Funded!

Symbiosis: a new model of resilience for specialist museums

We are delighted to have been awarded a grant of £36, 400 in the second round of Arts Council England’s Resilience Fund. John Orna-Ornstein, Director of Museums at Arts Council England said: 'The focus of our investment approach for museums in 2015-18 is on building a more resilient sector. The Museum Resilience fund is a key part of that, providing vital support to museums right across the country.'

The purpose of ‘Symbiosis’ is to create and pilot a new model of economic resilience for smaller museums (defined as museums with five or fewer full-time equivalent staff) by developing deeper mutually beneficial collaborations with industries relevant to our collection and building a resource to support other small specialist museums in collaborating with their relevant industries.

We will contract an Industry Advocate to work with MoDiP and a cluster of small museums to understand their barriers to collaboration, impart entrepreneurial skills and understanding of business development to museum staff, and broker collaborations with industry, developing three innovative MoDiP/industry interactions as case studies.

Phil Gibby, Area Director, South West, Arts Council England, said: ‘At a challenging time for funding in the sector, it is vital that museums look at ways of improving their resilience and making the most of every opportunity. By investing £36,400 through our Museums Resilience Fund, we are helping to create a new model of resilience for specialist museums working with industry. MoDiP is leading the work in this area and we’re delighted that they will be sharing their learning throughout the sector.’

If you are a museum with five or fewer full-time equivalent staff and are interested in working with us please get in touch: slambert@aub.ac.uk.

Susan Lambert (Head of MoDiP)