1. Present:
Alan Knox (Aberdeen, Convenor), Neil Curtis (Aberdeen, Secretary), Jane Cameron (Stirling), Matthew Jarron (Dundee), Peter Trowles (Glasgow School of Art), Justin Parkes (RGU), Helen Rawson (St Andrews), Dawn Kemp (RCSEd), Ewen Smith (Glasgow),
In attendance: Mark Macleod (Membership Development Manager, Museums Galleries Scotland)
2. Apologies
Ian Carradice (St Andrews), Jackie MacBeath (Edinburgh), Ann Jones (Heriot-Watt)
3. Minutes of committee meeting on 21st May 2008
The minutes were approved.
4. Matters arising
Metrics
Metrics are now web mounted on UMIS website. It was agreed that this had been a very valuable exercise in demonstrating the activity of university museums and that the same structure should be followed with minor amendments to clarify how data was to be collected.
ACTION: AK to contact members to supply information for AY2007-8
Heritage Assets Accounting
It had been reported in the current Museums Journal that the Accounting Standards Board had decided not to pursue the proposal that museum collections should be valued as part of institutional assets.
SFC funding
Alan reported that SFC were not yet able to inform us about the follow-up to the current funding round. It therefore appeared to be unlikely that there was time for a consultation and assessment before the award letter for 2009-10 was issued in March 2009.
It was noted that SFC had replied to the submission of last year's annual report, largely making no comments. This was welcomed as showing a greater interest than previously.
Museums Galleries Scotland
Ewen reported that 27 collections had now been Recognised and that additional funding was being made available for the additional Recognised collections. He also noted that of £507,000 of Recognition funding £194,000 had been awarded to UMIS members; likewise of a total of £398,000 MGS grants, £91,000 had been awarded to UMIS members.
Edinburgh College of Art
Matthew had spoken to ECA who were keen to join UMIS. It was also noted that they had applied for associate membership of MGS.
ACTION: Ewen to contact them to arrange payment of fees for UMIS membership, waiving the fee for AY2007-8
Accreditation
Matthew had not received many comments about Accreditation from members of UMIS. Discussion focused on the difficulty of explaining the normal university practice of collections being held in off-site stores and on display in other buildings as well as the main Accredited site. Particular issues had been caused by changing management structures and whether a single Accreditation application was more appropriate than a series of separate applications for different venues and number. It was also noted that the change of Accreditation officer in MGS meant that knowledge had been lost about how MLA guidelines could be interpreted, especially for university museums which were individually very different and which as a sector did not face the same issues as other types of museum.
The new MLA model collection policy needed amendment to take account of human remains issues in Scotland and MGS has a template with an appropriate text.
5. SFC SPIRIT funding
Nothing had yet been reported from SFC about the status of the application.
6. 2008 UMIS Conference
A website for the conference had been launched earlier in the summer, with online booking by credit card now possible and a special accommodation rate arranged. There had been few applications so far and an email would shortly be sent to members and other interested people to encourage registrations, noting that a late payment fee would be levied after 31st October. Unfortunately, the application for funding from the British Academy had not been successful. Advertising leaflets would be produced for distribution at the UMAC conference and possibly the Museums Association conference.
Unfortunately, Museums Gallleries Scotland (MGS) have just set their AGM for 19th November, coinciding with the UMIS AGM. It was felt that if the MGS AGM could be held in Aberdeen there would be benefit to both the UMIS conference and the MGS AGM. We agreed that in the future we should highlight the UMIS conference as the only Scottish museum conference. If the MGS AGM were not held in Aberdeen, it was agreed that we would postpone the UMIS AGM until 4th February 2009, with subscription rates set following online discussion.
ACTION: Mark Macleod would raise this with MGS and would let us know if they could hold their AGM in Aberdeen, noting that the conference might attract more people to the MGS AGM.
7. 2008 UMAC Conference
Some members will be going. Although no work had yet been done on banners or a leaflet, this would be produced. Matthew would assist with transporting material to Manchester.
Dawn reported that the European Association of Museums of the History of Medical Sciences conference would be held in Edinburgh on 17-21 Sept, and thanked members who were helping with the organisation of the conference and excursions.
ACTION: All to send images to Neil who would pass on text and images to Ewen for production.
ACTION: Jane offered to take members' leaflets for distribution at the conference.
8. Website
Mark noted that he found the website easy to navigate and that it was well designed. He noted, however, that it would be helpful if news items could be dated.
ACTION: Mark to put Matthew in contact with the right person to make a link between the new MGS website and the UMIS website.
ACTION: All to send material about collections, activities and annual reports to Matthew (who would send a reminder to members).
ACTION: Matthew to provide web statistics about the UMIS website.
9. Partnerships
Scottish Library & Information Council (SLIC)
Ewen reported that he continued raise the value of maintaining and developing the partnership between MGS and the library & archives community at MGS board meetings. He also noted that there were some recent contacts between MGS and SLIC. Alan noted that collaboration between Scottish Confederation of University and Research Libraries (SCURL) and UMIS as equivalent bodies could be developed if opportunities arise.
Scottish Transport and Industry Collections and Knowledge Network (STICK)
This network is interested in involving university collections, particularly as they have an interest in scientific collections as well.
ACTION: Neil to reply to Alexander Hayward (NMS) STICK Chair to invite them to send a representative to the February meeting to talk about the possibilities for collaboration.
Scotland & Medicine
Dawn reported the production of bookmarks advertising Scotland & Medicine and the printed books material online. Although Scotland & Medicine funding ends this month, an application of £280,000 through MGS to the UK Legacy Trust for an exhibition 'Our Sporting Body' had been welcomed and revised bid of £600,000 had been requested to enable the inclusion of more commissioned art in the exhibition (one of two Scottish museum projects to be successful). MGS had awarded £5000 to continue funding for to the Scotland & Medicine project officer, Malcolm MacCallum, until the funding for the 'Our Sporting Body' project starts.
10. Museums Galleries Scotland
Mark Macleod was welcomed to the meeting as Membership Development Manager of Museums Galleries Scotland (markm@museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk - 0131-550 4118).
He noted the success of UMIS members in applying for grants from a variety of sources and outlined some of the current activities of MGS in developing partnerships. A priority was developing the relationship between MGS and members, with a survey this month of members needs to enable preliminary findings to be reported to the MGS AGM. He urged members to be frank and forthright and was willing to pass on comments anonymously.
He then took questions from UMIS members.
11. AOB
Ewen reported that much interest had been expressed in New Zealand about Homecoming and that MGS and the Scottish Emigration Museum had been invited to make presentations in 5 venues. This would be 28 Nov - 6 Dec, immediately following the ICOM InterCOM conference. He noted further that MGS had invited expressions of interest from museums with significant NZ holdings. Alan confirmed Aberdeen's potential interest, and Ewen agreed to so inform MGS.
Justin Parkes let members know that he was moving to North Lanarkshire museums from next month. He did not know when or whether the RGU post would be advertised.
The current UMIS bank balance is £4842.58
Lesley Richmond (University of Glasgow Archives) had been successful in getting AHRC funding for workshops to explore metrics on the impact of arts and humanities.
The UK Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills 'A Vision for Science and Society' had been published.
Jane asked members for advice on business development plans, mentoring and insurance.
Dawn reported that she had spoken to the Inspector of Anatomy as part of her contribution to the guidelines on human remains ebing rpodcued by MGS. He is very supportive
John Burnett, Curator, Modern Scotland in NMS will be contacting members to ask for partnerships in a bid to AHRC ion material culture.
The new St Andrews University museum will be opening on 25th November.
12. Date of next meeting
AGM - 19th November 2008 (if the MGS AGM is held in Aberdeen; otherwise postponded to follow the 4th February committee meeting.)
Conference - 20th-21st November 2008 - Aberdeen
Committee meeting - 4th February 2009 - Glasgow School of Art
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