Please Feel Free to Keep Report Short and to the Point

County Report for: BAfM South West Date: 19 November 2013 By: Mary Bailey

Please remember that most of this report will be available on the Federation Website on your ‘County’ pages. So please do write with this in mind

County Report

County Museum Group Has there been a meeting? What were main topics? Was anything raised that should be brought to attention of Fed Committee? Write Your Report here

Anything Happened Has anything happened in your County which other reps and Fed Committee should know about? Write Your Report here

As part of the Frameworks partnership set up with Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives, Swindon Museum & Art Gallery, The Wilson, Cheltenham, The Holburne Museum and the Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, friends’ groups from these museums have taken part in reciprocal visits.

NEWS FROM THE FRIENDS OF WEYMOUTH MUSEUM The Autumn series of Teas & Talks is now at its mid-way point. These have been of an excellent standard and well received with attendance for each at around the sixty mark. Work has continued towards the reopening of the Museum. The work is nearing completion and the formal re-opening will be on a Victorian Evening on Friday 6 December. The Annual General meeting for Friends will take place on Saturday 30 November at 2.30 pm. The venue is the Resource Room, Weymouth Museum, Brewers Quay. The business will be followed by a chance to view the Museum Gallery being prepared for opening.

THE HOLST BIRTHPLACE MUSEUM, CHELTENHAM The trustees report with sadness the sudden death of Richard Smith, a recently-appointed trustee. Richard was a very supportive member of BAfM and he will be sadly missed by everyone. He recently facilitated the choice of Cheltenham as the location of the annual conference of this Association in 2015.

NEWS FROM THE MUSEUM OF WITCHCRAFT, BOSCASTLE In a Special Edition issue the Museum’s November Newsletter starts with a letter from Graham King. As he had always planned, he retired at 60 and at midnight on the 31 October, ownership of the Museum of Witchcraft was passed from Graham to the Museum of British Folklore. The Museum continues but with a new director, the same staff, accountants, bank accounts, suppliers etc. In his letter Graham recalls some of the progress made over recent years with the data base and on-line search facility now setting a very high standard. During the whole of 2013 Trip Advisor has rated the Museum as the top Museum in Cornwall.

HELPING THE ART FUND AT CHRISTMAS With 19 Devon Museums already in receipt of Art Fund grants, Friends of all South West groups are invited to support a fund-raising event to be held at 1.00 pm on Tuesday 10 December. The venue is the Riverford Field Kitchen, Dartington, Devon. After lunch Guy Watson, the man behind Britain’s largest organic farm, will talk about the history and future of Riverford. The organisers aim to give a big Christmas present to the Art Fund as a result of their fund- raising and will also be holding an Auction of Promises at the event.

Training What training has been undertaken in last quarter and what is up-coming in next? Write Your Report here

Successes Any particular successes in county, including grant applications, openings, awards, etc?

Write Your Report here

Problems Any particular problems or challenges faced by museums in your county? Write Your Report here Both friends’ groups of Bristol Museums, Galleries & Archives have been advised by a member of the museums’ development team that care must be taken over benefits for friends. If the membership subscriptions are gift-aided, then the value of benefits cannot be more than 25% of the donation. This ruling is applicable to local authority museums and not to independent trusts. This is the reason why friends are unable to benefit from free entry to paying exhibitions at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and M Shed. Membership Any new members? Any lost members?

Ideas Any ideas from you or your membership to help the Fed help you? Write Your Report here

Any Web Links Any Websites created by County members of interest?

Anything Else Any other points that you wish to raise?

Images of Use for Fed Do you have any images that might be of use to the Fed or could be put up on the website? Please send images separately to co-ordinator

Please feel free to keep report short and to the point. If there is no news, don’t worry – just leave section blank.