Museums Forum and AGM
Online WebinarJoin us online for our annual Forum and AGM to hear what is happening in your sector
We are excited to host a diverse range of speakers and presentations at this years’ Museum Forum, which will proceed immediately following the AGM.
AGENDA
1pm – 1:15pm – AGM
1:15 – 1:35 – DfC JobStart Scheme (plus Q&A)
1:35 – 1:55 – MA Research Results: Social Impact of Museums
1:55 – 2:15 – An Elephant Never Forgets
2:15 – 2:20 – Q&A
2:20 – 2:30 – Break
2:30 – 2:50 – Bringing the British Museum Touring Exhibition ‘Egyptian hieroglyphs: unlock the mystery’ to Lisburn Museum
2:50 – 3:10 – Developing partnerships and holistic working in a small independent museum
3:10 – 3:40 – Engaging communities in the Global Voices Local Choices and a World of Stories Projects
3:40 – 4pm – Q&A and Close
PRESENTATIONS:
‘DfC JobStart scheme’
Lisa O’Neill, Armagh Observatory & Planetarium
Lisa will be covering the Armagh Observatory and Planetariums involvement with the Department for Communities JobStart scheme and their experiences hosting a young person.
‘MA Research Results Launch: Social Impact of Museums’
Geraldine Kendall Adams and India Divers, Museums Association
In spring 2023 the Museums Association undertook an NLHF funded research project to capture quantitative and qualitative data about social impact of museums in Northern Ireland across four areas: health and wellbeing; placemaking; spaces for discussion, debate and reflection and dealing with the legacy of colonial collections.
In this session, Geraldine and India will launch the MA’s research report and present key findings. This will be the first public dissemination of the report’s findings.
‘An Elephant Never Forgets’
Hannah Gallagher, NI War Memorial.
An Elephant Never Forgets was a free school project held as part of The Wild Escape, a nationwide celebration of UK nature, inspired by wildlife found in museums and galleries. Partnering with Belfast Zoo and artist, Dawn Crothers, the NI War Memorial created opportunities for the children to learn about the Belfast air raids by exploring the story of Sheila the elephant who lived at Belfast Zoo during the Second World War. They learnt about how animals are cared for at the zoo today before creating an art exhibition launched on Earth Day, that was attended by Sheila Hughes, who gave her name to the elephant in 1937, and Michelle Kelly, the Deputy Lord Mayor of Belfast.
‘Bringing the British Museum Touring Exhibition Egyptian hieroglyphs: unlock the mystery to Lisburn Museum’
Dr Ciaran Toal, Lisburn Museum
In this brief talk Ciaran will discuss the museum’s experience hosting Egyptian hieroglyphs: unlock the mystery, a touring exhibition from the British Museum. The display tells the story of the Rosetta Stone and the decipherment of hieroglyphs, and how this breakthrough unlocked our understanding of life and death in ancient Egyptian. Ciaran will explore the challenges and lessons learned in hosting a major travelling exhibition.
‘Developing partnerships and holistic working in a small independent museum’
Carol Conlin, Armagh Robinson Library
Carol, Assistant Keeper at Armagh Robinson Library, will be discussing the benefits of partnership working for her museum. Having taken a holistic approach to several NI Museums Council supported projects including Museum Challenge: Climate Change Project, The Late Shift, and Global Voices Local Choices, Carol will share how such projects can build off, and improve one and other.
‘Engaging communities in the Global Voices Local Choices and a World of Stories Projects’
Agrippa Njanina, NI Museums Council and Nic Wright, Causeway Coast and Glens Museums
Hear from Community Engagement Officer Agrippa on how the National Museums NI, NI Museums Council, and African Caribbean Support Organisation NI (ACSONI) partner project Global Voices Local Choices is progressing. Then Nic will share his experiences of community engagement with the creation of Coleraine Museum’s World of Voices exhibition alongside participation in the Global Voices Local Choices project.
How to Book
This event is free for member of the NI Museums Council and spaces are limited.
Bookings can be made on Eventbrite but if you are not able to use Eventbrite please contact catherine.doran@nimc.co.uk to request a booking form.