Agenda item

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The Curator of the Lynn Museum introduced the report on the King’s Lynn Museum activities in the period from August to December 2025.  A copy of the report is attached to the minutes.

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

1)     Exhibitions and events at Lynn Museum

1.1  Current Exhibition May the Toys Be with You

1.2   Forthcoming Exhibition: “Unboxed: Discovering Lynn’s Collections” (working title)

1.3  Family events

1.4  Family Trails

1.5  Mini Museum

1.6  Coffee Mornings

1.7  Talks Programme

1.8  Workshops

1.9  Forthcoming events

The Curator of the Lynn Museum invited questions from the Committee in relation to those areas of the report, as summarised below.

In response to a question from the Vice Chair, Councillor Kemp, the Curator of the Lynn Museum explained the artefacts from the former Townhouse Museum which closed in 2010 were carefully stored and documented, with some already incorporated into Lynn Museum displays and others planned for inclusion in the new exhibition, particularly to engage young visitors.  The Curator of the Lynn Museum added that children’s learning was a key priority for the Norfolk Museums Service.

In response to a question from the Chair, Councillor Bubb, the Assistant Head of Museums explained the museum had previously used libraries for displays and activities and that discussions were ongoing about using the new King’s Lynn library for youth engagement work and that they were continuing its successful partnership with the Great Yarmouth Community Hub.  The Assistant Head of Museums added that although displaying artefacts in libraries was sometimes possible, security and environmental requirements were key considerations.

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

2)     Newman Legacy project

3)     Other Museum developments

3.1 Heritage Open Day

3.2 Dragon Festival

3.3 Beuys’ Acorns Project

3.4 Book Launch The Norfolk’s at Gallipoli 1915 by Steve Smith

3.7 NMS Teaching Museum Trainees

3.9 Volunteers

    3.10 Finds Identification and Recording Day

The Curator of the Lynn Museum explained the Marketing Manager for Norfolk Museums Service would present the following areas of the report later on in the meeting:

3.5 Publicity and promotion

3.6 Norfolk Museums Pass

The Chair, Councillor Bubb raised a question around the name of the circle of oak trees and Councillor de Whalley confirmed that it was referred to as the Beuys’ Acorns Project.

In response to a question from County Councillor Bambridge, the Assistant Head of Museums explained the war trumpet which had been discovered in Norfolk was found on a development site.

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

4)     Borough Council partnership working

4.1 Stories of Lynn – Events & Exhibitions

The Vice Chair, Councillor Kemp, referred to the programme for home?educated young people and asked who families should contact if they wished to take part. The Marketing Manager confirmed that families could contact her or the Stories of Lynn Museum.  The Marketing Manager also reported that bespoke sessions for home?educated children were being offered, with the first official visit scheduled for late January 2026.

In response to a question from the Chair, Councillor Bubb, regarding the Making the Rounds: Stories of Workhouse Nurses Told in Textiles exhibition at the Stories of Lynn, the Marketing Manager explained that more artefacts could have been displayed, but the available space did not allow for it.  The Assistant Head of Museums added that the display space at the Stories of Lynn Museum was challenging and reassured the Committee that they were continually exploring different ways to use it.

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

5)     Learning & Outreach

5.1 School visits – Lynn Museum

5.2 School visits – Stories of Lynn

5.3 Kick the Dust – Activity in King’s Lynn

The Chair, Councillor Bubb, asked whether there had been any progress on securing funding to support schools unable to visit museums due to transport costs.  The Assistant Head of Museums reported that transport costs continued to be a significant barrier and added that several sites offered travel bursaries funded through fundraising.

The Assistant Head of Museums provided an update on the Kick the Dust Norfolk countywide programme and highlighted to the Committee that the new youth engagement strategy had been published and advised this would be shared with Members of the King’s Lynn and West Norfolk Area Museums Committee.

The Vice Chair, Councillor Kemp referred to the temporary exhibition created by the King’s Lynn-based Time Turners and suggested that all Members be invited to it.  The Marketing Manager confirmed that all Members would be welcome to attend the exhibition and explained the Time Turners group were curating the exhibition on Norfolk’s role in the British Civil War, focusing on King’s Lynn with plans for interactive elements and dressing up.

The visitor figures were circulated to the Committee at the meeting and were noted.  A copy of the visitor figures is attached to the minutes.

The Curator of the Lynn Museum reported that figures for 2025 - 2026 were slightly lower than in 2024 - 2025 but reassured the Committee that they remained higher than in earlier years.

RESOLVED: The Committee noted the report.