elaine lees from creativity works on creating a museums at night cluster
DESCRIPTION
Elaine Lees from Creativity Works in Pennine Lancashire explains how she successfully bid for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to create a new Museums at Night cluster of activity in her area, the "Festival of Wonders".TRANSCRIPT
Pennine Lancashire Museums at Night
Festival of Wonders27 Sept 2013
Pennine Lancashire
Background
• 3 yrs of MatN events with small number of venues• 2013 represented shift in our ambition• Went from 5 venues/events in 2012 to 15
venues/20 events in 2013• Museums, galleries, libraries took part• Mix of events under central theme• Local coordinator across 5 districts, large semi
rural area• Supported by Culture24• Funded by Heritage Lottery Fund across 2 yrs
Central Theme
Central Theme
Results
• 1,530 people came• 77% were first time
MatN attenders• 33% were new to the
venue• 51% attended more
than one event• All venues want to take
part again next year
HLF Funding
• Culture24 had experience - I had none!
• Used other bids to learn quickly• Heritage, learning and volunteers
are priorities• 3 months to confirm events/draft bid
with C24• £44,400 secured for 2 yr programme
Securing the venues
• Written proposal and meeting
• Asked for a one pager back with outline costs
• Explained roles - shared responsibility
• Set time limits• Reconfirmed every
venue/event once funding secured
What worked well
• Theme• Central branding • PR – national and local• Venue attitude and effort• Libraries• Volunteer photographers• Evaluation
Challenges
• Meeting venues• Staff changes• Marketing budget • Confirming events• Ownership of the event • Events schedule• Venues putting on more than one event• How to do it next year on half the
budget…
Plans for 2014
• Start earlier – ie now• Build on what worked• Update
branding/marketing • Secure additional venues• More effort in areas with
lower attendance• Better use of social media • Templates for 2015 and
beyond
Thank you