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Agenda item
Report on Hastings Museum & Art Gallery Business Plan, 2019-2021
- Meeting of Formal meeting, Museum Committee, Monday, 11th March, 2019 2.30 pm (Item 7.)
- View the background to item 7.
Minutes:
The Museum and Cultural Development Manager presented a report to gain approval for the Hastings Museum & Art Gallery Business Plan 2019-2021, which will deliver a community museum with an improved approach to outreach, commerciality and income generation.
From 2016-18 the Finding Our Place project, funded by the Arts Council England (ACE), reviewed the sustainability of the museum, its collections, programme and organisational health.
This work laid the foundations for the next stage of the museum’s development:
- A museum that is
focused on community engagement, particularly with groups from
disadvantaged areas, minorities and vulnerable groups
- A museum with a
strong emphasis on promoting health, well-being, education and lifelong learning
- A resilient museum
that is positioned to capitalise on funding
opportunities.
The successful delivery of the business plan requires a fundamental reorganisation of staffing at the museum. The purpose of this reorganisation is to create staff structures that enable community-focused working, improve income generation and make the organisation more resilient for the future. HMAG will retain 6.7 full time equivalent (FTE) core-funded posts with an additional 1 FTE post which is externally funded.
The Museum and Cultural Development Manager informed the Committee that bullet point 2 of paragraph 4 of the reportshould also read inclusive.
The business plan has been developed to ensure the museum is ready to capitalise on the changes to funding priorities by major grant-making organisations through a clear focus on community engagement.
The Committee welcomed the renewed focus on community engagement.
It was suggested that the museum look to raise finance to build an extension on Council owned ground so that the current collection can be expanded. The Museum and Cultural Development Manager said that there is a long term ambition to seek finance for capital investment and to bring in an improved café, learning space and on-site storage.
A query was raised regarding staffing. The staffing list indicates that 3 full-time members of staff are being managed by 1 part-time member of staff. Concern was raised that, with six people reporting directly to the Museum and Cultural Development Manager, the ability to undertake the more ambitious elements of this plan may be impacted. The Museum and Cultural Development Manager replied that the team are working within the confines of what they have available.
A question was raised regarding work experience. The Committee was informed the Museum has already welcomed two students from the local college and that work experience has been formerly included in the business plan.
The Committee discussed the possibility of engaging schools in project work looking at local heritage and history across different wards. It was suggested that the Fellowship of St Nicholas may be able to help with outreach and engagement.
The Museum and Cultural Development Manager welcomed all suggestions.
Mr Palfry-Martin proposed a motion to approve the recommendations in the report, seconded by Mr Peak.
RESOLVED (unanimously):
To accept this report and recommended approval by Cabinet.
Reasons for the recommendation:
The business plan creates the conditions for:
1. A museum that is focused on community engagement, particularly with people from disadvantaged areas, minorities and vulnerable groups.
2. A museum with a strong emphasis on promoting health, well-being, education and lifelong learning.
3. A resilient museum that is positioned to capitalise on funding opportunities.
Supporting documents:
- Report on Hastings Museum & Art Gallery Business Plan, 2019-2021, item 7. PDF 145 KB
- HMAG Business Plan 2019-21, item 7. PDF 228 KB
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