Issue - meetings

To consider the Museum Curator's Quarterly Report.

The Curator presented her report for the October to December quarter, and highlighted the following areas;

• Accreditation had been delayed and was behind schedule.

• An Interim Forward Plan for 2020-21 had been produced that could be re-worked into a five year plan and this item was on the Agenda.

• A draft Internal Audit report of the Museum Service had just been received.

• There had been one minor breach of GDPR (General Data Protection Regulations) that had resulted in staff being reminded about protocols and checks when emailing museum volunteers.

• The equivalent of 27 weeks of full-time work had been contributed by all volunteers during the quarter.

• In respect of buildings and site the flat roof work had been completed and some re-turfing works had taken place during the past week.

• There had been an additional 24 acquisitions that included the remainder of material from the Stansted Airport archaeology project.

• The objects of the month were highlighted together with the Special Exhibitions.

• The Local Performance Indicator had shown user figures exceeding the target by 25% mainly due to continuing demand for schools loan and reminiscence boxes. Outreach activities had also extended the Museum’s audiences to new participants.

• During the quarter there had been nine events held on site and four outreach activities.

• The main museum activities to note for Quarter 4 were highlighted.

In response to Members’ questions about the Castle the Curator said that the intention had originally been to “soft” open but this had been delayed because of the re-turfing works. There would be an opening event held. Historic England was also an important influence. In the future the intention was for the Museum to coordinate bookings for the Castle. Future initiatives by the Heritage Development Group included a celebrity lecture by Professor Lewis and four guided walks. A leaflet on medieval Walden would be published by the Heritage Development Group through the Tourist Information Centre.

To consider the Museum Curator’s quarterly report.

The Museum Curator presented her quarterly report to the group, making special mention of the following points;

·         Thanking the volunteers for their continued work.

·         The near completion of the external works meaning the scaffolding could come down soon it was hoped.

·         Display of new acquisitions and ‘treasure’.  Explaining how new acquisitions were promoted in the museum and the definition and display of ‘Treasure’. It was planned to put the latest treasure acquisitions on display on Saturday 24 August with publicity, social media and website features planned. In reply to a comment about a ‘finders’ evening’ held some years ago at the Musuem, the Curator explained that with the summer holiday period and time available, it would be impossible to set up such an event at this time, but it could be considered in the winter months for a wider range of finders and landowners associated with recent archaeological acquisitions.

·         Object of the month; the rotation and promotion of the display item.

·         Income, visitor figures, summer events on-site and outreach activities; the June outdoor event and the Saffron Screen event brought in approximately 600 visitors.

·         Mix of researchers used the museum in the quarter.

·         Connections with other museums in the district.  In reply to a question about working with other museums in the district, the Curator confirmed that she attends the Dunmow Museum Committee and AGM and provides occasional advice and assistance; she also acts as museums mentor to the Fry Art Gallery for Accreditation purposes. The Ashdon Museum is very independent but the Saffron Walden Museum has had occasional contact with them. They took up the offer of a free table it the Local History Marquee day at the 1 June event to advertise Ashdon Museum.

·         That The Museum is a museum for North West Essex in Saffron Walden not just a museum about or for Saffron Walden.