Future of Museums: Engaging Volunteers

Date: 24 January, 2024

Price: From £30

Organiser: Museums Association

Venue: Online

Volunteering in museums and galleries takes many different forms, ranging from front-of-house, events, and learning and engagement roles through to behind-the-scenes activities such as cataloguing, gardening, fundraising, and much more.

The Vision for Volunteering defines a volunteer as someone doing something of their own choice that is designed to improve the world, a part of it, or community within it, without being paid.

At a time when the sector faces huge challenges to recruiting and retaining volunteers, this one-day conference is an opportunity to radically rethink how volunteers can contribute to your organisation and what you can offer them.

This event considers the changing nature of volunteering in museums and examines what the future may hold. Through case studies, provocations and panel discussions, you’ll hear how to make voluntary work more inclusive and champion diverse voices. Speakers will share new and innovative approaches to volunteering and discuss how museums can develop volunteering programmes that match their values and strategic vision.

This event is for people who work with, support and manage volunteers, and those who are interested in how volunteering can help museums change lives.

Confirmed speakers

Laura Lowther, Lead, Vision for Volunteering

Matthew Hick, Head of Volunteering, Science Museum Group, and Chair, Heritage Volunteer Group

Ben Marsh, Programme Development Manager (Volunteering), Barnsley Museums

Ross McKirdy, Museum Manager, Grampian Transport Museum

Sonja Kielty, Volunteer Co-Ordinator, Bradford Museums and Galleries

Bruce Davenport, Lecturer, School of Arts and Cultures, Newcastle University

Tamsin Russell, Workforce Lead, Museums Association (chair)

A full programme will be available in due course.