THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS OF MUSEUMS

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WEST MIDLANDS NEWS

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

Contact: Penny Griffiths 5 Dog Lane, Bewdley, Worcestershire. DY12 2EF

WEST MIDLANDS MEETING 2006

Friends of Ironbridge Gorge Museum generously hosted our second Workshop on 24th June 2006. The first one, in 2005, addressed the theme: ‘Development of Alternative Sources of Funds, given that Local Authorities are cutting grant aid to museums.’ This year the theme was: ‘Encouraging Attendance of Members and Non-members at Museum Events, given that attendances are falling.’ Delegates from groups at Hereford, the Black Country Museum, Broadfield Glass, Izaak Walton’s Cottage, Much Wenlock, Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery, the Ancient High House, Bewdley and Ironbridge all attended. Our expert facilitator was again Dr Keith Ellis of Shrewsbury Friends. A format parallel to that of the first session was used and forty-eight ideas were thrown up. It was a full day’s work, well worth the effort. The debriefing papers are an excellent record. Each of us came away with plenty of ideas which could be implemented. We thank Dr Ellis for his expert leadership and the Friends of Ironbridge for their hospitality.

Co-ordinator: Penny Griffiths

Living in the Worcestershire town of Bewdley, Penny has had a great deal of experience of living with floods, having suffered some fifteen in 14 years. The new flood defence barriers have changed all this and even the house is now called ‘Dunfloodin’, as readers might have seen, should they have been watching the television programme about climate change on BBC1 on 21st January. Penny has been Chair of the Friends of Bewdley Museum for four years and has seen the museum fight closure and remain as one of the jewels in the region’s crown. Visitor numbers have risen from 10,000 to over 70,000 in the season of 2005-2006. Penny supports the work of Friends, museum officers and the Council in building a team to help realise the full potential the museum has as a working tourist attraction. Her full time job is as event organiser for the Black Country Chamber of Commerce, running some 70 events across the year. She will be bringing her experience of networking and events to the role. Previous years have seen her at Somerset Chamber of Commerce, the NEC group and as a Chair of BBC Hereford & Worcester’s Local Radio Advisory Panel. She is looking forward to meeting BAFM members within the region and getting to grips with their issues and challenges.

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