Growing Together

Our brand new project will increase awareness, knowledge and confidence in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) among museums.

South West Museum Development Programme

A young black woman speaking to an older white womanAbout the project  

Our brand new project, Growing Together: Embedding Inclusion and Collaboration in our Museums, will increase awareness, knowledge and confidence in Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) among museums.  

The project will build on the progress already made with Travelling Together participants and bring on board a whole new cohort of up to eight museums. Journeying together, these participant museums will benefit from expert EDI training and grow and collaborate through authentic peer-to-peer relationships. Cross pollination of ideas and insights within the group will accelerate progress. As the Travelling Together museums did before them, our new cohort of museums will benefit from EDI training and review or develop Equity Action Plans.   

Both Travelling Together and Growing Together museums will then access grant funding to make an aspect of their plans a reality – strengthening their organisation and benefiting the communities they serve through increased accessibility, inclusion and relevance. 

In addition, this project will nurture a new network of Champions  – individuals working or volunteering in museums, who want to harness their interests, or draw on lived experience, and use these insights to facilitate new peer networks. These peer networks will work together to understand what good practice in EDI looks like and are launching in February 2025. Sign up to our newsletter to make sure you’re amongst the first to hear about peer networking opportunities.

We will lead the project with the support of a skilled and experienced steering group. Collectively, they will bring lived experience perspectives to the project and provide challenge and steer to this work.    

This project was made possible thanks to a grant from National Lottery Heritage Fund and funding from Arts Council England. 

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Project timeline

Growing Together will run from October 2024 to April 2026.  

  • January to March 2025 – foundational EDI training programme for new participant museums and Champions 
  • February 2025 to July 2025 – Growing Together peer networking sessions across the region or online  
  • By July 2025 – Grants awarded to deliver EDI goals 
  • September 2025 to February 2026 – More Growing Together peer networking sessions across the region or online 

Meet the cohort

  The cohort will: 

  1. Benefit from a collaborative programme of workshops and peer networking 
  2. Receive a grant of up to £3,000 to initiate projects that break down barriers for their audiences  
  3. Access expert mentors for guidance 

Meet the Champions

Our Champions role empowers museum professionals and volunteers to embark on personal learning journeys and share best practices with their peers. Currently 10 selected individuals will bring their passions, expertise and, in some instances, lived experiences to foster meaningful discussions and drive a deeper understanding of inclusivity within the heritage sector. The Champions have joined us from the following organisations as well as freelance professionals:  

Meet the steering group

Sam Munday-Webb  

Introducing Sam, a Creative Collaborative Facilitator and Equity, Diversity and Inclusion consultant with experience in education, heritage, and museums. With a deep understanding of neurodivergence and a commitment to empowering marginalised voices, Sam is dedicated to driving impactful change through his work. 

Louisa Adjoa Parker 

Louisa Adjoa Parker is a writer and poet of English-Ghanaian heritage who lives in South West England. Louisa has written extensively about ethnically diverse history and rural racism, as well as writing works as an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion consultant. She is a sought-after speaker and trainer on rural racism, black history and mental health.  

 Léa Guzzo 

Léa is an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion consultant, specialising in intersectionality. She supports leaders and organisations to be more equitable and inclusive – using creativity to kickstart courageous conversations. Her professional journey began in the cultural sector and was driven by a mission: to transform organisations into inclusive spaces that celebrate diversity and foster engagement with varied communities. 

Claire Madge 

Claire is the founder of the Autism in Museums Network, with over 10 years experience working with museums and cultural organisations on access and inclusion. Claire writes the cultural blog ‘ Tincture of Museum’ and works as a freelancer for the National Museums Directors’ Council as their Newsletter and Social Media Editor. An advocate for autism and inclusion in museums and cultural venues, Claire has worked as a consultant and trainer across the country including at the British Museum, the Cartoon Museum and Kids in Museums. 

Meet the trainers

Inclusive Recruiting is an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion consultancy with experience of supporting arts organisations and third sector organisations.  Their mission is to embed true equity, diversity and inclusion within organisations now to create belonging and an empowered workforce to lead the future. Their training aims to break barriers to create equitable workplaces for organisations and the people powering them.  

Interested in Participating in Growing Together?

To find out more, email [email protected] adding one of the following subject lines: 

  • Peer Networks 
  • Introductory EDI training 

Please copy into the email your local, place-based MDO. 

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