Present: Evelyn Silber (Glasgow, Convenor), Neil Curtis (Aberdeen, Secretary), David Hopes (St Andrews), Matthew Jarron (Dundee), Alan Knox (Aberdeen), Ewen Smith (Glasgow), John Scally (Edinburgh)
1. Apologies
Jane Cameron (Stirling), Ian Carradice (St Andrews), Dawn Kemp (RCSEd), Jacky MacBeath (Edinburgh), Joan Penman (Abertay)
2. Minutes of previous meetings
The minutes of the committee meeting on 26th January 2006 were approved.
3. Matters arising
4) Charles Marriot has not yet been invited to a UMIS meeting.
5) It was agreed that ESi would make contact with the relevant COSLA Spokesperson (Arts & Leisure - Cllr Graham Garvie (Scottish Borders Council); Education - Cllr Ewan Aitken (City of Edinburgh Council))
7) Jilly Burns, NMS, has agreed to attend the June UMIS meeting, by which time NMS will have produced draft strategies.
10) It was noted that universities in receipt of local government support, including non-financial support, would have to provide visitor figures to those local authorities. There was some discussion about recording of visitor figures, including the benefits to local authorities and universities. The findings from Aberdeen, which was granted funding by SMC to purchase additional counters, will be used to help consider whether there should be a joint UMIS bid to SMC in the autumn.
4. Scottish Funding Council
4.1 Museums, Galleries and Collections Grant
The Funding Council had announced a short-term continuation of its funding of university museums on the same basis as before, prior to a reconsideration of the scheme for 2008 onwards. Mungo Campbell, in discussion with ESi and ESm had produced a draft briefing paper outlining the opportunities, threats and probabilities of possible options. It was noted that the current system had the merit of not being bureaucratic. The paper would be revised to include evidence submitted by members on the costs of university museums, noting both the long-term importance of the stewardship burden and the growing importance of cultural engagement.
ACTION:
4.2 Knowledge Transfer Grant
£500,000 is to be allocated to all HE and FE institutions to enable them to develop cultural engagement strategies. With a minimum grant of £20,000 per institution, few will receive significantly more than that. Members are urged to explain to their host institutions the value of knowledge about collections as the basis for much knowledge transfer activity (exhibitions, digitization projects, schools services, public talks, CPD etc.). UMIS will collate evidence for use in discussions with Charles Marriot of the Funding Council.
ACTION :
5. Arrangements for 2006 Conference
The conference is to be held on 16th/17th November 2006 at West Park House, University of Dundee. A call for papers has been widely circulated and two proposal have already been received, but the decision about whether it should be a two-day or one-day conference will depend on the number and quality of proposals. It was agreed that the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Sport should be invited to address the conference on 17th November.
ACTION:
6. Treasurer's report
It was noted that UMIS funds were healthy, showing a gradual long-term rise. The main expenditure was on the biennial conference. It was also noted that from the end of May ESi would be paid travelling expenses to attend meetings.
7. News highlights
Those present gave reports on recent activities.
ACTION:
8. AOB
A proposal was presented by ESm to support UMIS members attending international conferences. He further proposed that if this suggestion were approved, the committee should consider an application for support to attend the September 2006 UMAC conference in Mexico. After discussion, it was agreed that there might be limited benefit to UMIS from supporting attendances at conferences and the general principle was not approved. It was, however, agreed that there should be future discussions about how best to use UMIS funds to achieve the principal aims of UMIS.
9. Date of next meeting
Thursday 29th June - Glasgow at 11:30am (venue to be announced).
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