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

1884. Future of EmmS

Notice 1863 in the December edition of Hot News indicated that it was likely that the project grant funding would be restricted in 2001/2. This follows from a review of the Service's core business, driven in part by a growing disparity between what is expected of the Service by its members and other stakeholders, and its funding by Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries. The value of our current grant of £243,882 is, in real terms, 20% less than it was in 1991/2. During the intervening period government policy has increased the Service's workload substantially, as have member museums' increasing demands for our support and services. The national agenda suggests that these pressures are likely to increase rather than diminish.

This has resulted in

• recognition of our doubtful financial viability;

• increasing pressure on staff, with substantial unpaid overtime being worked;

• reducing operational efficiency and quality of service;

• less capacity to seek challenge and project funding.

Although there may be potential for increased funding by Resource from 2002/3, this would be linked to meeting its cross-sectoral agenda with libraries and archives. As a consequence, it is uncertain how far any additional funding would correct the historic underfunding of support to East Midlands museums, and provide equity with other regions. Thus the Board has decided to:

• re-affirm its preference for a solution to its current funding and capacity difficulties that sustains museum development in the region, while enabling an effective strategic partnership with the libraries and archives sectors, which can only be achieved by a substantial increase in core funding; and

• confirm that, without such an increase, it plans to move on or before 1 April 2002 outside the framework of Resource core funding to develop a new business focused on museums in the region and elsewhere, while continuing to represent the region's museum interests.

To provide the financial stability needed to make a final decision, substantial reductions in the 2001/2 budget are required. As the aim is not to suspend programmes for which there is a continuing need, and which would take substantial time and money to re-launch, most of the savings will have to come from the project grants budget. The aim, over 2000/1 and 2001/2 is to reduce direct spending by around £50,000, and to reduce staff commitments to the value of £16,000 pa.

Thus the 2001/2 grants programme is likely to be very limited, and an announcement will be made in the March HOT NEWS of the scope and scale of the programme. There are also likely to be reductions in the training, marketing and advice/information programmes.

A firm commitment about the future of EmmS will be made by December 2001, when a further announcement will be made.

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1885. Professional Panel

The next meeting of the PROFESSIONAL PANEL will take place on the morning of 2 FEBRUARY 2001, at Snibston Discovery Park, Coalville. One person from each registered museum is invited to attend, as well as from each county forum where they exist. Letters of invitation are included in this mailing. Following lunch there will be a special briefing for Curatorial Advisers, details of which have been distributed.

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1886. Stewardship Strategy

Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries is to develop a cross-sectoral Stewardship Strategy for museums, archives and libraries. The Strategy will cover areas such as acquisition and disposal, conservation and collection care, collection management, documentation, environmental management of buildings, security, use of collections, risk management and disaster planning. It will provide a planning and development framework for the three domains, and inform funding decisions by Government and other strategic agencies. For further details see the resource website at www.resource.gov.uk

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1887. The British Library and Cross-Sectoral Working

The British Library has undergone a five-yearly review by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. In a response to this review, Resource has welcomed the British Library's increasing emphasis on co-operation and partnership with other institutions. Its expanding exhibitions programme, which is enabling it to develop the functions of a museum-style attraction, is a strong basis for future collaboration with museums. For the full text of the response, see www.resource.gov.uk

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1888. Acceptance in Lieu Scheme

Resource has completed its review of the Acceptance in Lieu (AIL) Scheme. The scheme, which has settled a total of nearly £98 million of Inheritance Tax in the last 15 years, was reviewed to assess the effectiveness of its current arrangements and to examine how it can contribute fully to Resource's organisational aims and objectives. Among the Review's recommendations are:

• Objects accepted in lieu of tax should be allocated to a wide range of institutions

• Standards of pre-eminence must be maintained at national level. Full consideration must be given to pre-eminence within a local or regional context and guidance notes should be redrawn to give a greater emphasis to local and regional importance.

• Guidance is needed on the interpretation of the legislation allowing items associated with a qualifying building to be accepted in lieu.

• The AIL scheme should be more widely publicised.

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1889. Sharing Museum Skills Millennium Awards

A total of £29,000 has been awarded under round 8 of the Sharing Museum Skills Millennium Awards Scheme, which is funded by the Millennium Commission. Among the awards made is £2,647 to EmmS Education Adviser Gillian Tanner, to undertake a 6-week secondment with the National Trust at Petworth House, West Sussex.

If you would like to be considered by the scheme either as a host or as a secondee during 2001, contact Catherine Atkinson, Millennium Awards Administrator, Sharing Museum Skills, 16 Queen Anne's Gate, London SW1H 9AA. Telephone (020) 7273 1406. Fax (020) 7273 1404. Email catherine.atkinson@resource.gov.uk The next application deadline is 23 March, followed by deadlines on 24 May, 27 July and 31 August.

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1890. Culture 2000

A set of draft criteria for the 2001 call for applications has been released for Culture 2000 funding from the European Union. The criteria for Museums and Heritage are:

• co-operation between museums to enhance significant movable heritage

• new technologies in conservation and restoration projects

• travelling exhibitions covering the same European period or artistic movement

• raising awareness and accessibility of heritage of European significance

• underwater archaeology of relics

• architecture and architectural heritage

• production and promotion of archives

Each project requires partners from a minimum of three EU member states, depending on the project's size. The deadline for applications for smaller projects is likely to be 2 April, and for larger projects 4 June. To subscribe to a free news bulletin giving latest updates, register at: www.euclid.co.uk For more information about the Culture 2000 programme, visit the European Commission's Education and Culture Website at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/dgs/education_culture/index_en.htm and click on culture.

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1891. Intellectual Property Website

Any queries or confusions surrounding copyright, patents, design and trademarks are addressed at a new website created by the patent office. Its address is www.intellectual-property.gov.uk

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1892. HistoryWorld Website

A new website is now online, which hopes eventually to become the foremost doorway to history on the internet for the UK. www.historyworld.net, conceived by Bamber Gascoigne, also aims to link the history it presents with as many museums, galleries and heritage institutions as possible. The site will provide a showcase for collections which, it is hoped, will bring the general public into that institution both online and in the real world. Anyone interested should log on to the site, which is currently in demonstration mode only, using the following details: User: worldhistory; Password: laser; Domain (if needed): workgroup. Click on Partnerships to find out what the site can offer.

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1893. Arts & Business New Funding Scheme

Arts & Business, a national independent charity which exists to promote partnerships between business and the arts, has launched a new funding scheme for which museums are eligible. Arts & Business New Partners is an incentive programme to promote the development of sustainable mutually beneficial partnerships, which go deeper than sponsorship of 'one-off' projects. Depending on the proposal, Arts & Business itself may also invest up to £50,000 if it believes there is clear and sustainable benefit to both partners. For details including case studies visit: www.aandb.org.uk or contact Peter Tullin at Arts & Business East Midlands, Carlton Studios, Lenton Lane, Nottingham NG7 2NA. Tel: 0115 964 5648.

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1894. The ADAPT Trust

The ADAPT Trust (Access for Disabled people to Arts Premises Today) has invited applications for grants from its Sightline scheme sponsored by the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association. These grants are specifically for improvements which will increase access for visually impaired and blind people. The maximum grant is £4,500 for up to 75% of total cost, and the closing dates are 31 March and 30 September 2001. For guidelines, send a 33p A4 stamped addressed envelope to: The ADAPT Trust, 8 Hampton Terrace, Edinburgh EH12 5JD. Tel: (0131) 346 1999. Fax: (0131) 346 1991.

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1895. Deferred Export of Two Gothic Ivory Panels and a Painting by Jean-Francois de Troy

The export of two ivory panels depicting the Annunciation, c.1300, and the painting Le Retour du Bal by Jean-Francois de Troy, 1735, has been deferred. This ruling reflects the outstanding aesthetic quality of both works, the importance of the panels for the study of Gothic ivory carvings, and the painting's significance as a skilful example of the French tableaux de mode style. The deferral period, until after 13 March 2001, provides an opportunity for purchase at the recommended prices of £294,956.25 for the pair of ivory panels, and £3,559,859 for the painting by Jean-Francois de Troy. The deferral period could be extended until after 13 June 2001 if there is a serious intention to raise funds.

Anyone interested in making an offer to purchase the above items should contact the owners' agent through the Secretary, the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art, DCMS, 2-4 Cockspur Street, London SW1Y 5DH.

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1896. Forthcoming EmmS Events

CONSERVATION FOR NON-CONSERVATORS - 30 JANUARY. This additional conservation course has been organised due to popular demand and there are only a few places left. The day will enable museum staff with no conservation training to undertake a variety of conservation treatments in safety. Tools, techniques, treatments and the ethical considerations of conservation will be discussed, before delegates spend the majority of the day in a conservation laboratory doing hands-on conservation with a wide range of social history items commonly found in museum collections.

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1897. Forthcoming Events & Seminars

25 January INTRODUCTION TO THE INFORMATION SOCIETY TECHNOLOGIES (IST) PROGRAMME - UKISHelp. This is a FREE half-day seminar offering an introduction to European funding. Venue: DTI Conference Centre, London. For details call the UKISHelp Support Line on (0870) 606 1515, or visit the UKISHelp Website at www.ukishelp.co.uk

6 February BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE - DCMS and CABE (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment). This Government conference follows the publication of the Culture Department's policy statement Better Public Buildings last October. It will bring together senior policy makers and practitioners to outline how we deliver better public buildings. Representatives from any public sector museum or gallery, their consultants and suppliers, are welcome to attend. Venue: Church House, London. Cost: £100. For details contact Marian Hilson, Conference & Events, FCO, St Christopher House, Southwark Street, London SE1 0TE. Tel: (020) 7921 1641. Fax: (020) 7921 1264. Email: marianhilson@cvg.gov.uk A registration form is available from www.cabe.org.uk

26 & 27 February SAFE LIFTING AND MOVING OF DELICATE LOADS FOR MUSEUM STAFF - The Gabo Trust for sculpture conservation and The British Museum. This two-day course will include the principles of lifting and slinging large but delicate objects, and appropriate types of equipment. It will provide an update on Health & Safety and Manual Handling regulations. A number of FREE places are being offered: preference will be given to Local Authority museums from outside London, for whom some of the cost of accommodation and travel may also be available. Requests for a full programme and bookings should be made via email: groy@thebritishmuseum or fax: (020) 7323 8636.

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1898. Farewell & Best Wishes to…

… Libby Finney, Antiquities Conservator for Leicester City Museums, who is leaving this month to become Regional Conservator - West for the National Trust for Scotland.

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CUMULATIVE INDEX No 1 (January 1990) - No 136 (January 2001)

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