Present: Evelyn Silber (Glasgow, Convenor), Matthew Jarron (Dundee), Ewen Smith (Glasgow), Peter Trowles (Glasgow School of Art), Neil Curtis (Aberdeen), Jane Cameron (Stirling), Alan Knox (Aberdeen)
1. Apologies
Ian Carradice (St Andrews), David Hopes (St Andrews), Justin Parkes (Robert Gordon), John Scally (Edinburgh)
2. Minutes of previous meeting
The minutes of the committee meeting on 29th June 2006 were approved with minor corrections.
3. Matters arising
Knowledge Transfer
ESi had received information from most members about how Knowledge Transfer money had been allocated in their institutions. Edinburgh's was awaited.
NMS Strategy for National Working
ESi would contact Jilly Burns to remind her of the idea of a visit and discussion with curators of scientific instrument collections.
4. Arrangements for 2006 Conference
Leaflets had been distributed and books were being received. As no-one from SMC would be available for the discussion panel, it was agreed to invite Jane Carmichael (NMS) and Steve Callaghan (Orkney) to take part. It was agreed that session chairs would be:
Day 1
Welcome / Message from Minister: Evelyn Silber
Session 1 Size and type of museum: Matthew Jarron
Session 2 Different audiences: Edinburgh University representative to be asked to chair this
Session 3 Digital collections & databases: Alan Knox
Day 2
Keynote / session 4 Education & access: Neil Curtis
Discussion Panel: Evelyn Silber
It was agreed that UMIS would pay the cost of meals for speakers on the Thursday evening.
5. Treasurers report
ESm reported that Steven de Clerq's flight for the 2004 conference had finally been paid an would shortly be charged to UMIS.
6. Cultural Engagement
The Funding Council allocation to HEIs for Cultural Engagement had been distributed in various ways, ranging from allocation according to a standard model among all faculties (Glasgow) to being held centrally and a Cultural Engagement strategist employed (Aberdeen).
There was concern that the report by Universities Scotland on metrics for Cultural Engagement was flawed and did not recognise the ongoing costs of curation of collections. It was also felt that there was a risk that Cultural Engagement funding could become subsumed within the existing Knowledge Transfer Grant administration, which did not currently recognise social and cultural benefits. Likewise, its was considered essential that the existing Special Factor Funding for museums and collections be maintained as core funding and that Cultural Engagement funding be additional and targeted towards project work. As museum staff did not seem to have been involved in responses to the Universities Scotland report by HEIs to the Funding Council, it was agreed that a UMIS response should be sent by 10th November. ACTION : ESi.
Where reports on museum activity were to be produced, best practice would appear to be to highlight the breadth and scale of cultural provision with an emphasis on the activities involved, rather than the money spent on such activities. A demonstration of value for money and the potential benefits of limited extra funding needed to be demonstrated.
7. Significance scheme
The SMC-administered Significance scheme had been launched. ESi was a member of the assessment panel, while it would be chaired by someone from outside the museum sector. Information would be available on the SMC website.
8. UMIS Convenorship
ESi reported that she wished to resign as UMIS Convenor at the 2006 as she was no longer employed by a university museum. Her hard work, knowledge and skills had been of immense benefit to UMIS during a very active period and her resignation would be great loss, of understandable. It was agreed that the post of Convenor should be made less onerous, with other committee members taking on tasks, while Evelyn would still be able to contribute as a consultant. Alan Knox was persuaded to stand as the committee nominee for Convenorship at the AGM.
9. News highlights
a) Aberdeen: Good news was that two new staff have been appointed as part of the North-East Musuems Partnership. The Education & Access Offcier, Alison Parfitt, would work primarily with Marischal Musuem and would focus on services to schools on behalf of the Partnership. The Document/Access Assistant, Sarah Redmond, would work with the University's Scientific Collections. A Research Assistant, Neil Wilkin, had also been appointed to work on a Leverhulme Trust-funded project studying prehistoric beakers from NE Scotland.
b) Dundee: MJ noted that he was excluded from contributing to the University's RAE submission. More positively, he tabled a brochure advertising "Anatomy Acts", a joint site exhibition with St Andrews, and noted that it was opening there on Friday 27th October.
c) Glasgow School of Art: PT confirmed that he, too, was not being included in his institution's RAE in 2008, despite having been so previously. Noted that the Mackintosh Festival, though still subject to formal evaluation, did not seem to have realised some of the aspirations for it. PT also advised members that the application to HLF for Phase II funding (£4.66m.) of the Art School refurbishment project was being favourably received, and that matching funding was in place. Finally, he tabled information about the auctioning of artworks owned by the Friends of GSA, and emphasised that this was definitely not the sale of any of the accessioned collections, and was separate from GSA control.
d) Stirling: JC reported that new exhibition space had been developed, intended to provide display opportunities for the work of up-and-coming local artists. That would be followed by a staff/student art exhibition. Also under development are lunchtime lectures, and a multi-site display of work by the Rogers family. Finally, noted the possibility of works currently being displayed off-site, at the Stirling Innovation Park, touring to other venues, and undertook to explore options with GSA. [Action: JC, PT]
e) Glasgow: EDS tabled copies of the Hunterian's Annual Report, for information only. He also reported that the Museum was now closed, until 17 March, while a complete re-display was prepared as part of the Hunterian's bi-centenary celebrations in 2007. As UoG's contribution to the Mackintosh Festival, and exhibition of the work of the McNairs had opened, and received considerable critical acclaim; however, it had not, as yet, met the target for visitor numbers that had been anticipated, and discussion reflected upon the contradictory and similar evidence emerging across Glasgow, along with speculation on the impact of the re-opening of Kelvingrove. He also reported on on-going discussions within the University on the role and position of the Hunterian, structurally, functionally and physically. Finally, reported that the bid by Historic Scotland for World Heritage Site status for the Antonine Wall had been recommended formally by the Government to UNESCO for approval; this had potential for considerable impact upon the Hunterian's collection of material from there, and from the various collections of Roman and contemporary native archaeology.
10. AOB
a) Reflecting upon the impact of Knowledge Transfer and the distribution across institutions of funds under the Cultural Engagement stream, it was felt advisable to review the membership criteria of UMiS, at the next AGM. [Action: NC to raise on Agenda]
b) It was noted that, with EAS's retiral, and PT's resignation and MJ's intended withdrawal from UMG, UMIS would no longer be represented on UMG. Some doubts expressed about the merits of attending, but EDS agreed to represent UMiS, in the meantime. [Action: EAS to advise on change.]
c) In respect of the Framework Agreement, and its impact upon staff in university museums, it was agreed to share such information as would be helpful to otherwise isolated individuals in institutions where museums were perhaps not fully understood. [Action: EDS to send JC a copy of UoG Job Family Profiles]
11. Date of next meeting
tbc
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