In our latest newsletter, we cover the latest guidance on reopening, our Pest Partners Project, grants and thematic top tips.

Read the full July newsletter

If you are not already subscribed then sign up to the newsletter here for our regular news to support you during COVID-19 and in the future.

We have a dedicated COVID-19 page with regular updates. We also have an archive of our COVID-19 specific resources produced throughout the closure period.

Museum reopening guidance

As part of the wider Museum Development Network, we have worked with the Association of Independent Museums (AIM) to produce A Checklist for Reopening Your Museum and a Checklist infographic.

The Checklist covers nine Principles to inform decision making within your museum and take an informed approach to reopening.

These were designed to accompany the Coronavirus Covid-19 National Museum Director’s Council Good Practice Guidelines on Reopening Museums.

Further reopening guidance and webinars:

•  The Government recently released Guidance for Heritage Locations – this is for those operating, working and volunteering in heritage attractions.
•  Visit Britain created a ‘We’re Good to Go’ Industry Standard Kite Mark to reassure visitors and customers that public health guidance is being followed.
•  The Museum Association has published Organisational and Employment FAQs in relation to coronavirus and reopening in museums.
•  Kids in Museums have published a Guide to how to use their Manifesto to plan for reopening.

•  Collections Trust have shared a guide from the Institute of Conservation (ICON) on ‘Waking up Collections’ post-lockdown, looking at conservation issues that might have occured during closure.•  Watch this great video by Mauritshuis museum in the Netherlands, a fun and engaging way to welcome visitors back and advise them of how to visit safely.

•  The Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO) created a map giving an overview of European countries’ museum reopening plans, advice about security measures and their strategies.

Useful Webinars

•  Catch up with the Association of Independent Museums Virtual Conference – Roads to Recovery (18th-19th June) where you can watch or listen to full sessions and view captioned highlights.
•  Watch the Post COVID-19: re-opening museums around the world webinar from the International Council of Museums UK from 25th June
•  The Museums Association held a Coronavirus Conversations: Reopening Museums Webinar last week, on how museums can welcome back visitors when they are able to reopen.
•  Coming up: Association of Independent Museums/Charity Finance Group webinar – ‘A Legal Look at Reopening Your Museum’ on 13th July for AIM members. Reviewing key areas from a legal perspective, including becoming ‘COVID safe’.

Join our project tackling pests in the South West

Join us as a Pest Partner – our project is now open for registrations.
We have launched Pest Partners with support from Historic England to help you identify, monitor and manage pests in your heritage collections.

  • Working with our Collections Development Officer, Helena Jaeschke, you will be given pest management guidance, such as where and how to use pest traps and how to spot pest damage.
  • You will also be provided with a free Monitoring & ID Kit and a Quarantine & Cleaning Pack and help to create a longer term Integrated Pest Management Plan.
  • Open to any organisation with a collection open to the public (including archives, churches and historic houses).

Find out more about registering on our Pest Partners project page