AVAILABLE ON-LINE AT www.emms.org.uk

1688.  Revaluation of Business Rates

The government has reviewed and updated the rateable values of all non-domestic properties, which will come into effect on 1 April next. Details of the new values will be issued with business rates demands in late March/April. There is a right of appeal in the case of rateable values that appear to be wrong.

 

As a consequence, rates bills may go up or down. However, because of a scheme of transitional relief, no rates bill for 2000/2001 will increase because of the revaluation by more than 12.5%, or go down

by more than 5%.

 

It should be noted that registered charities are automatically entitled to an 80% reduction of their bills, and local councils have discretion to increase this to 100%.

 

Further details are available from the business rates departments of local unitary/district councils.

 

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1689.  Illicit Dealings in Cultural Property

The government has announced that it has decided not to sign the UNESCO Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property (1970) because 'significant practical difficulties remain in implementing its provisions into UK law'.

 

It has also decided that it will not become a signatory to the UNIDROIT convention on the international return of stolen or illegally exported cultural objects (1985), as it asserts so to do would conflict with current law, and would require changes to limitation periods and personal property law. It suggests that this would result in a special regime for cultural objects and arguably a less generous position for original rightful owners of objects which are later stolen. The Secretary of State has undertaken to consider the possible options for an alternative legislative approach which would share some of the objectives of the UNIDROIT Convention.

These decisions were made just after the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee invited written evidence as part of its inquiry entitled Cultural Property: Return and Illicit Trade (formerly The Return of Cultural Property), to be submitted by Friday 10 March 2000. Details about the inquiry and the requirements for submitting written or oral evidence are available from Nicole Mulloy, Committee Assistant Tel: (020) 7219 5739.

 

The Committee is willing to receive submissions relating to individual claims for return, but expects its Report arising from the inquiry to concentrate on general policies towards return and the illicit trade rather than making recommendations relating to individual claims.

 

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1690.  Education Project

We have been successful in gaining a grant from the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) Education Challenge Fund. The fund will enable us to further encourage the development of life-long learning provision in museums in the East Midlands. As part of this project we will be continuing to offer advisory visits and reports, which will be undertaken by Gill Tanner, Education Adviser. We hope that it may be possible for a second round of our Special Initiatives Fund to be available later in the year, to assist museums in following up some of Gill's suggested action points.

 

Any Registered museum that would like to receive a visit from our Education Adviser please contact Rosemary Bower. Tel: (0115) 985 4534.

 

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1691.  EmmS Standards Fund

This new fund will take effect as of April 2000. The purpose of the Standards Fund is to enable museums to achieve appropriate standards across the whole range of museum activities and will be allocated on a rolling, first-come, first-served basis. All applications will have to be directly related to a published, nationally-recognised standard. The percentage grant offered will continue to be variable, up to a maximum of 80%. The maximum award will be £4,000.

 

Museums should begin to think about their applications now and speak to Lesley Colsell if further clarification is required. Application forms will be available on request from the beginning of March.

 

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1692.  IT Challenge Fund

The Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has announced the successful IT projects for local museums. The IT Challenge Fund, administered by the Museums & Galleries Commission, provides £500,000 over this financial year and the next. Each of the successful projects will receive between £30,000 and £60,000 and will serve as pilot projects for other museums.

 

In the East Midlands a grant of £40,000 has been awarded to the partnership of the Creswell Heritage Trust, Derby Museum & Art Gallery and the British Museum. The project, intended as a life-long learning resource, will examine the Ice Age Archaeology of the Creswell Heritage Area and will provide virtual access to the caves at Creswell Crags and encourage visitors to explore the Ice Age.

 

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1693.  Museums & Galleries Month 2000

 

A number of East Midlands Museums have been successful in bids for Museums & Galleries Month's Welcome Days project grants. These include:

• Derby City Museums & Art Gallery, awarded £608 for activities in the Derbyshire Nature Gallery for disadvantaged pre-school groups;

• Erewash Museums Service, awarded £927 for 'Fab 4' Welcome Days, a collaborative project between Chesterfield Museum & Art Gallery, Erewash Museum, Mansfield Museum & Art Gallery and Newark Museum, to encourage visits to these four similar-sized community museums;

• Guru Nanak Sikh Musuem, awarded £815 for welcome days celebrating the harvest season, Sikh communities beginning of the New Year and the purity of Sikhism;

• Manor House Museum & Alfred East Art Gallery, awarded £855 for special access days including five special Saturday events;

• Leicestershire Museums Arts & Records Service, awarded two amounts of £315 for a day of activities exploring the origins of popular board games and a costumed interpretation day at Harborough Museum looking at domestic service;

• Nottingham Castle Museum & Art Gallery, awarded £1,000 for an event 'Lookout!' focusing on the history of the mediaeval castle;

• Rutland County Museum, awarded £800 for a day of historical re-enactments in the grounds and great hall of Oakham Castle;

• Wirksworth Heritage Centre, awarded £685 for a project 'Meet a Lead Miner' to enable primary pupils from outlying villages to hear stories about early lead miners.

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1694.  New Opportunities Fund

 

The New Opportunities Fund (NOF) has launched a new grants programme which will enable a greater number of adults to access ICT learning opportunities. The Community Access to Life-long learning (CALL) Programme will allocate National Lottery Funds over the next three years in three ways:

• £100m to support the People's Network linking every public library to the Internet, community websites and the National Grid for Learning (NGfL)

• Support for a network of ICT centres with online computer access to information and community resources, including supporting outreach and promotion. This part of the programme complements the Department for Education & Employment (DfEE) initiative to create 700 new ICT Learning Centres in disadvantaged areas with £252m.

• Fund Community Grids for Learning, websites and services providing community-based content for adult learners relating to their locality or area of interest.

For further information about the scheme Tel: (0845) 000 0121 or consult the Internet: www.nof.org.uk

 

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1695.  Awards for All

This is a reminder that the Millennium Festival Awards for All grants scheme will continue in its current form until June 2000. If you are considering making an application before the June deadline you can now download an application form from the Internet: www.awardsforall.org.uk or alternatively contact Awards for All East Midlands, 3^rd Floor, 33 Park Row, Nottingham, NG1 6NL. Tel: (0115) 934 9300. Fax: (0115) 948 4435. Textphone: (0115) 948 4436.

 

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1696.  Local Heritage Initiative

 

Following the success of Countryside Agency pilot projects, the Department for Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) has launched a new national grant scheme to help people care for their local landscape, landmarks and traditions. The scheme is supported by the National Lottery and Nationwide Building Society and will open up the Local Heritage Initiative more widely to the public. The following is a list of potential activities that could be eligible:

• restoring local streams for wildlife and access

• repairing and restoring small local features such as milestones

• mapping out local heritage trails or researching local place names

• making industrial heritage sites safe for public access

• recording local history, traditions and customs

The initiative will run for ten years, and the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) is providing nearly £8m for the period 1999-2002. For information about the initiative scheme Tel: (01226) 719019 or consult the Internet: www.lhi.prg.uk

 

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1697.  BT Reading Challenge

The BT Reading Challenge is a BT-sponsored award scheme co-ordinated by the Campaign for Learning in partnership with the National Literacy Trust. Now in its second year there is once again £100,000 available to groups and organisations throughout the UK with imaginative ideas for how reading can be made relevant, accessible and fun. Most awards will be between £200 and £1,000, although applications for up to £5,000 will be considered. The deadline for applications is 7 April 2000, and winners will be informed by June 2000. For details contact: Campaign for Learning, 19 Buckingham Street, London, WC2N 6EF. Tel: (020) 7976 1111/ 2011. Fax: (020) 7930 1551/2. E-mail: tgreany@cflearning.org.uk Internet: www.campaign-for-learning.org.uk

 

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1698.  The Baring Foundation Arts Programme Grants

 

The Baring Foundation, a grant-making trust, operates two funds under its Arts Programme. The Arts Programme aims to:

• support access to the arts for their own sake, and in particular to create opportunities for people whose access is limited for whatever reason;

• to support organisations that use the arts for community benefit;

• to support education in and through the arts for people of any age, ability or educational background

The Small Projects Fund gives grants worth between £1,000 and £7,000 for projects with a total budget of no more than £25,000. The Knowledge and Skills Exchange Fund usually makes grants worth between £500 and £3000, although an exceptional proposal requiring larger funding may be considered. The deadlines for 2000 are: 29 February; 30 June and 31 October. For details contact: The Baring Foundation, 60 London Wall, London, EC2M 5TQ. Tel: (020) 7767 1348. E-mail: baring.foundation@ing-baring.com Internet: www.baringfoundation.org.uk

 

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1699.  Robert Logan Awards

Following the success of the first award in 1999, candidates are invited to enter for the 2000 award. A prize of £100 will be given to the person under the age of 25 who is selected to present a paper on Encouraging voluntary support for heritage bodies at the British Association of Friends of Museums' (BAfM) Annual Conference on 25 November 2000. Applications should be accompanied by a synopsis showing, in no more than 250 words, the topic to be included in the final paper. These should be sent, by 20 June 2000, to Anne Heeley, BAfM Secretary, The Old Post Office, High Street, Butleigh, Glastonbury, BA6 8SU. Fax: (01458) 850034.

 

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1700.  Whitbread Volunteer Action Awards

 

The Whitbread Volunteer Action Awards recognise at a national level the outstanding contribution made through voluntary activity and are run in conjunction with the government’s Active Community Unit. Do you know of any person, organisation or company that deserves honouring for the dedication and commitment they show in the voluntary work they carry out or support. You are invited to make nominations for the awards by 7 April 2000. There are three categories as follows:

• Area Winners - separate individual and organisation winners for each region and the home countries;

• Company Winner - recognising the company which does most to encourage and support employees to volunteer;

• Overall Awards - overall individual and organisation awards

Individual winners will receive £1,000, half for their cause, half to be spent at their discretion. The overall individual winner will also receive a further £1,000 and a week’s holiday in a Marriott hotel. Winning organisations will receive a grant of £1,000 to be used to develop volunteering. The overall organisation winner will receive a further £1,000. For a nomination form telephone (0870) 241 1124. Internet: www.whitbread-volunteerawards.co.uk

 

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1701.  National Curriculum

The new National Curriculum will take effect in September 2000. To receive a copy of the new National Curriculum documents send your request by facsimile on your museum’s headed notepaper to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) Fax: (01787) 375 920. There is also a helpline Tel: (01787) 884288. Alternatively consult the Internet: www.nc.uk.net

 

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1702.  Deferred Export of a Painting Diana and Callisto by Francois Lemoyne

The export of a painting by Francois Lemoyne (1688-1737), entitled Diana and Callisto has been deferred because of its outstanding aesthetic quality and its importance for the study of French eighteenth-century painting. The deferral period, until after 14 May 2000, gives an opportunity for a purchase to be made at or above the recommended price of £1,646,985.70. If there is a serious intention to raise funds the deferral period could be extended until after 14 August 2000.

 

Anyone wishing to make an offer should, without delay, contact the owners’ agents through The Secretary, The Reviewing Committee on Export of Works of Art, DCMS, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London, SW1Y 5DH.

 

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1703.  Free Bookcases from the Boots Museum

The Boots Museum, Nottingham has a number of bookcases, the majority of which are glass fronted, to be given away free to any museum that can collect them. The cases must be disposed of by the end of March. For further details contact Maggie Heath on Mondays Tel: (0115) 959 3265 or Katie Logan Tuesday-Friday Tel: (0115) 959 4228.

 

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1704.  Forthcoming EmmS Seminars

THE GOLDEN RULES OF FUNDRAISING - 1 MARCH. This seminar will explain the golden rules of fundraising including: designing a fundraising strategy that will hit your target; helping you promote your unique selling points; and building the body of support for your museum. There are a few places left on this seminar; booking forms were included with last month’s mailing.

 

MUSEUMS AND THE MODERNISATION OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT - 6 MARCH. The morning session of this seminar is specifically aimed at independent museums, and trustees in particular, to explain the changes to committee structures with the new style of cabinet government, identifying how this is likely to affect museums. The afternoon session is designed especially for local authority museum staff and will explain the different approaches to the new style of local government and how it will affect their work. There are a few places left on this seminar, booking forms were included with the December mailing.

 

SATURDAY SPECIAL - STORAGE, HANDLING AND PACKING - 25 MARCH. This training day is for volunteers from independent museums and aims to demonstrate some practical approaches to the storage, handling and packing of museum objects. By the end of this course, delegates will have learnt about safe practice when handling objects; good packing methods and use of the correct materials; selecting storage systems that make best use of space and best practice guidelines recommended by the Museums & Galleries Commission. This seminar will help people make significant improvements to the way their collections are cared for, through better planning and the implementation of simple, cost-effective techniques. The day will include lectures, workshop sessions and a look behind the scenes at the stores of the Central Museum & Art Gallery, Northampton. There are places available on this seminar; booking forms were included with last month’s mailing.

 

INSURANCE AND RISK ASSESSMENT - 12 APRIL. This seminar will provide an introduction to insurance and de-mystify the jargon. Insurance policies will be examined with a view to ensuring adequate cover and obtaining best value for money. Much has changed in the insurance world in recent years and the speaker, who has extensive experience of working with independent and local authority museums, will outline the policies available. A booking form for this seminar is included with this mailing.

 

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1705.  Forthcoming Events & Seminars

 

26-29 March - INCLUSION - University of Leicester. This is the Department of Museum Studies’ 5^th international conference and will explore the role of museums and galleries in promoting social inclusion. Cost: Full residential - £285. Day delegate - £45. For details contact Barbara Lloyd, Conference Administrator, Department of Museum Studies, University of Leicester, 105 Princess Road East, Leicester, LE1 7LG. Tel: (0116) 252 3962. Fax: (0116) 252 3960. E-mail: bl5@leicester.ac.uk

 

29 April - British Association of Friends of Museums’ (BafM) North West Regional meeting at the Museum of Lancashire Life, Preston. For details contact: Joy Heffernan, Regional Co-ordinator. Tel: (01254) 812131. E-mail: joy.heffernan@which.net

 

11-13 May - MAKING A DIFFERENCE - THE SENSE OF OWNERSHIP -Association of Independent Museums 23^rd Annual Conference, This Conference is aimed at everyone working in museums and heritage, but especially those from independent museums. Masterclasses will cover topics including: education, access marketing, fund raising. There will also be a barbeque and regatta evening at Gloucester Docks. For details contact: Judy Wooton, National Waterways Museum, Llanthony Warehouse, Gloucester Docks, Gloucester, GL1 2EH. Grants are available from the AIM Bob Harding Fund for this conference. For details contact: Rob Shorland-Ball Tel: (01904) 632751.

20 May - British Association of Friends of Museums’ (BafM) East Midlands Regional Meeting with the friends of Rutland County Museum. For details contact: Paul Howitt-Cowan, Regional Co-ordinator. Tel: (01427) 612017. E-mail: gainas@lineone.net

 

13 September - The Digital Resources for the Humanities 2000 conference will take place at the University of Sheffield. Proposals are invited for academic papers, themed panel sessions, posters and workshops. The deadline for submission is 6 March 2000. Full details about the conference can be found on the Internet: www.shef.ac.uk/~drh2000/ or Tel: (01865) 273275.

 

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CUMULATIVE INDEX No 1 (January 1990) - No 129 (June 2000)

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