Agenda item

To consider the King’s Lynn Museum Report.

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The Assistant Head of Museums presented the report on the King’s Lynn Museum activities in the period from 2022 – October 2022.

The Committee was advised that despite the end of legal restrictions, a number of the COVID-secure systems and procedures implemented across Norfolk Museums Service (NMS) sites during the pandemic remained in place, with a focus on keeping staff and visitors safe through minimising any risk of transmission.  Attention was drawn to paragraphs 1.1 and 1.2 of the report.

The Assistant Head of Museums explained that to facilitate increased levels of use of museum spaces by visitors, staff and volunteers, C02 monitors provided through Norfolk County Council had been introduced into a number of rooms and spaces across NMS where there was more limited natural/mechanical ventilation.  The CO2 detectors could be monitored locally by staff using those and enabled a number of spaces to be brought back into use by staff and volunteers and increased capacity for schools and other visitors.

It was highlighted that throughout the period of the pandemic, NMS staff developed a broad range of digital resources to support audiences, including resources.

The Committee was informed that volunteering had recommenced across NMS sites.  Outdoor volunteering commenced earlier in the pandemic including garden volunteers at Strangers’ Hall.

The Curator provided an overview of the exhibitions and events at the Lynn Museum which included:

·         Gardens, Sowing Stories exhibition (ran until 12 June 2022).

·         JMW Turner and the moods of water: rivers, estuaries and the sea (25 June – 15 October 2022).

·         Hoards:  Archaeological Treasures from West Norfolk (25 October 2022 – 11 June 2023).

The Committee’s attention was drawn to:

·         Section 3 – Other Museum developments.

·         Section 4 – Loan to the British Museum (Seahenge Timbers).

·         Section 5 – Partnerships.

·         Section 6 – Learning and events.

·         Section 7 – Kick the Dust Norfolk.

Return of coffee mornings – the coffee mornings had returned to Lynn Museum with the first one taking place on 28 October. 

Heritage Open Day 2 October 2022 over 500 people visited Lynn Museum.  The Museum’s theme was  the Bronze Age.

The Assistant Head of Museums, Curator – Lynn Museum and the Learning and Engagement Officer responded to questions and comments in relation to:

·         Importance of volunteers and roles undertaken, specifically with regard to the Digitising project which had been paused during the Pandemic and the active promotion on recruitment of new volunteers.

·         CO2 monitors and protocols for exceeding recommended levels.

·         Air sanitisers – used in a small number of locations in high priority spaces.

·         Available funding which included support for exhibitions.

·         Developing social media (report written by L Elmore, a copy of which is attached to the minutes).

·         Hoards Exhibition.

·         Loans from other museums.

·         Future funding/budget.

·         Importance of Arts Council England NPO funding.

·         Education opportunities offered by the Museums Service to schools.

·         Use of items held in storage to supplement exhibitions and events.

·         Relationships with the British Museum and other museums both nationally and locally.

·         Focus on specific items when exhibitions/talks/events held at Lynn Museum.

·         Sea Henge Exhibition at the British Museum in London.

·         Potential recycling opportunity/re-use of exhibition display boards.

·         Home Education Workshop(s)/Groups and opportunities to work with the Norfolk Museums Service/attendance figures.

·         Partnership working with the Borough Council and other organisations.

·         Free admission period to Lynn Museum from October to March funded by the Borough Council.

·         Admission fees and the impact of the cost of living.

·         Family Trail – Black Abolitionist Lectures, 22 to 29 October 2022.

·         Norfolk Museums Pass.

Click on the link below to view Norfolk Collections website where the fruits of the volunteers’ labours may be seen

https://www.museums.norfolk.gov.uk/collections

The Assistant Head of Museums informed the Committee that the Norfolk Museums Service had hosted the British Museum Trustees at Norwich Castle.

The visitor numbers for Lynn Museum were tabled and it was noted that school visitors had been included.  However, for the next report to the Committee, the Curator could separate out the number of school visits.

The Chair reminded the Committee of the future events with free admission set out below:

·         1 December 2022, 4 pm Medieval Christmas (copy attached).

·         3 December 2022, 10 am Victorian Christmas (copy attached).

The Chair thanked the Assistant Head of Museums and the Curator, Lynn Museum for attending and presenting the report.