Request for supplementary funding: improvements to the Borough Museum and education work by the Museum
Report by:
Chris Green, Museum Curator
Ward Implications:
All
1
Summary
1.1
The closure of the Museum to the public for the winter (as a result of English heritage’s closure of the Barracks complex for the winter) gives a rare opportunity for improvements to be made to enhance the visitor experience and undertake extra education work.
2
Recommendations
2.1
To agree supplementary funding for £10,260 for Museum improvements and extra work.
2.2
To consider the introduction of a charge for new educational activities.
3
Report
3.1
The closure of the Barracks site from October gives the first opportunity in over twenty years to embark upon a through programme of improvements in the Borough Museum and an intense period of extra education work.
3.2
The Medieval Gallery: The key period of Berwick’s history was the Middle Ages, which hitherto has been very under-represented in the Museum. It is proposed to re-orientate the existing Dragon Gallery into a Medieval Gallery retaining the basic structure, including the very popular dragon, and existing Burrell collection Medieval art while adding a number of key elements such as an armoury, castle model and new exhibits from recent excavations in Berwick. Some items have already been funded, for example by the Museum Friends, but to fully realise the project some additional funds are needed, as follows:
Construction materials £1000
Electrical work £500
Sound System £700
Info panels £1000
___________
Total £3200
3.3
Window on Berwick: Opened in 1989 as our primary social history gallery this has had only minor adjustments since. The sound effects have long since ceased to function and their lack is often commented on by visitors. Likewise the lack of information in the gallery is another source of comment. The false grass carpet is now secured in parts by staples and is becoming an increasing safety concern. Similarly the closure period will be the ideal opportunity to remove and reposition exhibits and have a comprehensive clean of the whole gallery.
The funds needed for this are:
Carpet replacement £400
Sound system £700
Information book upgrade (plus saleable booklet) £1600
Professional cleaning £300
Total £3000
3.4
Stores: The closure period is also the opportunity to finally rationalise the stores and make sure everything is put away in suitable boxes.
Extra storage boxes: £500
3.5
Education Work: The Museum has an excellent record in provision of education services to Borough schools, which has been recognised at a regional level by continuing grant support from the North East Museums Hub, with, for example, £4500 being given in 2006/7 & 07/08 for work with Middle schools on a Civil War project. The Museum’s own budget for 2007/8 is meanwhile fully committed to providing activities on other periods, mostly Second War and Tudors, also to Upper Key-stage 2 & KS3 pupils. This however has meant the neglect (for the second year running) of Key-stage 1 & Lower Key-stage 2. Nevertheless, the closure period provides a new opportunity for an intensive programme of activities to be provided for this age group, it being easier, and safer, to run school activities in the small compass of the museum when the general public is not present. The activity would comprise a series of ‘Dig Drama Days’. The pupils would excavate objects from dig-boxes and then use these objects as inspiration to devise their own dramas, which they would then act out. Trial runs of this activity have shown how it encourages creativity and teamwork and develops the children’s communication skills, an outcome which Oftsed have prioritised. It is expected that the majority of the First schools in the Borough will take advantage of the activity if offered. The activity would be recorded and evaluated and would feature in the Museum’s presentation to the wider museum community at Bede’s World in November, which forms part of the Museum’s ongoing commitment to continual demonstrable service improvements.
Education Worker (15 days) £2800
Cleaning (incl toilets) £260
Total: £3060
3.7
New Education Charge: As the education work indicated above is a new activity, members may wish to consider offsetting the cost by introducing a charge on bookings for this and subsequent activities. This is now quite common for Museum educational work, and a charge of £2 per child would not be out of line with other museums. The amount raised would be around £800 for the new activity outlined above.
4
Implications
4.1
Comments from the Council’s Section 151 Officer
The Council has already made significant contributions from reserves in 2007/08. Council made a decision at budget-setting to take a saving from the Museum. This supplementary estimate will be in addition to the service charges approved earlier this year.
4.2
Comments from the Council’s Monitoring Officer
No comments.
4.3
Comments from the Head of Paid Service
Work identified in this report can be carried out by current employees, provided the resources are available.
