trainingmages.org

Find out how the University of Edinburgh Museums and Galleries benefited from applying to the Training Support Fund.

 

This grant was for 90% funds towards the following two-day training course in October 2006, organised by the Scottish Museums Council: Ready for anything? Emergency Planning in Museums.

The University of Edinburgh Museums and Galleries received 90% funding towards the above training course. This allowed the Collections Office to train 8 people (6 members of staff and 2 volunteers) in emergency planning at the one session. The funds received paid for the SMC (now Museums Galleries Scotland) fees.

 

The funds benefited both salaried and volunteer staff. This was extremely important to us as the structure of the University's museums and galleries - where staff and volunteers work in very small teams of 3 people or fewer rarely allows staff fro different collections to work together in such a practical manner. Two dedicated volunteers who otherwise receive no external training in museums and galleries work were able to attend as, thanks to the grant, we were able to support their places and travel completely.

 

In terms of the development of our University Collections, planning in emergency training has helped us to review current practice in this area, in preparation for our applications to the Museums Accreditation Scheme for three University Collections. Additionally, staff and volunteers from the Edinburgh University Collection of Historical Musical Intruments, Fine Art Collections, Natural History Collections and Collections Support, were able to train together. In this way we not only benefited from the course content, but also from networking amongst ourselves, contributing to better team working across the University, and also with other colleagues from the profession in Scotland who also attended the course.