Freelance mentors – AIM

Job Title: Freelance mentor

Salary: £650 per day

Terms: Freelance contract

Location: Working remotely on behalf of AIM

Closing date: 9:00 am, 17 Feb 2025

Introduction

Museum Fundamentals combines AIM’s existing invaluable collections care and conservation grants supported by the Pilgrim Trust with new funding from the Julia Rausing Trust. The new grants will allow small and medium museums to create projects based on their collection needs which improve knowledge, care and access to our nation’s heritage  

Museums use their collections to tell stories and connect with visitors: to discover meaning behind objects and heritage, educate, entertain, inform and inspire. To do this they must know what is in their collection to see what stories they can tell and to have well-looked-after objects they can research, conserve, interpret and display. Museum Fundamentals will support small and medium sized museums with these core activities. It will enable them to care for collections more effectively and efficiently and to meet the standards required for Accreditation.  

Successful applicants will be given the opportunity to work with mentors to help guide and support them to deliver their projects successfully. 

Project mentors

AIM wishes to recruit a pool of freelance mentors to support the Museum Fundamentals grants.  

We have found that small museums, which may have just a few or even no paid staff, value the opportunity to work with specialists. Conservation grants often provide small museums with their first opportunity to work with an accredited conservator. Successful New Stories, New Audiences projects also received three days of mentoring. This was universally welcomed. Feedback received during the project evaluation included: 

“An extremely empowering idea. I really valued our conversations, and the reassurance provided.” 

Successful applicants to Museum Fundamentals will receive up to three days of mentoring from one of the consultants on the roster.

Person specification

We are looking for experienced consultants who: 

  • Have good understanding of the museums and heritage sector, in particular the type of organisations that make up AIM’s small and medium museums categories. 
  • Have a good knowledge and understanding of what makes a successful and flourishing museum and in particular the areas that the new grant will fund: 
  • Research 
  • Collections documentation 
  • Collections review 
  • Collections care 
  • New displays 
  • Online access 
  • Are approachable, organised, and communicate clearly and regularly with other team members 
  • Have experience of providing mentoring and support to projects and organisations e.g. are able to problem solve and advise those in operational and decision-making roles.

Contract management

There is a fee of £650 per day, to include travel and expenses and excluding VAT. A payment schedule will be agreed on appointment. Museums awarded a Museum Fundamentals grant will receive up to 3 days of mentoring support from one of the consultants on our roster.

The role is freelance, and the contractor will need to be able to work from home and provide their own IT and office equipment. 

AIM has a standard self-employed contractor agreement.  

The contractors will report to the AIM Head of Programmes.

How to apply

Please tell us, in not more than 2 pages or a 4-minute video: 

  • Which elements of the programme you are interested in delivering and why. 
  • A brief outline of your relevant skills and experience. 
  • Please provide 2 referees. 

Proposals should be sent to AIM Head of Programmes, Margaret Harrison [email protected] by 9am on Monday 17 February 

Existing mentors to AIM programmes do not need to apply but do need to confirm to AIM that you wish to be added to the Museum Fundamentals mentor pool, mentioning any additional expertise or experience you feel is relevant.