Advice Surgeries
We offer free advice surgeries across a range of topics to help museums in the southeast overcome challenges.
Museum Support Surgeries
Our team of experience Museum Development Officers can offer free advice around forward planning, funding, governance, recruitment, programming, income generation, workforce development, environmental responsibility, diversity and inclusion, audience development and collections care.
Meetings can be conducted by phone, email, virtual platforms or in-person.
Feel free to contact your local Museum Development Officer for advice.
Marketing and/or Audience Development Plan Surgeries
Do you need some quick advice about your audience development planning or marketing plans?
We offer free, 30 minute or one-hour surgeries to museums to answer specific questions or provide general support bespoke to your site.
The very knowledgeable and experienced consultant Christina Lister will conduct the surgeries via a virtual platform (e.g., Zoom, Teams).
This offer is open to museums (accredited and non-accredited) across the southeast of England.
To book a surgery, contact Helen Derbyshire ([email protected]) to discuss your needs with the following information:
- Museum name and accreditation status
- Brief description of your question/problem:
- How you want to be contacted (phone / Zoom / Teams / GoogleMeet / Skype / Whats App)
- Contact name, email, phone number (and Skype username if wanting to use that; email alone is fine for Zoom, Teams or Google Meet)
We will pass these details to Christina and then she will be in touch with you to arrange the meeting.
Accreditation Advice Surgeries
Our Accreditation Advisor is dedicated to offering free guidance to support museums in their accreditation journey. Whether you are a non-accredited museum, or are preparing for your next submission, we can help answer any questions you may have about the accreditation process.
We can also provide support for Museum Accreditation Mentors, including training and advice.
Feel free to contact our Accreditation Advisor for advice.
Preventive Conservation Surgeries
Do you need some quick advice about the conservation and care of your museum collection?
We offer free, one-hour surgeries to museums to answer questions around preventive conservation and collections care.
The surgeries can:
- provide advice about urgent problems (e.g., insect infestation)
- suggest appropriate solutions and remedial care options
- answer questions about environmental monitoring
- offer guidance on basic ‘good practice’ procedures
- advise museums on how to conduct an audit of their display areas and stores
- signpost you to appropriate funding and information sources
Conservation specialists, Spencer and Fry will conduct the surgeries via a virtual platform (e.g., Zoom, Teams).
This offer is open to museums (accredited and non-accredited) across the southeast of England.
To book a surgery, contact Amy JunkerHeslip ([email protected]) to discuss your needs with the following information:
- Museum name and accreditation status
- Brief description of your question/problem:
- How you want to be contacted (phone / Zoom / Teams / GoogleMeet / Skype / Whats App)
- Contact name, email, phone number (and Skype username if wanting to use that; email alone is fine for Zoom, Teams or Google Meet)
Grant-Writing Surgeries
Do you need help with a grant application?
We offer free, one-hour, virtual grant-writing surgeries to museums to help them with funding applications.
The surgeries can:
- Provide guidance before you start your application
- Provide proofreading advice before you submit your application
- Offer insight on how to improve and resubmit an unsuccessful bid
Museum consultant, Sonia Rasbery, will conduct the surgeries via a virtual platform (e.g., Zoom, Teams).
This offer is open to museums (accredited and non-accredited) across the southeast of England.
To book a virtual grant writing surgery, please email your Museum Development Officer with:
- Your museum’s name and accreditation status
- The funder to whom you are applying
- Application deadlines
- How you want to be contacted (phone / Zoom / Teams
- / GoogleMeet / Skype / Whats App)
- Contact name, email, phone number (and Skype username if wanting to use that; email alone is fine for Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet)
- Whether you would like your Museum Development Officer to attend the virtual meeting (Y/N).
- If you would like Sonia to provide feedback or proof a draft proposal, please email a draft along with your request.
Collections Management Surgeries
These free surgeries are available for museums in conjunction with the Collections Trust this autumn. Up to two members of your museum can book a slot which will offer bespoke guidance in matters relating to collections management. Complete the linked form below outlining the topic you would like to discuss along with your preferred contact method. These surgeries can cover a wider range of issues from historic loans and disposals to documentation manuals and acquisitions.