As we work through a year of change, MLA South West’s trustees and senior managers are considering ways of ensuring that our expected closure in March 2009 causes as little disruption as possible to the museum, library and archive sector in our region. Our aim is to continue with ‘business as usual’, supporting the sector through programme activity and engaging with local government throughout the remainder of the 2008-09 financial year.

Their Past Your Future 2 applicants to receive decisions on 4 July

Applicants to Their Past Your Future 2 are due to receive an email confirming the outcome of their bids on Friday 4 July, from MLA Council.

MLA Council communications will be offline between 26 June and 2 July inclusive (MLA South West is not affected).

Open for applications: Strategic Commissioning programme 2008-09

Museums and archives are now invited to apply for funding from MLA South West's Strategic Commissioning programme 2008-09. The programme enables museums and archives to develop learning activity with formal education settings for children and young people from 0 - 19 years old.  Click HERE for more information.

Now available for online booking: South West Museum Skills programme 2008

Click HERE for more information. Click HERE to view the brochure in full.

Learning through museums and archives: this week's project profile:

Learning Links in Bodmin

Click HERE to find out about Learning Links.

Click HERE to find out how Learning Links enabled Bodmin Museum and Bodmin College to create resources for the new History GCSE.

Museums, Libraries and Archives: Delivering Outcomes in the South West

MLA South West's latest publication shows how museums, libraries and archives contribute to Local Area Agreement targets, through the new National Indicator Set or locally set priorities. Featuring diverse case studies, the document aims to stimulate new discussions about the role of our sector within Local Strategic Partnerships.  Click HERE to download a copy.

Funding and development programmes:

MLA prepares for the Cultural Olympiad

Click HERE to find out more about MLA's grant schemes for the 'People's Record' and 'Literature & Storytelling' strands of the Cultural Olympiad, which begins later this year.

Renaissance

More than £20million is being invested in the South West's museums, up to 2008, through MLA's Renaissance programme and further funding has been secured for the next three years. To learn more about Renaissance, visit the dedicated web pages HERE.

New MLA Acquisition and Disposal Policy for museums

Published in April 2008, this revised policy provides Accredited Museums with a framework for scrupulous and ethical acquisition and disposal of collections using clear procedures and decision-making processes.

Click HERE to download a copy.

Museums, Libraries and Archives South West is a Company Limited by Guarantee.  Registered in England: Company Number 1626497.  Registered Office: see address above.  Registered Charity Number: 284996.

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) is the lead strategic agency for museums, libraries and archives. We are part of the wider MLA Partnership, working with the nine regional agencies to improve people’s lives by building knowledge, supporting learning, inspiring creativity and celebrating identity. The Partnership acts collectively for the benefit of the sector and the public, leading the transformation of museums, libraries and archives for the future. For more information visit www.mla.gov.uk