Wednesday 12 November - Thinktank, Birmingham

Event programme now launched!

Join us for Power of Place: Celebrating Midlands Museums — a dynamic day of inspiration, connection, and celebration. This Midlands-wide event will shine a spotlight on the incredible work of museums across the Midlands, showcasing how local heritage spaces are championing inclusion, innovation, best practice and community connection.

With insightful case studies, breakout sessions, and contributions from key sector partners, this is a must-attend event for museum professionals, volunteers, Trustees and cultural leaders who believe in the power of Midlands museums to shape lives and tell stories that matter.

We’ll also be presenting our brand new Power of Place: Midlands Museum Awards, click below to find out how you can apply!

Come and share successes, explore challenges, and discover new ideas to take back to your own museum. Let’s celebrate the Midlands’ vibrant museum landscape - together.

Book your tickets for Power of Place: Celebrating Midlands Museums

Read on to find our Event Programme and timing information

Event Programme

9.15am

Doors Open - Arrive for registration, networking and sector support stands

10am

Welcome and Introductions

Compere; Simon Brown, Curator of Collections at Newstead Abbey, & Liz Moran; MDM Programme Manager

10.10am

Case Study 1 - On the Road Together: Co-curating the Story of the Showman’s Wagon - with Avoncroft Museum of Historic Buildings

10.25am

Case Study 2 - Reimagining Selly Manor: Building Resilience Through Community Engagement - with Selly Manor Museum

10.40am

Breakout Session - pre-booking required. A booking link will be sent to delegates after they register to attend.

1. ‘Access to Art - Guide to hosting welcoming exhibitions for all’ - with Rugby Art Gallery and Museum

2. 'Villiers Revealed – how a C17th portrait started a journey to make Culture Leicestershire more inclusive’ - with Culture Leicestershire

3. ‘Greener Glass: From Black Country Smog to Solar Powered Innovation’ - with Stourbridge Glass Museum

4. ‘Heritage Trustees 101’ - with AIM Museums

5. Thinktank Tour

6. Accreditation Mentor Coffee and Connect.

11.30am

Break time - Networking and Sector Stands

12pm

Case Study 3 - Powered by People: The Volunteer-First Model - with Coffin Works

12.15pm

Case Study 4 - Opening Doors: The Heritage Associates Programme and Pathways into the Sector - with Spalding Gentlemen’s Society

12.30am

Breakout Session - pre-booking required. A booking link will be sent to delegates after they register to attend

1. ‘What on earth does LGB got to do with the Black Country?’: Inclusive Storytelling and the ‘Woke Agenda’ - with Black Country Living Museum

2. ‘Fashion Police – a partnership between Museum and a University’ - with West Midlands Police Museum

3. ’Arts Council England National Lottery Project Grants’ - with Arts Council England

4. Tour of Thinktank

5. Networking with Sector stands

1.15pm

Lunch - Networking and Sector Stands

2.15pm

Case Study 5 - Crowning Achievement: Sustainable Art and Community Storytelling - with Tamworth Castle

2.25pm

Case Study 6 - From Closure Threat to Community Comeback: Resilience in Action - with Bilsthorpe Heritage Museum

2.35pm

Case Study 7 - Green Power: Creativity, Nature, and Healing in a Museum Setting -with Mansfield Museum

2.50pm

Power of Place: Midlands Museum Awards - The Power of Place awards are a chance to celebrate the dedication and creativity of the amazing organisations in our sector.  By being part of this you’re not only showing support for the museums and teams who’ve worked so hard, but also joining us for a wider conversation about what’s possible in our sector when we share, learn, and celebrate together. 

3.45pm

Closing reflections - As we draw the event to a close, join us for a final gathering to reflect on the ideas, conversations and creativity we have explored during the day featuring a special presentation by Buttercrumble who will be showcasing a unique piece of live artwork inspired by the day’s discussions.  Through their creative lens we’ll see our shared experiences transformed into something memorable and visual.

4pm

Thank you and Close

Sector Stands

The National Lottery Heritage Fund is the UK’s largest heritage funder, awarding grants from £10,000 to over £10 million to support projects that connect people and communities with valued heritage for present and future generations.

The Association of Independent Museums (AIM) supports and connects over 1,000 UK heritage organisations, offering practical guidance, expertise, and a network to inspire innovation and build resilience.

GEM, an Arts Council England-supported organisation, helps the museum and heritage learning sector through training, networking, and its annual conference.

The Exhibitions Group supports exhibition makers in the UK and internationally by providing training, resources, networking, and advocacy to create sustainable, diverse, and accessible exhibitions across all disciplines.

Arts Council England (ACE) is the national agency for creativity and culture, investing hundreds of millions in public and National Lottery funds to ensure everyone in England can access high-quality cultural experiences and flourish creatively.