THE IRISH MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION. Strategic Plan

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1 THE IRISH MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION Strategic Plan Introduction The Irish Museums Association is an all-ireland body, founded in 1977 to service the needs and represent the ideals of the Irish museum community. The Association is managed as a limited company headed by a voluntary Board of Directors, drawn from the membership, who seek to identify and address issues facing the museum sector. The Association has a full-time member of staff, and is supported by the Department of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, the Heritage Council, the Office of Public Works and the IMA membership. The Association subscribes to the International Council of Museums (ICOM) definition: A museum is a non-profit, permanent institution in the service of society and its development, open to the public, which acquires, conserves, researches, communicates and exhibits the tangible and intangible heritage of humanity and its environment for the purposes of education, study and enjoyment. 1 The Association also subscribes to the International Council of Museums (ICOM) Code of Ethics (Appendix 1) 2 Mission To promote and encourage the development of museum practice in Ireland, so that those working in and visiting museums will enjoy the maximum cultural, social and educational benefits and to enhance the value of museums to the community, through leadership, advocacy and service. The Association seeks to promote the establishment of professional codes of practice for those working in museums, and seeks to improve the establishment of professional support mechanisms for museums in Ireland. Central to the purpose of the Association is an awareness and development of the role which can be played by museums and the museum profession within the community, in collaboration with other professional bodies and central and local government. 1 ICOM Statutes, adopted during the 21st General Conference in Vienna, Austria (2007) 2 *(2006).ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums. p14. For institutions that qualify as museums under the definition see (2002) ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums. Paris, International Council of Museums. p.26.

2 The Strategic Plan Purpose The purpose of this strategic plan is to set out key strategic objectives to be addressed over the next three years. Each strategic goal will be processed by a working group of the Board, will include an implementation/action process and incorporate completion dates as appropriate. The implementation/action process will be determined by the relevant working group and approved by the Board. Review/Evaluation The review/evaluation each of the strategic aims will be undertaken by and on a schedule determined by the Board based on reports prepared by the relevant working group with responsibility for each specific objective. The areas to be addressed in this plan are: Advocacy Membership Governance Partnerships Professional Development 1. Advocacy The Association aims to become a more active advocate on behalf of the Sector. As part of this process the Association will develop policies on specific issues as they affect the sector. In doing so it is intended to inform rather than react to decisions as they arise and where appropriate to make our views known to the public. It is important, therefore that the Association can establish the issues that are of concern to the Irish museums and develop an informed position on them. In addition to general consultative workshops it is intended to seek to meet the Local Authorities Curators Group and the Regional Curators Group in the Northern Ireland. It must have the ability to advocate with authority on behalf of museums and this will only be possible if it has the confidence of the sector it represents. This objective in closely linked to the strategic goal Number 4 below of working in partnership with the Association s stakeholders, particularly the funding providers. Chairman/Administrator / Management Committee. Set up a series of workshops to identify issues facing the sector and establish where and if we can be of assistance in terms of advice, support, representation or public relations and set timetable for review/evaluation. Initiate meetings with the Local Authorities and Regional Curators groups Consultation to take place throughout 2015 with presentation to membership at 2016 Annual Conference Chairman/Administrator / Management Committee October 2015

3 2. Membership Membership is open to museum professionals in the full-time, part-time and voluntary museum sector; museums; the corporate sector; and those who are interested in museums. Individual membership has declined over the last number of years and lack of clarity for institutional members in terms of rights of museums and subscriptions levels. A membership sub-committee met and recommended implementing an annual museum membership rate. It also identified the need to try to increase individual membership with a view to increasing subscription income and ensure a wider range of museum staff are represented. Identify and set up a procedure/plan for to communicate with institutional and potential institutional members, contact former Membership Sub- Committee/Administrator Campaign to start in 2015 with increased members and identify potential new individual members with a view to increasing subscription income and set timetable for review/evaluation. representation of museums and professionals across Ireland to be delivered each year until Governance During the period of the Plan the Board of Directors will focus on good governance. While a considerable amount of work has been carried out on governance, the Association will adopt the Code of Good Practice for Community, Voluntary and Charitable Organisations in Ireland. 3 The role of the full-time member of staff has evolved and as part of this process the duties of the post will be reviewed. Identify remaining governance issues to be addressed and set timetable for review/evaluation Chairman/Administrator Management Committee March Partnerships Our main supporters over many years have been the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (DAHG), Heritage Council (HC) and the Office of Public Works (OPW). The Association is also active in the Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO), the Learning, Education Museum Network (LEM) and similar International organisations. The Association will continue to work with all its partners with a view to having a more cohesive approach to the various issues facing the sector. In doing so the Association would hope to play a more active role in pursuing its vision for the Sector. 3 The Governance Code

4 Although the Irish Museums Association is an all-ireland body, it has yet to develop a working relationship with the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (DCAL) in Northern Ireland. The Association would also seek to develop a working relationship with the Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC). The Association will initiate discussions with DCAL and NIMC with a view to establishing support and develop partnerships which would be beneficial to its membership (both institutional and individual) in Northern Ireland. Other elements of partnership include those with third level institutions where in addition to their role in Strategic Objective Number 5 Professional Development below, there is scope to develop research and publication projects which would be of benefit to both the institutions and the Association. It is important for the IMA to diversify funding in future years and the Association acknowledges that the development of closer partnerships with the above mentioned bodies and agencies, local authorities and other institutions is a key factor in this endeavour. The Association will continue to play an active role, as the Irish representative body, in the activities of NEMO subject to resources being available. Chairman/Administrator / Board members as required. Initiate meetings with the DAHG and the HC on a yearly basis to establish goals that would be of benefit to all involved and set timetable for review/evaluation. Set up initial meeting with DCAL and NIMC to establish areas of common interests Continue to participate in NEMO activities and review as required Initiate meetings with relevant third level institutions to investigate the possibilities of developing appropriate joint research and publication projects. October 2015 and on an annual basis after this date. Chairman/Administrator/ Board members as required. September 2015 Chairman/Administrator Chairman/Administrator/ Board members as required. 5. Professional Development The Association s main activities in the area of professional development have been the Museum Basics course organised for local/regional museums and a North/South Forum organised in partnership with third-level institutions on museum-related issues aimed at under graduates and early career professionals. This has been funded in the past by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the Cooperation with Northern Ireland Scheme. The Association also organises regular Collections and Education & Outreach forums on collections and museum education and outreach topics. The Association will continue to run and develop its annual conference which is the main focus of our events programme every year. The Association has an excellent track record in terms of identifying and securing expert contributors working in the cultural sector in

5 Ireland and abroad. Not only will this high standard be maintained, but the Association will also ensure that attendance at the conference is seen as essential for anyone working in the sector. The Association aims to establish Museums Basics as the primary training course for museum and potential museum professionals in Ireland using a wide range of qualified trainers and maintaining the highest standards of excellence. As part of this process the Association will consult with members and stakeholders with a view to establishing training needs and seek to address them. The aim is also to continue to organise forums on collections, museum education and outreach topics. To continue to provide the Museums Basics Administrator/Training course to the highest standards of excellence. Committee To continue to work in partnership with third level institutions in the provision of training seminars on relevant museum topics. Administrator/Training Committee To consult with members and stakeholders regarding training needs. Administrator/Training Committee To examine the feasibility of external Administrator/Training accreditation for the Museums Basics course. Committee To raise awareness among relevant stakeholders Administrator/Training of the training provisions of the Association. Committee Consultation to take place throughout 2015 with presentation to membership at 2016 Annual Conference June 2015 December 2016 In addition to the strategic objectives outlined above the Association will continue disseminate information, promote good practice and provide relevant learning and networking opportunities to members, through the Annual Conference, the Annual Lecture, the journal Museum Ireland, which has become essential reading for the museum sector generally, and other publications, museum visits and events.