Located right at the front of the Show, the Sector Support Zone brings together many of the sector’s key organisations and networks who will be on hand to offer advice, guidance and support. Below you will see which of our sector partners are doing what: exhibiting, presenting or hosting a networking session. Further information about the programme of talks and networking sessions can be viewed on the programme.
Both Days
Stand X2
Drop-in at stand X2 and meet the Arts Marketing Association team to chat through your marketing mishaps, chew over your communications challenges and get advice for your audience development dilemmas. We’re here to be a friendly sounding board; signposting resources and helping support you to put your audiences at the heart of your heritage organisation.
Navigating AI Strategy
Wednesday 14 May | 16:15-16:55 hrs
Audiences: Connect & Grow
Thursday 15 May | 14.00-14.45 hrs
The Association for Heritage Interpretation (AHI) is the UK professional network for interpreters working in the field of natural and cultural heritage. We promote excellence in practice and provision to provide engaging visitor experiences across the museum and heritage sector. Come and visit us for expert advice on interpretation and to discuss the benefits of membership of the AHI.
Both Days
Stand X1
Building a circular economy for exhibitions
Wednesday 14 May | 16.00-16.40
Networking
Creating engaging exhibitions
Wednesday 14 May | 11.00-11.45
AIM represents, connects and strengthens the UK’s independent museums and heritage organisations.
Wednesday only
Stand X10
Both Days
Stand X3
Our aim is to champion the essential role commercial activities play in sustaining the cultural sector. We provide training and networking opportunities to promote commercial best practice, and facilitate the sharing of knowledge and experience in order to help arts, cultural and heritage organisations maximise their existing income streams and identify new ones.
Both Days
Stand X4
Just the stats ma’am: Key Insights from the 2024 Cultural Enterprises Benchmarking Study
Thursday 15 May | 09:45-10:25 hrs
Boosting Growth: Trading & Commerce
Thursday 15 May | 13.00-13.45 hrs
We provide research, insight and data driven tools which help our clients and stakeholders adapt for and with their audiences
Both Days
Stand X14
Collections Trust helps museums work with the information that connects collections and audiences. Our standards and advice are used around the world to make museum collections accessible. We help shape the documentation standards used in many countries, always in step with wider information management developments.
Both Days
Stand X5
ECMN is a group of museum professionals helping to make our places better. The network aims to share good practice, helping to learn from each to ensure our museums are effective. With effective advocacy, ECMN shares insight and data and supports working at scale, which in turn creates opportunities.
The Future of Civic Museums
Wednesday 14 May | 13:45-14:25 hrs
Stronger Together: Civic and Local Authority Museums
Wednesday 14 May | 15.00-15.45 hrs
Fair Museum Jobs is a grassroots, collective movement, campaigning to establish a better standard for museum job recruitment that is based on the principles of fairness, transparency, equity and inclusivity. We provide advice to employers, workers and volunteers across the sector on workplace issues, careers and job descriptions.
Thursday only
Stand X13
GEM supports everyone who delivers learning in museums, heritage sites and cultural settings to connect and learn together. Meet with museum learning colleagues to share experiences, seek advice and hear about professional development opportunities tailored to your career.
Both days
Stand X6
Chairing Theatre 3 on Thursday 15 May
Learning and Outreach
Wednesday 14 May | 14.00-14.45 hrs
GLAM Cares is a care and support network for gallery, library, heritage and museum folk working or volunteering in community engagement. The network provides spaces for support and reflection and delivers free or low-cost training that equips community engagement staff with skills to thrive in their work.
Thursday only
Stand X10
The Heritage Alliance is a membership body, which represents the independent heritage movement in England. It has a unique role, promoting the sector in all its diversity and fostering connections and skills to catalyse its long-term resilience.
Wednesday only
Stand X15
Heritage Creates: Exploring the impact of heritage on the creative industries
Wednesday 14 May | 09:45 – 10:25 hrs
Heritage Connections
Wednesday 14 May | 12.00-12.45 hrs
Our mission is to help you unlock the power of volunteering through collaboration and sharing best practice. We support inclusive volunteering practice across the cultural and heritage sector. Come and say hi, ask us a question and we can signpost next steps. HVG is a membership organisation, we are free to join.
Thursday only
Stand X15
ICOM UK is the national branch of ICOM in the United Kingdom. It is a gateway to the global museum community and the only UK museum association with a dedicated international focus. It offers access to 20,000 museums in 172 countries, 32,000 museum colleagues throughout the world and 31 professional committees.
Thursday only
Stand X12
Icon (the Institute of Conservation) is a charitable company working to safeguard cultural heritage. Icon is also the professional membership body for the conservation profession.
Both Days
Stand X7
Caring for Museum and Heritage Collections
Thursday 15 May | 12.00-12.45 hrs
Kids in Museums supports museums, galleries and heritage sites across the UK to be great places for children, young people and families to visit. We offer a Manifesto and free tools to implement it, an annual Award for the most family friendly museum in the UK, 100+ free online resources, a Family Café Standard, and training for museum staff.
Wednesday only
Stand X11
Kids in Museums Youth Panel: what we think you should know about what young people think about museums – one year on
Wednesday 14 May | 12.45-13.25 hrs
Museum Detox is a network for people of colour who work in the museums, galleries, libraries and heritage sector in the UK. Through meetups, sharing opportunities, and organising, we collectively learn ways to practice self and community care, collective action and solidarity. Through our self-actualisation, we will inspire a more equitable museums and cultural heritage sector.
A Sector for Everyone
Wednesday 14 May | 13.00-13.45 hrs
Co-hosted with Queer Heritage and Collections Network
VIEW PROGRAMME
The Museums Association is the professional association for museums and heritage sites in the UK. We are a membership organisation with 60,000 contacts in 7,000 organisations. Our members join us because we offer them professional information, advice on how to run their organisations, and free entry to museums, galleries and exhibitions. We advocate for museums, set ethical standards, run essential training, professional development and an annual conference and exhibition. Visit our stand and receive a 20% discount on membership.
Both Days
Stand X8
Better together – how to work more equitably with community partners
Wednesday 14 May | 15:45-16:25 hrs
We are expert advisers in information and records management and are a cultural, academic and heritage institution. We fulfil a leadership role for the archive sector and work to secure the future of physical and digital records.
Wednesday only
Stand X13
The Queer Heritage and Collections Network (QHCN) was founded in May 2020 to increase the understanding of, access to and engagement with LGBTQ+ heritage. We are a Subject Specialist Network with more than 70 institutional members across all nations and regions of the UK.
Wednesday only
Stand X12
A Sector for Everyone
Wednesday 14 May | 13.00-13.45 hrs
Co-hosted with Museum Detox
VIEW PROGRAMME
Sandford Award is the only nationally recognised quality mark for heritage learning and provides independent assurance through on-site assessment for heritage sites and services. The award scheme is administered in partnership with the Heritage Education Trust and Bishop Grosseteste University.
Thursday only
Stand X11
Partnerships and Programmes
Thursday 15 May | 15.00-15.45 hrs
The Exhibitions Group, formerly ‘Touring Exhibitions Group’ is a non-profit membership and sector support organisation, dedicated to supporting the cultural sector to tour exhibitions. We undertake research and advocate for a better understanding of the benefits of touring, offer a range of professional development opportunities and networking events.
Both Days
Stand X9
Using the Rethinking Touring Exhibitions Toolkit to reduce the environmental impact of exhibitions, touring and object loans
Wednesday 14 May | 10:00 – 10:40 hrs
Creating Engaging Exhibitions
Wednesday 14 May | 11.00-11.45 hrs
