Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor R Kybird, Norfolk Joint Museums Committee.

The Committee is invited to confirm as a correct record the notes of the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2023 were agreed as a correct record, subject to County Councillor J Ward being added to the list of attendees.

To consider any matters arising.

There were no matters arising.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

Councillor Bland and County Councillor Bambridge declared an interest in item 6 as Trustees of True’s Yard Museum.

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The Curator of the Lynn Museum presented the report on the King’s Lynn Museum activities in the period from September to November 2023. A copy of the report is attached to the minutes.

The Committee’s attention was drawn to the following areas of the report:

• Covid-19 and Infection Control service update.
• Exhibitions and events at Lynn Museum.
• Forthcoming Exhibitions: The Moon: Meet our Nearest Neighbour and Woof - a Celebration of Dogs. The Curator confirmed the opening event for The Moon: Meet our Nearest Neighbour exhibition was on Tuesday 6 February at 2.30pm and explained Committee Members were welcome to attend the event.
• Family events.
• Family Trails.
• Mini Museum.
• Heritage Open Day.
• Coffee Mornings.

The Curator of the Lynn Museum invited the Committee to ask questions in relation to section 2 of the report.

In response to a question raised by County Councillor M Chenery of Horsbrugh, the Curator explained they would be featuring a Taxidermy Wolf in the Exhibition Woof - a Celebration of Dogs and confirmed they would have further information on wolves in Norfolk as part of that.

County Councillor J Ward referred to the Exhibition Woof - a Celebration of Dogs and asked whether they would allow people to bring their dogs to the opening of the Exhibition. In response, the Curator explained assistance dogs would be allowed. The Assistant Head of Museums explained they would need to have a conversation with their Conservation colleagues. He confirmed they would ask the question.

The Chair, Councillor A Bubb commented that his local library was not aware of The Tiger Who Came to Tea Exhibition and raised concerns around advertising. In response, the Curator agreed with the Chair and commented that they could always do better at advertising and added they should have good information at libraries around the district.

Councillor A Kemp referred to the coffee mornings and asked whether there was a diverse of people attending the coffee mornings, particularly people from care homes. In response, the Curator explained they had good links with some local care homes and confirmed they had had residents come in the past. He added they would work on and try to encourage more visits in that way.

County Councillor L Bambridge commented that she really enjoyed the Exhibitions. She added she loved the Hoards Exhibition and thought the displays were excellent and the illustrations at The Tiger Who Came to Tea Exhibition were beautiful.

Councillor M de Whalley asked whether there was anything included in the Woof - a Celebration of Dogs Exhibition about early beliefs. In response, the Curator explained they had incorporated a number of different aspects such as the natural history of dogs, companion dogs, working dogs and added if they weren’t able to incorporate it in the exhibition, they would look into including it as part of their talks programme or through social media. The Assistant Head of Museums added there was the potential  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

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The Chair, Councillor A Bubb thanked the Museum Curator at True’s Yard for the visit to the True’s Yard Museum which they attended prior to their meeting.

The Committee received the report of the Museum Curator at True’s Yard. A copy of the report is attached to the minutes.

The Committee’s attention was drawn to the following areas of the report:

• Temporary Exhibitions and events at True’s Yard Fisherfolk Museum.
• Learning and Outreach.

The Museum Curator at True’s Yard invited questions and comments from the Committee in relation to the report.

The Chair, Councillor A Bubb referred to the Summer Art Exhibition and asked whether some of the pictures in the warehouse would be let out to take part in the Exhibition during the summer. In response, the Museum Curator at True’s Yard and the Assistant Head of Museums Service explained concerns had been raised that small organisations would not be able to do loans. The Assistant Head of Museums highlighted to the Committee that they do whatever they can with the pressures which sites like True’s Yard face and do what they can to mitigate costs. The Assistant Head of Museums added with certain partners that they have wanted to support where the loan of an original work of art has been prohibited in terms of insurance, they have been able to facilitate really good digital versions and explained there were other routes they could explore.

The Chair, Councillor A Bubb suggested to the Museum Curator at True’s Yard that they could approach their Borough Councillor who has a fund of £1000 to distribute for Community use and that this could possibly be applied to this. In response, the Museum Curator at True’s Yard explained they were fortunate to receive funding from that and spent it on a defibrillator.

In response to a question raised by County Councillor J Ward, the Museum Curator at True’s Yard explained the visitor figures met the previous year but did not exceed.

County Councillor M Chenery of Horsbrugh referred to NHS Wellbeing Dungeons and Dragons and asked whether they were working with the Norfolk and Suffolk Foundation Trust. The Museum Curator at True’s Yard confirmed this was specifically with Norfolk and Welney.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

In the absence of the Senior Tourism Support Officer, the Committee noted the report.

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.

To note the date of the next meeting is 18 March 2024 at 2.00 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

The next meeting of the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Area Museums Committee would be held on 18^th March 2024 at 2.00pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, King’s Lynn.

The Chair, Councillor Bubb asked if the Democratic Services Officer could arrange a tour of the Stories of Lynn for the Committee prior to its next meeting.