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THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS OF MUSEUMS

BAFM NEWS

BAFM’s Past President Honoured

From 1995 until 2005 BAFM’s President was Robert, later Sir Robert, Smith, a prominent and successful Scottish businessman, noted for his work as a former Governor of the BBC. His many and varied interests include education, where he is currently Chancellor of the University of the West of Scotland and also the work of the Scottish Community Foundation of which he is Patron. Of greater interest and relevance to BAFM was the fact that he was Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the National Museums of Scotland from 1993 to 2002 and was a member, later Vice-Chairman, of the Museums and Galleries Commission (1988 -1998). All members of BAFM were pleased and honoured when he agreed to accept the Presidency. He brought great enthusiasm and knowledge to the post and was very much a ‘hands-on’ President. He is an inspiring and entertaining speaker who enlivened many BAFM meetings and conferences. We, in BAFM, are all delighted that Robert has been honoured by Her Majesty The Queen and has become a crossbench life peer, being created Baron Smith of Kelvin in the City of Glasgow. We send our warmest congratulations on such a well deserved honour and we hope he long continues with his interest in the world of museums and galleries.

NEW BAFM SECRETARY - CAROL LYNN

I returned to my native North East in 1997 after spending most of my working life in the Midlands, the South East and Yorkshire. I have been a Friend of the Bowes Museum for many years and have worked as a volunteer for the last eight years. I was elected to The Friends Committee seven years ago and my duties have included Events Co-ordinator, Hon. Secretary and Membership Secretary, a position I still hold. I am involved with other voluntary organisations and have recently joined The Durham and Cleveland Art Fund Committee. Although the role of Secretary appears rather daunting I am looking forward to the task and in being more closely involved with BAFM.

BOWES VOLUNTEERS WIN AWARD

A husband and wife team, Stanley and Dorothy Barker, have won the award for ‘Outstanding Contribution to Customer Care by Volunteers in Museums’ for their work as guides at the Bowes Museum in Barnard Castle over the last twenty years, twelve of which have been as co-ordinators of the Guides rota. The role has become ever more demanding as the museum is more and more popular as a venue for coach groups, many of which feature a guided tour. So, in addition to the regular daily summer tours, the Barkers have had to organise guides who are prepared to come in, often at short notice. The couple often stand in themselves, where necessary. Tyne and Wear Museums, leaders of the North East Regional Hub, organised the event which was held at Newcastle’s Discovery Museum. Mr and Mrs Barker were, unfortunately, unable to attend the ceremony, so the award was collected on their behalf by Jane Whittaker, the Bowes Museum’s Principal Keeper who commented, “They are supported by a team of dedicated guides, now 37 in number, who give a tremendous amount of time and energy to welcoming visitors to the Bowes Museum, adding greatly to their appreciation of it.”

PAT PRESTWICH BAFM VICE-PRESIDENT

Rosemary Marsh - BAFM Vice-President and Deputy Chairman, Friends of the Whitworth

As a postscript to David’s touching tribute in the last issue of the Journal (printed below) to Pat Prestwich, readers who remember her may be interested to know that she was a faithful member of Salford Friends and proud of her Salford roots, but her major contribution to ‘the cause’ was at the Whitworth Art Gallery where she was Honorary Secretary of the Friends from 1963 to 1982 and Chairman from 1982 to 1990.

To show our appreciation and gratitude for all that she did for us, the Friends of the Whitworth are hoping to add a useful sum to the bequest which Pat made to the Gallery in her will, so that something really appropriate may be bought for the collection which she loved. Contributions from any BAFM members who knew her would, of course, be most welcome and should be sent to:

The Hon. Treasurer, Friends of the Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester University, Oxford Road, Manchester, M15 6ER.

ANOTHER NEW ROLE BAFM VICE CHAIRMAN

BAFM members are delighted to learn that Dr Liz Mackenzie, BAFM 2nd Vice-Chairman, has been appointed a Trustee of the new charity, Kids in Museums. This has grown out of the Guardian Family-Friendly Museum Award. Three years ago Dea Birkett founded the Family-Friendly Award, sponsored by The Guardian, in response to hundreds of protests from readers following Dea’s article which described how she was asked to leave the RA when her young son shouted at one of the exhibits. The first award went to Killhope North of England Lead Mining Museum, and the Guardian sponsored further awards in 2005 and 2006. Now Kids in Museums is changing; it is being set up as a separate organisation and is applying for charitable status. This will enable it to expand and develop, while allowing Kids in Museums and The Guardian to continue working together on the annual Guardian Family-Friendly Museum Award. We congratulate Liz on her new role in helping to ensure that all families are welcomed to Britain’s museums and galleries and that they are valued as visitors, whatever their ages. After all, today’s child visitors could be tomorrow’s Friends and volunteers.

WHO NEEDS FRIENDS AND VOLUNTEERS?

Carol Bunbury - BAFM Co-ordinator for the South West

Most people working in museums know just how valuable good Friends and Volunteers can be. This is, perhaps, particularly true in the South West, where we have so many small museums run by a few, if any, professionals with the help of a great many volunteers. When it works well it is marvellous and the jobs done by volunteers are legion, but at times we can be a perishing nuisance!

BAFM is a self-help voluntary organisation, which tries to ensure that our members are GOOD Friends and Volunteers by sharing good practice, helping members to appreciate the constraints, the pressures and the latest thinking in the museum world and by keeping in mind the ‘Busman’s Holiday Factor’ - not all those working in museums want to spend their spare time there as well.

BAFM is dependent on the help, support and encouragement of professionals for which we are very grateful.

BAFM provides a network for members. Each area, corresponding to the MLA areas, plus Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, organises an annual one-day conference/meeting.

Last year, the South West Conference at the Somerset Rural Life Museum looked at ways of involving the local community through special exhibitions. Speakers from the Somerset Heritage Service, Somerset Rural Life Museum, Priest’s House Museum and Lawrence House Museum, Launceston shared their experiences and best practice with us.

These meetings and discussions give us new enthusiasm; we realise how much we have achieved, we glean new ideas and, let’s face it, we all love to chat! This year we plan to consider collections and, by learning more about particular collections and the items in them, to discuss what should be added, what should go and to where? Most of us know how hard it is to get rid of things!

BAFM provides links beyond your area through its Journal and the Annual National Conference; it also links further afield through its membership of the World Federation of Friends of Museums. Eastern European museums are interested in forming Friends’ groups, a concept new to them and are keen to learn from our members. How about a group visit to Georgia, for example, or Hungary?

Good productive relationships between Friends, Volunteers and professionals do not happen by chance, but as a result of well-organised management and plenty of understanding, patience and effort from all concerned - managing Friends and Volunteers has to be a joint effort and it has to be fun. Surfing the web, I came across this quotation:

Don’t walk in front of me, I might not follow. Don’t walk behind me, I might not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend. Albert Camus

Food for thought, perhaps?

PAT PRESTWICH BAFM VICE-PRESIDENT

An appreciation by David Mawson, BAFM Vice-President

BAFM has lost one of its long-standing members with the passing of Pat recently. When I called a meeting in 1972 to discuss the founding of a British Association of Friends of Museums, Pat was one of those who attended as a representative of the Whitworth Friends. For many years after, Pat attended virtually every Council meeting, AGM and weekend Conference. During my time as Chairman, Pat gave wise counsel and could always be relied on to help us arrive at the right decision. Her enthusiasm and interests extended into the World Federation of Friends of Museums (WFFM) and she attended most of the Triennial Congresses, until, sadly, her health failed. Pat also represented the UK on the WFFM Council, where her ability to speak French was a great advantage. Even when, at a Congress in Cordoba in Spain, she was mugged and knocked over in the street one evening on her way back from a reception and had to spend the night in hospital, she shrugged it off and attended the rest of the events as if nothing had happened. Pat was, indeed, a dedicated and hard-working Friend of museums, at home and abroad; she thoroughly deserved her appointment as a BAFM Vice-President. It is always sad to lose an old friend and Pat was one I shall never forget. It was a joy to be with her, such were her warmth and charm. She will be sadly missed by all who had the pleasure of knowing her and we send her daughter, Sarah, and all her family, our sincere sympathy.

Many tributes to Pat have been received:

Alistair Smith, who first met Pat when he was Assistant Keeper at the Whitworth, said: “Francophile and francophone, she brought to the Whitworth a twinkle, a sense of style and a suggestion that we were somehow part of an extended ‘nouvelle vague’, that Oxford Road was somehow twinned with the Boulevard St Michel.”

Rosemary Marsh, BAFM Vice-President, states: “It was fun to know her. I know how lucky I was to have her friendship and encouragement and I shall always be grateful for all that I learnt from her.”

NEW POST FOR BAFM VICE CHAIRMAN

HRH Prince of Wales with Dr Mackenzie.

Dr Elizabeth Mackenzie, a BAFM Vice-Chairman and Past Chairman and International Representative, and Loyd Grossman, BAFM’s President and Chairman of the Campaign for Museums, are Co-chairs of Museums & Galleries Month (MGM) for 2007.

Elizabeth takes over from Jane Glaister, who, unfortunately, owing to pressure of work, has had to stand down. Elizabeth commented: “I feel delighted and honoured that I’ve been asked to be co-chair and I am really looking forward to becoming more involved with MGM this year. I have long been impressed by the small team of organisers; they are dedicated and hard-working and there is no doubt that MGM has made an important contribution to the museums sector in the UK. I am sure my experience with BAFM will be extremely useful and I hope even more Friends’ groups will be inspired to organise events or assist with those organised by their museums or galleries.”

Museums & Galleries Month is organised by The Campaign for Museums, a registered charity, with support from Museums, Libraries & Archives Council (MLA) through the Renaissance in the Regions programme and Arts Council, England. MGM is supported by museums, galleries and arts organisations throughout the UK. Museums & Galleries Month is organised by a small team led by Ylva French, Executive Director of The Campaign for Museums.

The MGM Working Group provides support and input. A larger group, the MGM Strategy Group, provides a platform for the many organisations to be involved in the development of MGM.

SHARING SKILLS ACROSS THE SOUTH EAST

More than 190 museums across the South East have taken advantage of the Renaissance South East Sharing Skills programme; they are benefiting from £500,000 investment in new skill sharing initiatives. The programme has helped to launch a large number of projects by providing support without charge and training courses for staff and volunteers from museums of all sizes, from the largest to the smallest.

The Renaissance Skills Bank has been established on-line, with a listing of individuals and organisations across the South East who will share their expertise. This offers a lifeline to small museums in particular, since they are usually without the specialist staff, available in larger museums. The bank has available such skills as photography, conservation, design and PR. Other activities include customer care training, better promotion of visitor attractions, help to improve the care of collections, instruction in cataloguing and help to make access for visitors easier.

All this advice and training is completely free, an absolute boon to cash-strapped small museums.

To find out more: www.semlac.org.uk/musdev_services.html

Registered Charity: 270253

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