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No 126 March 2000

1706. National Minimum Wage

The government has announced that, as from 1 October 2000, the national minimum wage for adults will increase from £3.60 per hour to £3.70 per hour. From 1 June 2000 the minimum wage for workers aged 18 - 21 will increase from £3 per hour to £3.20 per hour.

1707. Self-Assessment for Charities

In March 1998 the Inland Revenue announced that charities no longer needed to send annual accounts, and that its Financial Intermediaries & Claims Office (FICO) would only ask a charity to submit accounts when it needed to see them.

From 6 April 2000 these requests will cease, and FICO will issue self-assessment forms to selected charities, who will be asked to return accounts in support of the information they provide on that form.

It should be noted that those charities that do not receive self-assessment forms are required to advise the Inland Revenue where there is income or gains that are not exempt from tax by virtue of being non-charitable activity (eg trading).

1708. Special Initiatives Fund Awards - Education Projects

The first batch of successful applications to EmmS Special Initiatives Fund grants programme have been announced and are as follows:

Leicestershire Museums, Arts & Records Service

Church Farm Museum, Skegness

Donington-le-Heath Manor House

Harborough Museum, Market Harborough

Gainsborough Old Hall

Grantham Museum

Mansfield Museum & Art Gallery

Museum of Lincolnshire Life, Lincoln

Newark Town Treasures

Central Museum & Art Gallery, Northampton

Snibston Discovery Park, Coalville

Stamford Museum

Usher Gallery, Lincoln

Wirksworth Heritage Centre

1709. Farming, Countryside & Museums

The Museums & Galleries Commission (MGC) has published a report on rural life museums in the UK. The report, Farming, Countryside and Museums considers the current position of rural life and agricultural museums and recommends that they take a new approach to managing and interpreting their collections in order to reflect contemporary countryside issues and become relevant to new audiences. The report includes the following recommendations:

An audit of rural life collections to enable the review and the possible rationalisation of collections

The creation of a UK database of rural life collections which would be a truly national, and easily accessible, resource

More collaboration between rural life museums enabling them to share relevant resources, knowledge, skills and expertise

The building of active links between museums, government departments and countryside agencies

Farming, Countryside and Museums is priced £15 + £1.25 p&p and is available from MGC Publications, 16 Queen Anne's Gate, London, SW1H 9AA. Tel: (020) 7233 4200. E-mail: mgcpubs@mgcuk.co.uk

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1710. Restitution Guidelines

The Museums & Galleries Commission (MGC) has published Restitution and Repatriation: Guidelines for Good Practice. The publication provides advice for museum directors and staff facing requests for the restitution of objects or collections, and includes case studies of recent requests. Restitution and Repatriation: Guidelines for Good Practice is priced £8.00 + £1.25 p&p and is available from MGC Publications, 16 Queen Anne's Gate, London, SW1H 9AA. Tel: (020) 7233 4200. E-mail: mgcpubs@mgcuk.co.uk

1711. Free Modems for Registered Museums

This is a reminder that the Museums & Galleries Commission (MGC) have modems available free to Registered museums who have computers but do not currently have access to the Internet. The modems will be made available through a voucher scheme, which is operated by EmmS for the East Midlands region. The museums will receive details of free Internet service providers (ISPs) and will be able to make use of a dedicated support line until March 2000. Any museum within the region wishing to take advantage of the offer should contact Lesley Colsell. Tel: (0115) 985 4534.

1712. Sharing Museum Skills Millennium Awards

The next deadline for applications to the Sharing Museum Skills Millennium Awards is 10 May 2000, with subsequent quarterly deadlines as follows: 10 August, 10 November 2000; 10 February, 10 May 2001.

Applications are welcomed from full and part-time staff, freelancers and particularly volunteers. There is no upper age limit for applicants. Grants will normally be in the region of £2,000-£4,000 to cover travel and subsistence costs; train & plane fares; hotel accommodation; car hire; additional child care; cost of short courses; equipment or materials and a contribution towards the employment of temporary staff during the secondee's absence.

To discuss the type of opportunities available contact Annie Hollobone, Millennium Awards Administrator. Tel: (020) 7233 4200. E-mail: a.hollobone@mgcuk.co.uk Internet: www.smsma.org.uk

1713. Heritage Lottery Fund Surgeries

The Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) will be holding surgeries to help museums in the advanced stages of preparation of a lottery application. If your application is already well developed and you would like some further advice before making your submission then you are invited to book a 45-minute slot at Wollaton Park on 25 May 2000. Bookings should be made with Lesley Colsell on (0115) 985 4534.

Museums that are in the early stages of making an application can also apply for a slot but will not be given priority. We hope to be able to announce some further dates in the future.

1714. Learning Centres Initiative

The Department for Education & Employment's (DfEE) Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Learning Centres Initiative is a new programme designed to help bridge the gap between those in society who have access to ICT and those who do not. The aim is to establish approximately 700 Learning Centres across England, helping to bring ICT and learning to disadvantaged communities.

The DfEE are holding briefing events about the initiative for potential bidders. There will be an event in Leeds on 3 April in the morning, and London on 6 April. For a copy of the prospectus and information pack call (0845) 602 2260.

1715. Potted Histories, The Stories Behind Museum Specimens

Survival Anglia Television are researching a series of programmes based on individual museum specimens, each with a story to tell. The specimens should be broadly biological in nature, and tell an interesting story, which can be because of the specimen's significance, history or oddity. If you can think of any specimens in your collection that tell a good story please contact Peter Burston or Emma Ross. Tel: (01603) 756944. Fax: (01603) 765886. E-mail: eross@survival.co.uk

1716. The Textile Society Museum Award

The Textile Society has launched a new award scheme, which is designed to support textile-related projects including conservation, exhibition and publication. The awards can be up to £1,000. Projects should have a clearly defined educational primary objective to increase public access. Museums must be part of the Registration scheme and institutional members of the Textile Society in order to be eligible. The scheme will favour small institutions with limited budgets. Application forms and membership forms are available on request from Sue Kerry, 33 Royston Road, St Albans, AL1 5NF. Please enclose a SAE.

1717. Deferred Export of a William III Longcase Musical Clock by John Watts of

Stamford and The Conquest of Mexico, a Series of Eight 17^th Century Paintings

The export of a William III Longcase Musical Clock by John Watts of Stamford has been deferred because of its major importance to the history of clock making in Lincolnshire, and in particular Stamford. It also has outstanding significance for the study of musical clocks in England. The deferral period, until after 23 May 2000, gives an opportunity for a purchase to be made at or above the recommended price of £48,000. If there is a serious intention to raise funds the deferral period could be extended until after 23 August 2000.

The export of a series of eight paintings entitled The Conquest of Mexico, of the 17^th century Mexican school, has been deferred because of their significance for the study of the perception and interpretation of colonial conquest, the history of colonial painting, and their ethnological interest. The deferral period, until after 8 June 2000, gives an opportunity for a purchase to be made at or above the recommended price of £2,069,137.50. If there is a serious intention to raise funds the deferral period could be extended until after 8 October 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.

1718. Forthcoming EmmS Training Seminars

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 was included with last month’s mailing; there are still places available on this seminar.

VOLUNTEERING IN LOCAL AUTHORITY MUSEUMS - 10 MAY. Museums depend on local communities for support, and volunteering can provide huge opportunities for people from all backgrounds to build close connections with their collections, yet relatively few local authority museums promote these opportunities. This seminar will encourage participants to develop a volunteer programme for their own museum, identifying opportunities and overcoming problems. It will be linked with a manual we are publishing at the same time. Invitations for this event will be sent out in April.

WORLD OF MUSEUMS: UPDATE FOR LOCAL AUTHORITY OFFICERS - 18 MAY. This half-day seminar is aimed specifically at local government officers who have responsibility for museums, but who are not trained museum professionals. The seminar will focus on topical issues of museum policy and management. Invitations for this event will be sent out in April.

1719. Forthcoming Events & Seminars

3-4 April ACCESS TO COLLECTIONS - Biology Curators Group, Natural Sciences Conservation Group and Geological Curators Group Conference. This two-day conference will look at how we afford access to collections, to the scientific community, the public and other users. Venue: Scarborough Spa Complex. Cost: £15 one day, £25 both days. For details contact: Nick Gordon, New Walk Museum, New Walk, Leicester, LE1 7EA. Tel: (0116) 255 4100. E-mail: gordn001@leicester.gov.uk

3 April THE MOTIVATION TO LEARN - Making Lifelong Learning Cool. The Planning Exchange. A one-day conference aimed at providing support to professionals charged with making lifelong learning happen. Venue: New Connaught Rooms, London. Cost: £249 + VAT. For details contact: Cathie Pringle, The Planning Exchange. Tel: (0141) 248 8541. Fax: (0141) 248 8277. E-mail: cathie.pringle@planex.co.uk

10 May THE BLUFFERS GUIDE TO EDUCATION - Museum Professional Group. This seminar will attempt to provide some guidance on developing a successful education programme with consideration of such issues as inclusion and lifelong learning. Venue: New Walk Museum, Leicester. Cost: Members £20, Non-members £25. For details contact: Sean Baggaley, Liverpool FC Museum, Liverpool FC, Anfield Road, Liverpool, L4 0TH. Tel: (0151) 260 6677. Fax: (0151) 264 0149.

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. For details contact: Judy Wootton, 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.

16 May RELATING TO THE REGIONS - How are libraries, museums and archives doing? Capital Planning Information. This seminar provides an early opportunity for senior managers from the sector to debate and assess how they can respond to and gain from regional developments. Venue: The George Hotel Business Centre, Stamford. Cost: £175. inc. VAT. For details contact: Seminar Organiser, CPI Ltd, 91 High Street, Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0BH. Tel: (01749) 813385. Fax: (01749) 812964. E-mail: anne.sugg@cpi-ltd.com

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

1720. Farewell to…

…Joan Wildgust, Tourism & Heritage Officer of Broxtowe Borough Council, who will be retiring at the end of March.

1721. Welcome to…

…Ann Clayton, Education Officer and Julia Chisholm, Education Administrative Officer at the National Tramway Museum.

1722. Congratulations to…

…Eyam Museum for a grant of £13,000, from the Clore Foundation, to produce a video for school groups.

…Di Lees, Chief Executive of the Galleries of Justice, on her appointment by the V&A as Director of the Bethnal Green Museum of Childhood.

…Eric Langham, Curator at the Galleries of Justice, on his appointment as Exhibitions Curator at the Commonwealth Institute, London.

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

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