Agenda item

To consider the King’s Lynn Museum Report.

The Committee received the report from the Head of Operations and Learning which provided information on King’s Lynn Museum activities in the period from July to September 2017 circulated with the Agenda.

Robin Hanley, Hannah Jackson, Oliver Bone and Sam Bellotti presented the report.

The above officers responded to questions relating to:

·         Two recently restored pictures/Baines paintings currently at Aickman’s Yard and creating space to display at Lynn Museum to enable the general public to view.

·         Museum programme regularly used items stored at Aickman’s Yard.

·         Lending items/collections to other Museums.

·         Shoes exhibition – attracted a significant number of visitors.

·         Displays regularly rotated in order to incorporate new acquisitions.

·         Potential of Guildhall to accommodate future exhibitions.

·         Baines Paintings – suggestion made to produce a limited edition calendar for fund raising purposes.

·         Opportunities to create temporary exhibitions – example given of the shoes.

·         Potential development opportunities at the Town Hall

·         Lynn Museum able to apply to loan objects/collections from national museums.

·         Group of trainees meet on a regular basis to exchange ideas/support each other to develop ideas.

·         Programme group meet on a quarterly basis to oversee and deliver current and future programmes/exhibitions to link in with local themes.

·         Local event/town wide activity to welcome recent Thomas Baines painting back to King’s Lynn.

·         School visits/programme (funding available for transporting pupils to museums).

·         Outreach work - mobile exhibitions visiting community venues, materials loaned to  schools

·         Marketing campaign – a new History in Your Hands flier had been produced to publicise the museum’s events.

·         Acquisitions policy.

·         Use of Internet to create virtual exhibitions.

·         Google Cultural Institute – plans to follow up with an additional new online exhibition on pilgrimage and pilgrim badges.

·         Sunday opening 12 pm to 4 pm had received positive uptake.

·         Visitor numbers/variance/trends across all Norfolk museum sites.

·         Local celebration events to link in with national anniversaries, etc.

K Leonard, Treasurer of the Friends of Lynn Museum provided an overview of forthcoming events organised by the Friends.  It was noted that the afternoon talks were well attended and attracted approximately 20 attendees.    It was noted that the Friends had funds available to continue to support the Lynn Museum.  The Friends published a newsletter and Mr Leonard undertook to forward a copy to the Democratic Services Officer for circulation to the Committee.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman, Councillor Mrs Nockolds thanked the Friends for their continued support.

H Jackson tabled the visitor figures and it was reported that:

·         July 2017 - Numbers were on a par compared with 2016/2017.

·         August 2017 – Numbers were on a par compared with 2015/2016.

·         September 2017 – Numbers were up on the 2016/2017 reported figures.

The Committee was informed that it was hoped that the continued work to promote and deliver activities as well as the use of social media would generate increased footfall.

King’s Lynn Museums Report – Supplementary Information

The Head of Operations tabled supplementary information following the comments made at the last meeting.

The Committee considered and discussed the suggestion as set out below:

(a)  Finance.

(b)  Property.

(c)  Staff

(d)  Information Technology.

RESOLVED: 1) K Leonard to email the Friends’ Newsletter to the Democratic Services Officer (wendy.vincent@west-norfolk.gov.uk) for circulation to the Committee.

2) The supplementary information tabled to be included in future Museum reports.