Agenda item

To consider the King’s Lynn Museum Report.

R Hanley, Assistant Head of Museums (Head of Service Delivery) and the Operations Manager – West presented the report which provided information on the King’s Lynn Museum activities for the period May 2018 to July 2018.

The visitor numbers were tabled and discussed.  The Operations Manager – West advised that the figures had been audited up to 31 July 2018.  The Lynn Museum figures had increased by approximately 1,000 visitors for the same period in 2017.  The Assistant Head of Museums congratulated the staff at the Lynn Museum for the marketing work which had been undertaken to attract visitors to the Museum and added that some Museum sites had seen around a 15% drop in visitor numbers during July and August as a result of the very hot weather.

The Assistant Head of Museums and the Operations Manager – West responded to questions relating to:

·         The current exhibition Animal ABC.

·         Security provision for the display cabinet in the reception of Lynn Museum.

·         Loan of collections for display at the Lynn Museum.

·         The October talks programme.  It was noted that Lynn Museum staff had produced a leaflet which was referred to by S Thompson.

·         Opportunity for members of the public to see a miniature model steam engine operate in the museum.

·         Themed gallery discovery trails.

·         Various arrangements for publicising the Museum’s events.

·         Sunday joint ticket, available to visitors of Stories of Lynn, Custom House exhibition and the Lynn Museum had seen positive uptake.

·         Categories of birds named in honour of Gurney.

·         Summer programme of activities.

·         New programme to encourage under 5’s to visit the Museum.

·         Work undertaken by volunteers.

·         Seahenge - Gallery and educational links to schools, etc.

·         Southgate Project.

·         Successful partnership working with King’s Lynn Festival.

·         Coastal Treasures project.

·         Variable factors which influenced visitor numbers.

·         Vouchers give to school children to encourage repeat visits to the Museum.

·         Centralised Purchasing of stock for Museum shops.

In response to a question on working with the Munnings Museum, the Operations Manager – West undertook to ascertain the information and email a response to the Committee.

The Committee received and update from S Thompson, Friends of the Museum as detailed in the report.  The Committee was reminded that the annual fundraising lecture organised by the Friends this year would be by Dr Jody Joy, Senior Curator of Archaeology at the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge who would be speaking about the Snettisham Treasure.  Tickets were on sale at the Museum at £5.  It was AGREED that S Thompson would send the link to the Friends Newsletter to the Democratic Services Officer for circulation to the Committee.

In response to a question of extending the Sunday offer during the winter months, the Assistant Head of Museums explained that the visitor figures would continue to be monitored but highlighted that the budget and resource required also needed to be considered.  However, it was noted that the Tourist Information Office was open on on a Sunday from mid-day.

The Chairman, Councillor Mrs Nockolds thanked the Assistant Head of Museums, the Operations Manager – West and the Chairman of the Friends of King’s Lynn Museum for their attendance and update reports.  The Chairman also thanked the Museums Services for the excellent partnership work which was carried out with the Borough Council,

In response to a question on the Norfolk Museums Service budget, the Assistant Head of Museums undertook to provide an annual summary to the Committee.