bafm - south west news

THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS OF MUSEUMS

SOUTH WEST NEWS

BAFM email: a d m i n @ b a f m . o r g . u k

Contact: Carol Bunbury
Fonthill Cottage, Lewannick, Launceston, Cornwall. PL15 7QE

SOUTH WEST CONFERENCE 2008

Topsham Museum is under the umbrella of Exeter Museums but is run entirely by volunteers, so it was a great achievement when it was chosen as one of the ten projects on the long shortlist for the Art Fund Prize. An informal South West Area Conference was arranged there at short notice, so that members could find out more about entering for the Art Fund Prize and the effect the shortlisting has had on a small museum and its volunteers. On a perfect morning we gathered at Topsham for a guided walk around the town, once a major port which first served the Roman town and then the huge cloth markets of Exeter. The streets are narrow with many alleys leading to courtyards and then on to the harbour and shipyards, now long gone. The guides from the Topsham Society divided us into manageable groups and pointed out the numerous lunch spots as we walked around. After lunch, we gathered again at the museum where we were given a warm welcome on an afternoon when the museum does not open to the public. We heard how the purchase of three small boats, of particular importance to Topsham, for £1.00 had led to an ambitious project to restore the boats and house them, with the help of a Heritage Lottery grant. The Topsham volunteers had found working with the professional designers and contractors stimulating, rewarding and well worthwhile. They were persuaded to enter for The Art Fund Prize and, as members of the shortlist, were provided by the Art Fund with a professional marketing officer. The involvement of the various professionals has given the volunteers invaluable experience that will be of long-term benefit to the museum. The publicity, they found, had increased the number of visitors fourfold which, they felt, was as much as they could handle. Winning might have been too much of a good thing! There were plenty of stewards on hand to answer questions as we explored the museum before returning to the café for a delicious cream tea. Topsham and its museum are well worth a visit and the energetic can take the ferry across the River Exe to the bird sanctuary and many footpaths.

SOUTH WEST CONFERENCE 2007

4th September 2007
Weymouth
The BAFM South West Conferenc 2007 will be held in Weymouth Museum, hosted by the museum and its Friends. The theme this year will be the collections which are at the heart of good museums. Space – that is the eternal problem! What should be added? Should some things go? If so, why and where to? Caitlin Griffiths, Museums Association’s advisor on professional issues will help us to run the meeting. Each speaker will set the scene and ask us to discuss what should be done to solve a collection’s problem before explaining the action taken and why.
Speakers: Judy Lindsay, Director Dorset County Museum, Dorcheste Emma Ayling, Curator Priest’s House Museum, Wimborne Minster David Willey, Curator Bovingdon Tank Museum

Co-ordinator: Carol Bunbury

Registered Charity: 270253

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