University Museums in Scotland - Conference 2011
UNIVERSITIES AND MUSEUMS: NEW RULES OF ENGAGEMENT?
Seeing museums differently
Alison Turnbull, Head of Research and Standards, MGS
The current financial climate means that all organisations are taking the opportunity to think about how they might work differently. During this presentation I will look at how universities might connect with museums in new ways which acknowledge the offering of both partners, and is of benefit to both.
University museums have a unique role to play in the museum sector in Scotland and MGS would like to explore how we can work with you better. In particular, I would like to highlight the role of research and the MGS approach to research which has evolved.
An example of this is the development of the economic impact toolkit for Museums and Archives developed for Archives Libraries Museums Alliance (or ALMA-UK). MGS was part of this cross UK, cross domain project which resulted in toolkit development. It entailed new learning for MGS which might be applied in a wider context.
I'm conscious that this is the last presentation of the conference. We have heard about innovative projects in University museums, effective partnership working and new directions for work.
I'd like to add to this body of knowledge and explore how MGS might work with university museums. I will clarify our research role and suggest ways we might work more closely. I will highlight less well known opportunities that museums might offer to universities, in addition to engagement with collections.
The breadth of collections across Scotland already allows for connections with many areas of academic study. I should point out that the projects and practice cited are from a range of organisation, not just MGS.
Through a variety of means, from research networking meetings, Recognition events through to knowledge transfer events, we have become increasingly aware of the possibilities for developing a closer working relationships with universities and looking at our support role too.
This is both with university member museum services and helping the wider university community engage with non-university museums. The university representatives we have met with so far have been keen to see more collaborative working between museums and universities.
MGS are interested in looking at the broad picture and facilitating this approach. This work fits with the knowledge exchange interests of universities.
The presentation will cover the following areas.
- Use of new technology
- Tourism and marketing
- University Museums and partnerships
- Knowledge exchange
- Measuring impacts
- Funding
I will look at each briefly, provide examples and sign post further material. All resources are cited in the accompanying paper. I'll conclude this session by posing questions about how MGS might work better with University Museums.
This all needs to be viewed in the context of the development of the Museum strategy for Scotland. MGS have commissioned BOP consulting to assist in developing the strategy. BOP has already attended a UMIS committee meeting to take views on the development of the strategy and to understand the position of University Museums in Scotland. The online consultation for the strategy is currently open and closes on 8th November. I know UMIS are submitting a group response but I would also encourage individual and organisational responses from you all. BOP are also holding a strategy consultation event at Kelvingrove on the afternoon 2nd November so hope you can attend. Details of how to register are in the consultation paper and on our website.
Use of new technology
Some of you will have heard Stuart Dempster's presentation at the recent Collaborating to Compete Conference
This looked at research commissioned by a JISC led Strategic Content Alliance into sustainability of digital content projects across Museums, Libraries and Archives during the economic crisis.
An initial study looked at 12 digital content projects in 2009 and this follow up has just been published.
This study looked at the ways both public and private funding bodies, in academic and cultural sectors, are defining sustainability and helping to make sure that the digital resources will endure and continue to provide value well beyond the term of the grant.
This is an example of knowledge exchange as research findings and the case studies have been published. It also looks at new technologies in an academic context.
Most of the partners are academic bodies but not all so it is a good example of partnership as well.
It is worth reading the research report to look at the individual experience from each of the projects. There are transferable lessons from other sectors and some useful points about successful factors in digital content projects.
We met with Stuart Dempster on Monday to discuss joint working. To start this off, MGS will be posting various JISC resources on our website. We discussed re purposing existing JISC materials for both Scotland and more museum specific context and running events around specific themes. Do you have any suggestions about how we might take this forward?
Tourism/marketing
I will draw on work conducted by the Moffat Centre and Visit Scotland. Professor John Lennon and Chris Greenwood presented on this at the Collaborating to Compete conference
The current operating environment for museums and galleries is characterised by competition and static or reduced demand. Recent data from the 2009-2010 Visitor Attraction Monitor confirms flat demand and depicts a sector facing a highly challenging operating environment. Whilst Sterling Euro exchange rates have made the UK (and Scotland) more price competitive for Euro inbound tourists, the country continues to be highly dependent upon domestic visitation. Understanding the 'staycation' market and its inherent dynamics is critical to building volume market appeal.
This presentation discusses the trading environment with reference to widely available (but rarely utilised) data and seeks to provide practical insights for museums and galleries to build effective collaboration and increased visitation. Collaboration to date tends to be sectoral or based around geographical destinations. The interaction of public and private sector organisations also influences the collaborative nature of the relationship. This paper suggests that 'smarter' collaboration in the future will extend the principle of strategic alliances across sectors utilising sophisticated consumer data in order to broaden visitor appeal.
This is an example of research into new approaches to partnership working in order to improve profile which could be applied to museums. Do you have examples of similar work?
University Museums and partnerships
University museums have unique opportunities through their connections to harness this potential, enabling them to create partnerships. I'll highlight three examples where universities worked closely with communities
The research for Scottish Football Museums Reminiscence project worked with universities and created new partnerships.
This is an example of the status of robust academic research (the evaluation in this case) providing added value to the project.
Also an example of knowledge exchange /transfer as the evaluation findings have informed the next stages of the project
The Antonine Wall project which some of you were involved in was an example of partnership working with outcomes relating to:
- Schools education
- Raised profile of the Antonine Wall
- History
- Location
- Raised profile of those organisations which have related objects in their collections
MUSA Learning Loft
Partnership with local school teachers both during the development of the new museum's purpose built education centre and following the opening of the Museum. The teachers focus group still exists.
There will be more examples of existing partnerships. MGS might support, publicise, broker, foster and facilitate partnerships. Do you have any ideas about how we might work together more closely?
Knowledge exchange
I will demonstrate the importance of both knowledge exchange and making as much use of research findings as possible by sharing learning, enabling other museums to apply it to their situation.
Knowledge exchange takes place at various levels so I've tried to highlight a range of practice covering possible AHRC seminars, Intangible Culture Heritage project, Knowledge hubs and NET Heritage project.
The University museum might facilitate greater research and development. So there is lots of scope to engage with other departments in Universities.
MGS have been considering our role in relation to this. MGS have been holding various meetings with knowledge exchange staff at Universities. We have been talking to AHRC about running a seminar and receiving funding. We have already discussed at a recent UMIS meeting. However this is something we would like to hear more from you about how this might work.
MGS (with funding from UNESCO and Scottish Arts Council) commissioned Edinburgh Napier University to carry out a scoping and mapping study of ICH in Scotland and to make recommendations regarding the safeguarding of ICH in Scotland.
This initial research led to Edinburgh Napier University successfully securing AHRC knowledge transfer funding to take forward a second stage of this work - the development of an online wiki. The wiki transfers to MGS at the end of October.
Knowledge hub proposal
The AHRC are funding four "knowledge exchange hubs for the creative economy" throughout the UK.
AHRC view the hubs as "a unique opportunity for Research Organisations already working in strategic partnerships with creative businesses and cultural organisations to strengthen and diversify their collaborative research activities, build new partnerships in the creative economy and increase the number of arts and humanities researchers actively engaged in research-based knowledge exchange."
The successful hubs have now been announced with one in Scotland being led by the University of Dundee. The emphasis on partnerships (new and existing) provides an opportunity for organisations, which have not previously considered working with universities, to make a connection. Partners already identified by the new hubs include small and medium sized enterprises, arts and culture organisations and other agencies. The hubs look as if they will be a great opportunity for universities to engage with creative industries which also links to Creative Scotland's wider agenda. We will be interested to see how this develops.
Finally - NET Heritage project
- European project
- Provides a web portal where information can be exchanged, whether research findings, events, funding, training
- Also networking element to the portal
- There is an interim site but the full site will be launched soon.
There is a range of knowledge exchange activity underway which MGS might support. Do you have any ideas about how we might do this?
Measuring Impacts
Another area for development is how might the impact of work conducted by University Museums be captured. This is important with the roll out of the REF. However how might we capture student practice? How might we view an exhibition as a research output? How might we devise methodologies to capture impact?
MGS have already done a lot of work on impact by developing the Choices for Change toolkit and associated microsite, Quality Improvement System (QIS) and Economic Impact toolkit for Museums and Archives, developed with ALMA-UK. We have conducted extensive work to align these models to each other and to the Accreditation Scheme to ensure processes are streamlined.
MGS have developed a suite to tools to assist museums to gather outcome based information and demonstrate continuous improvement and impact. Although the Hunterian Museum took part in the QIS pilot, it is fair to say that these toolkits have focused more on Local Authorities rather than issues specific to University Museums.
MGS are proposing to review these toolkits and run a focused pilot with University Museums. By applying existing tools, we might hone them for use in University Museums. Creating tools to measure impact is important in this current environment. Does this sound like a good approach? How might we involve University Museums in the planning processes?
Funding
MGS provide funding to University Museums through a variety of funding sources such as Small and Main grants schemes. Given that 8 of the Recognised collections are University Museum collections the Recognition Fund and Capital fund are relevant. MGS are about to undertake a grants review which will inform the National Strategy. This will run between November- January and the tender will issue shortly. The scope of the review is being finalised but we will communicate in course.
We have developed an evaluation framework to demonstrate impact of our grants programmes. Aggregating evidence adds value. This will require information from you but we could share the knowledge which will have a wider impact. How might we share aggregated evidence better?
Questions for further work
I have posed a series of questions in this presentation. In terms of considering how MGS should take this work forward, it would be helpful to take your views on the following questions.
- How might MGS's partnership with JISC provide more effective support?
- Can you provide examples of University museums working in new partnerships?
- Do you have any ideas about how MGS might support, publicise, foster and facilitate partnerships?
- What might MGS do to work with University Museums on Knowledge exchange?
- How might we measure impact of work in University Museums better?
- What might MGS do to support funding to University Museums?
- How can aggregated evidence be shared better with University Museums?
Conclusion
Thanks for the opportunity to present today. I have explored how universities might connect with museums, highlighted some good practice studies and posed questions for further development. University museums have a unique role and contribution to make. MGS wish to work more closely with you and would welcome advice about how this could happen. The points in this presentation fit within the wider context of this conference. There is enormous potential for growth in this area and it is important to support further development. By working with you more closely, we can do a lot more.
Resources cited
Economic Impact Toolkits for Archives, Libraries and Museums: Final Report - ERS
ALMA-UK, 2011
http://almauk.org/working-together/our_activity/economic-impacts/
Economic Impact Toolkit and Guidance - ERS
ALMA-UK, 2011
http://almauk.org/working-together/our_activity/economic-impacts/
Revenue, recession, reliance: revisiting SCA/Ithaka S + R studies in sustainability - Nancy L Maron and Matthew Loy
Ithaka S + R, 2011
http://www.ithaka.org/ithaka-s-r/research/case-studies-in-sustainability-2011/Revenue_Recession_Reliance_SCA_IthakaSR_Case_Studies_in_Sustainability_ReportPlus.pdf
Sustaining Digital Resources presentation - Stuart Dempster, JISC
Museums Galleries Scotland, 2011
http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/publications/publication/412/plenary-sustaining-digital-resources
Smart Collaborations - John Lennon, Moffat Centre for Travel and Tourism Business and Chris Greenwood, VisitScotland
Museums Galleries Scotland, 2011
http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/publications/publication/403/np1-ndash-smart-collaborations-presentation
Antonine Wall website
http://www.antoninewall.org/
MUSA Learning Loft
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/museum/schools/learningloft/
MUSA Teachers' Focus Group
http://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/museum/schools/programmes/
Scoping and Mapping Intangible Cultural Heritage in Scotland - Alison McCleery and Alistair McCleery
Museums Galleries Scotland, 2008
http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/publications/publication/71/scoping-and-mapping-intangible-cultural-heritage-in-scotland-final-report
AHRC Knowledge Exchange Hubs background information
AHRC, 2011
http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/About/Policy/Pages/KnowledgeTransferPolicy.aspx
AHRC Knowledge Exchange Hubs, successful hubs announcement
AHRC, 2011
http://www.ahrc.ac.uk/News/Latest/Pages/boostforresearchersUKCreativeEconomy.aspx
Net Heritage site
http://www.heritageportal.eu/
Choices for Change website
http://www.choicesforchange.info/
Developing a National Strategy
Museums Galleries Scotland 2011
http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/developing-a-national-strategy-2/
Museums Galleries Scotland website
http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk
