: Approved.

Matters arising: p4 – Touring exhibitions: Sarah McCormick has now been appointed Display Exhibitions Manager.

Updates

1. UKMCS web resources: JO gave a brief update. The focus is concentrated on encouraging non-lead museums to contribute towards the website of UKMCS. More material, in the form of photos/collection policies, is welcomed. Links to various lead museums are accessible, though some links are outdated, and these will be rectified if new addresses are sent by the relevant museums. The development of the new NMM website is now complete, with improved search facilities; RC invited feedback and suggestions.
   
   
2. Touring Exhibitions and Loans: Sarah McCormick gave a brief overview of her new responsibilities, and an introduction to work in hand. Sarah is exploring ways in which expertise available in other museums can be utilised. UKMCS provides an essential framework in which skills and experience can be shared, and it is hoped that smaller museums will also gain from touring exhibitions. At a later date, Sarah will present a short paper on the criteria and governing principles involved.
   
   Sponsorship package for ‘Life at Sea’ has now been completed. A number of people based in Aberdeen are waiting to receive this package; Sarah is due to visit Aberdeen in May. The oil industry experts expect to meet 3 times per year, and a meeting will take place within the next three weeks; their contacts will prove useful. There is a need to set time frames/venues, and drive the project forward. RC requested a copy of the sponsorship document.
   Three are currently three different travelling exhibitions that the NMM could potentially take on tour: Beagle II (a graphic display has already been dispatched to China), Skin Deep (attracting much interest), and the William Hodges exhibition (due to open in 2004). Photographic exhibitions have relatively few mobility/conservation problems, and would not be as expensive to install. RC mentioned the new conference and hotel centre at Hartlepool; the Trustees of the Trincomalee, are keen to acquire information on how the centre can accommodate travelling exhibitions, with regard to climate, lighting, etc. Stephen Riley (NMM) is leading on this.
   
   
3. Slavery, Society & Port Cities Project Proposal: Janet Owen reported that two DCMS/DfES funding applications had been submitted for national/regional partnerships, in the context of the UKMCS network and linked to the Port Cities project, (partners are NMM, National Museums & Galleries on Merseyside; Bristol City Museums; London Regional Museum Hub). The projects will engage young people/schools with the history of slavery, and also explore cultural identities. The funding will need to be spent by March 2004. This is a key subject area that will consolidate other work by UKMCS members.
   
   
4. Collecting Policies: NMM draft Collection Development Policy
   JO introduced the draft document, and suggested a meeting of lead museums interested in discussing relevant interfaces between collecting policies. RC suggested that members study the document further, and identify any ‘gaps’ and areas of overlap. RC reported that letter had been received from visitors over the absence of ship technology, e.g. Reliant.
   
   
5. National Ship-model Centre, Chatham: Richard Holdsworth spoke of the feasibility study, and the physical terms of archival storage that had already been reported. A summary paper will be presented shortly for future funding; copies will be circulated. Regional Development Agencies will be next in line to drive this project forward. The DCMS had reacted positively.
   

Items for discussion

1. UKMCS Conservation Resources Audit: JO spoke of the need to scope conservation resources across UKMCS, and identify strengths and weaknesses. RC noted that there was a danger of the ship models move floundering, due to the conservation problem. Campbell McM mentioned Hampshire (preserving military history), and the appropriate care needed here. MT spoke of the need of the MCG to bring conservation people closer, as most museums are struggling without sufficient conservation resources. SMcC mentioned that Resource has a list of accredited conservators. TT spoke of the people specialising in maritime objects and others, who are not specialist, but who, nevertheless, are dedicated to conservation. RC mentioned that the national museums have a conservation and collections care backlog. Peter Cowling noted that it was important to use skills nationwide, and not be too inward looking. A study group was set up that will provide a framework and an idea of the issues involved.
   
   
2. A Forward Plan for UKMCS (draft discussion). The document was well received. RC noted that we had reached a watershed – a benchmark initiative. We now needed to move forward and long-term planning was required. RC commented that there was a need to establish whether the focus was on us, as professionals, or did we recognise public awareness – and the importance of the public face. The question was asked whether the group was for enhancing public awareness, or as a professional body caring for the collections? DJ was keen to promote public awareness; we need information to persuade DCMS that all our activities are important, and that they meet the public need. The general opinion was that the public face was very important. Data required for DCMS for funding purposes must accommodate the publics’ needs if this is to be used as a basis for funding. Peter Cowling suggested that the structures we provided did not require us to consider the public face. RH agreed, adding that UKMCS audience is not the ‘man in the street’. RH suggested that the group was heavily collections-focused. An area for development may lie in encouraging marketing and education teams for the museums to work together. ML suggested that there was a need to reduce the number of Objectives – currently numbered 1-9 on the front page. It was decided that Objectives 2, 5, and 7 could be merged into a single aim, regarding working together to move forward. Objective 3 should be about conservation. Objective 4 – promoting awareness among the public. Objectives 6 and 8 to be merged as a single bullet point, collections loans and transfers. Objective 9 – Access funding process.
   
   A short discussion took place on the yearly targets: 2004–5: The word ‘links’ should be replaced with ‘liaison’. MT said that the relationship with the MCG is essential in order to establish closer links with organisations leading on policy for UK historic ships. The UKMCS and MCG needed to create links with a wider range of other attractions, and get more involved. A large part of the Heritage remains outside museum control. We need to consider whether thematic groups should be allocated time during MCG meetings. 2005-6: National Trust and English Heritage will act as important links. The inter-relationship between UKMCS and leading organisations must be specified.
   
   
3. Gateway Museums and Regional Hubs: JO summarised the paper ‘Proposed Role of Gateway Museums’. A variety of museums had expressed interest, and given their suggestion for development of future roles.
   There are 4 key areas to develop and take forward:
   
      a) UKMCS shared resources
      b) Information conduit – a more focused way of sharing
      information with regional maritime centres
      c) Active lobby/advocacy role; Resource to be involved with small    amounts of funding for regional museums
      d) Hands-on activities, e.g. Chatham
   
   As the paper had only been tabled that day, further discussions will take place at a later date.
   
   
4. Developing the Public Face of UKMCS: Much of this subject area had been covered in earlier discussions relating to Gateway museums and hubs. JO commented that it was essential to remember that there were different patterns of development – no region was the same. UKMCS would decide when the timing was right to make approaches.

AOB:
a) The Basil Dean Greenhill Memorial Meeting on the SS Great Britain will coincide with the ICMM meeting, which takes place in October at Falmouth.
b) The Maritime Military Seminar will take place on Thursday 12 June, 2003 at the Princess Royal Gallery, Royal Naval Museum, Portsmouth.

Date of next meeting: 15 September 2003, 14.00. HMS Belfast.