Conference programme

A separate introduction is available for those attending AIM Conference for the first time.

Andrew Lovett OBE, AIM Chair

Dr Paul Belford, BCLM Chair

Setting up a new museum through, with and for the queer community *

Joseph Galliano-Doig MBE, Queer Britain 

Identifying and engaging your museum’s community *

Join members of the AIM Board to hear their reflections on successful and sustainable community engagement.

Including an announcement on the dates and location for AIM Conference 2025.

Plus, AIM Trustee Laura Crossley will be hosting a lunch for freelancers.

1. Small changes, big impact; shoestring evaluation and data gathering techniques – Rose Maxwell and Sarah Clarke, National Civil War Centre – Newark Museum *
2. Community Stories: Using Intangible Cultural Heritage to further expression, belonging, and engagement – Jacob O’Sullivan, Museums Galleries Scotland.
3. Creating a location-aware app for the Croydon Music Heritage Trail – Abby Pendlebury and Virginia Smith, Museum of Croydon and Llama Digital.
4. How museums are using AIM/Art Fund’s emotions research to build and strengthen their communities – Katherine McAlpine, Brunel Museum and more tbc.
5. Introducing The National Archives and a tour of Dudley Archives – Paul Ford, GLL and Isabel Churcher, National Archives. (Please note the archive tour will be leaving the venue at 1.15pm to allow time for this tour).

Demonstrating the link between community and conservation *

Speakers include Emma Jitha, Icon, Sue Bowers, Pilgrim Trust and Carol King, Black Country Living Museum.

1. Unlocking paintings with community led participatory research – Kelly Robinson and Rowena Hay, Dulwich Picture Gallery.
2. Always part of the story – Lynette Crisp, The Historic Dockyard Chatham.
3. Co-curating interpretation with your community – Alice Rose and Naomi Peach, Kiplin Hall and Gardens.
4. ‘Data Hunters & Story Gatherers’ – Jaane Rowehl and Emma Banks, Hampshire Cultural Trust *

Building heritage communities online *

Including speakers from Cromwell Museum, St Ives Museum and our headline sponsors, Bloomberg Connects.

Lisa Ollerhead, AIM Director

Bloomberg Connects

Setting up a new school in Sandwell and embedding culture in the heart of the community

Emma Stenning, Chief Executive Officer, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra

1. How we can shape and revitalise our cultural landscapes – Alexander Goodger and Lynn Boleyn MBE, Stourbridge Glass Museum *
2. Working with the local community to grow the museum – Braintree Museum
3. ‘Sharing space’ and addressing Board issues – Chawton House
4. Building a new board as part of a plan for viability – Hilary Barnard and Ruth Lesirge, HBRL Consulting

Public funding for public benefit *

Arts Council England, DCMS, National Lottery Heritage Fund, Welsh Government Culture Division and Museums Galleries Scotland.

Creating a menopause support framework *

Sukhi Baden, Black Country Living Museum

There will also be a chance to meet other sector bodies over lunch, including Association for Cultural Enterprises, Icon, GEM and TEG.

1. Decolonisation and practice – conversations with communities – Lucy Edematie, Powell Cotton Trust *
2. Safer Museums: Raising awareness of the impact of domestic abuse  – Naomi Garnett, Sarah Hartshone and Rebecca Morris-Buck, The Safer Museums Network.
3. Dementia, imagination and museums: using collections and creativity to enrich the lives of people living with dementia – Sarah Lawrance and Hannah Wood, Equal Arts.
4. Birmingham Botanical Gardens – from exclusive to inclusive: connecting people to the natural world – Jen Ridding and Sara Blair-Manning, Birmingham Botanical Gardens.
5. Introducing The National Archives and a tour of Dudley Archives – Paul Ford, GLL and Isabel Churcher, National Archives. (Please note the archive tour will be leaving the venue at 2pm to allow time for this tour).

Lessons from Re:Collections *

Shared learning to date from the AIM and Welsh Government Anti-Racist Wales Culture, Heritage, and Sport Fund funded project – Carrie Canham of Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum, community partner Rose Thorn, project mentor Raj Pal, and Maya Sharma of Ahmed Iqbal Ullah RACE Centre and Education Trust.

AIM in conversation *

Reflecting on the theme, sessions and discussions of the last two days – and we want to hear from you! If you’d like to be part of this panel, you can let us know when you buy your tickets.

Andrew Lovett, AIM Chair and Chief Executive Black Country Living Museum