Agenda item

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The Operations Manager, Assistant Head of Museums and Learning and Engagement Officer presented the report on the King’s Lynn Museum activities in the period from January to February 2026.  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

 

County Councillor Chenery of Horsbrugh referred to the farmyard-themed event in the monthly Mini Museum programme and asked whether it explored modern or traditional farmyards.  The Operations Manager explained that, as the session was designed for children under five, the focus was on experiences with farmyard animals rather than farmyard mechanics.

 

Councillor de Whalley referred to the forthcoming “Unboxed: Discovering Lynn’s Collections” exhibition and asked whether any complementary online or social media content would accompany it. The Operations Manager confirmed that digital content, including social media and the collections website, would support the exhibition.

 

County Councillor Bambridge referred to the forthcoming “Unboxed: Discovering Lynn’s Collections” exhibition and asked if there would be any sort of subject theming.  The Operations Manager reported that the final list was being drawn up which would help inform how the exhibition design all comes together.

 

The Chair commented that staff at the new King’s Lynn library would welcome displaying items from the forthcoming “Unboxed: Discovering Lynn’s Collections” exhibition.  The Chair also asked whether children were charged for visiting the Lynn Museum.  The Assistant Head of Museums confirmed there was a general admission charge for children and clarified that the museum offered free admission from October to March, that under fours were always free, and that free admission for households on means tested benefits would be introduced in April.

 

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

 

1.6  Coffee Mornings

1.7  Talks Programme

1.8  Workshops

1.9  Forthcoming events

 

Councillor Kybird asked whether the Savage Brothers were the same family associated with a department store in Thetford.  The Assistant Head of Museums commented that a family connection was possible and added that the Savages’ link with King’s Lynn was through steam engineering.

 

Councillor Ward referred to the Lynn Museum event held for National Lottery Open Week and asked for attendance figures.  The Operations Manager advised that she did not have the exact numbers to hand but reported a significant increase in uptake across the service, with Gressenhall receiving more than 1,700 visitors over its two free?admission days.

 

Councillor Kemp referred to the Natural Paints and Pigments Workshop and asked if Woad face painting was featured in the workshop.  The Operations Manager advised she would check and commented that this was something which could be incorporated.

 

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

 

2)    Newman Legacy project

3)    Other Museum developments

 3.1 Publicity and promotion

 3.2 Norfolk Museums Pass

 

In response to a question from Councillor Ward, the Assistant Head of Museums explained that they had not previously offered free general admission to College of West Anglia students, but they were open to exploring this further.

 

The Chair asked if there was any scope in getting the Exploring the Victorian grills series onto YouTube.  The Operations Manager confirmed it already appeared on YouTube.

 

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

 

 3.3 NMS Teaching Museum Trainees

 3.6 Finds Identification and Recording Day

 

In response to a question from the Chair, the Operations Manager confirmed she would check the date of the next Finds Identification and Recording Day and provide the information after the meeting.

 

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

 

In response to a question from County Councillor Chenery of Horsbrugh, the Assistant Head of Museums advised that Newman Curator Jan Summerfield could provide members with a summary of the information held on the King John Cup and confirmed this would be shared after the meeting.

 

In response to a question from Councillor de Whalley, the Learning and Engagement Officer explained the planned Civil War exhibition would incorporate research from local archaeological digs and aimed to present history in an engaging way for younger audiences.

 

In response to questions from Councillor Kemp, the Learning and Engagement Officer explained that a new early?years programme, Tiny Time Turners, was due to launch in May for children aged 0–5 and their carers, with outreach planned to local nurseries and home?educating families.  The Learning and Engagement Officer added that bi?monthly home?education visits were being arranged with set pricing, and discussions were ongoing about improving accessibility for all families.

 

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

6)   Kick the Dust Norfolk – countywide programme update

 

Councillor Ward asked whether there was a measure for new entrants to the Kick the Dust programme.  The Assistant Head of Museums stated that no target for intake was currently in place and added that much of their recruitment came through existing groups.

 

The Chair suggested the Youth Climate Change Action Group be invited to come along to do something on Heritage Day.

 

In response to a question from Councillor Kemp, the Learning and Engagement Officer explained the Kick the Dust programme and associated youth groups actively include young people with SEND, with 52% of participants identifying as neurodivergent.

 

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 Operations Manager reported it had been another strong year for the Lynn Museum and that they were on track with figures seen in previous years.

 

RESOLVED: The Committee noted the report.