Read the full April Newsletter from South West Museum Development.

The front cover of the South West Museum Development Annual Review 2020/21This month, we announce the publication of our Annual Review 2020/21. The review reflects on what was an extraordinary year for museums, as the sector adapted to the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. From the outset of the pandemic, South West Museum Development established itself as the first port of call for information, advice and support for many of our region’s museums. We quickly pivoted our programme, using our sector knowledge and national connections to increase access to funding, resources, skills and expertise for museums across the region as they navigated through the first year of the pandemic. The review serves as a testament to the incredible hard work and achievements of our team and the fantastic staff and volunteers at museums across the region that we collaborated with across the year.

We also announce the successful museums that applied to our Green Grants Scheme. We awarded ten museums £20,500 in funding to carry out a range of projects that will engage audiences and communities with issues related to the climate emergency. This exciting scheme will start important conversations within communities and embed more sustainable practices into museum programmes and operations.

The shortlisted nominees for the Museum & Heritage Show Awards have been announced and we are very pleased to see the South West represented in 5 different categories! Nominees include Bristol Culture and Creative Industries, Fashion Museum Bath, Aerospace Bristol and SS Great Britain Trust. The winners will be announced on 11 May.

There are also updates from our Specialist Officers, including tips on how to capture the impact of volunteering, a new resource on how to protect your collections from light and UV radiation, and an update on accessibility for museum Twitter accounts.

Finally, we have our usual round up of funding opportunities and support for museums in the South West.

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