Notts Independent Museums Forum
About The Forum
The Nottinghamshire Independent Museums Forum is a body offering advice, support and training to independent museums and heritage related projects based within the county. Although there are similar numbers of independent and local authority museums in Nottinghamshire, historically it has been difficult for an individual independent museum to communicate effectively with local authorities or government bodies. NIMF therefore also has a strong advocacy role and is able to presenting the views of the independent museum sector to all tiers of government, whilst being unafraid to tread on toes when this is necessary.
Forum Meetings
The Forum holds meetings at least three times per annum, usually in rotation at member museums. Meetings comprise a 'business section', when items affecting the museum sector or individual museums are discussed, followed by a themed discussion or practical exercise which often relates to the museum hosting the meeting. Although the forum is formally constituted, these meetings are informal in nature and provide an ideal opportunity to network with others working in the independent museum sector.
Training Events
The Forum is committed to providing one training event per annum in partnership with the East Midlands Museums Service. This session is delivered by a professional trainer and attracts participants from both independent and local authority museums across the region. NIMF's other training is somewhat less formal in nature and participation is restricted to the independent museum sector in the region. Training events over the part 18 months have included Oral History, Marketing, Writing Press Releases and Developing Effective Websites. Wherever possible, these events are delivered either by NIMF members or staff of museum bodies who have an understanding of the independent museum sector.
Who Can Join NIMF
Membership of NIMF is open to any trustee, member of staff or volunteer involved with the operation of an independent museum or heritage project in Nottinghamshire. Membership is free and organisations can send as many representatives as they wish to meetings. However, to ensure the forum maintains a museum focus, voting rights are allocated on a per museum basis and non-museum members have limited voting powers at official meetings including the AGM.
