museumaker

museumaker is now a national programme to enable museums to work with leading contemporary makers and designers to:

• unlock the creative potential of collections
• build audiences
• commission new work
• improve museums' retail offer and entrepreneurial skills
• develop workforce capacity and skills
• share ideas and skills across sectors.

The programme builds on the successful museumaker project in the East Midlands which connected nine museums with designer makers resulting in new pieces for each site, all taking inspiration from the museums involved. A larger group of museums also benefited from a programme of workforce development. For information about the East Midlands museumaker visit the museumaker in the East Midlands page.

museumaker was supported by Arts Council England, Esmee Fairbairn Foundation and Renaissance East Midlands.

Getting involved in museumaker 2

In February 2009 there will be a call for expressions of interest to take part in a two year collaboration with leading makers which will start in summer 2009. The resultant group of circa 20 museums based in the East Midlands, London, East and West Sussex will be a mix of different types of museums aiming to engage with a range of audiences.

By taking part in museumaker 2 you will:

• be enabled to meet your strategic objectives in fresh and innovative ways
• be supported (technically and financially) to commission new work, events and audience development
• be part of a high-profile, well resourced national programme.

For more information on museumaker 2 and how to get involved please see our latest museumaker briefing note:
museumaker briefing, Autumn 2008 (1381 kb)

Throughout autumn 2008 there will be a workforce development programme to help museums understand the scope and ambition of contemporary practice, what the arts sector can offer museums and the range of ways that partnerships can be funded, supported and sustained.

The training programme is open to all museums and museums interested in taking part in museumaker 2 are urged to attend the training sessions.

The workforce development programme is supported by Renaissance.