The Sharing Museum Skills Millennium Awards website is now available at
http://www.smsma.org.uk

In due course I hope to include pieces on successful secondments (with
photos) and other information that is relevant to the scheme.

Annie Hollobone
[log in to unmask]

What is the aim of the Sharing Museum Skills Millennium Awards? 
The aim is to benefit communities by improving the public experience of
museums, art galleries and other allied heritage institutions. This will
be achieved by seconding staff and volunteers to share, learn and apply
new skills. 

Who runs the Awards? 
A consortium of museum bodies has made the successful bid to run this
scheme and will make recommendations on applications. The Millennium
Commission will make the final decisions on individual Awards. 

Who is eligible to apply? 
Anyone over 18 who has at least four years experience of working as a
paid member of staff in a museum in the UK and normally two years
working at their current museum immediately prior to making an
application for a Millennium Award or anyone over 18 who has worked as a
volunteer, trustee or otherwise unpaid worker in or for a museum in the
UK for at least one year immediately prior to making an application for
a Millennium Award. 

What sort of projects can be supported? 
Secondments, usually of six weeks duration, at a museum, art gallery or
allied heritage institution in the UK will be eligible for support.
Activities can include any kind of museum work. At least one of the
institutions involved (i.e. the seconding and host institutions) must be
a museum or art gallery. As a result of the project, the applicant
should gain new skills and knowledge which will contribute towards their
personal aspirations and also enhance the public's experience at their
museum. Applicants should also be able to offer some of their skills,
knowledge and experience to their host museum. 

What funding is available? 
Grants will normally be in the region of £2,000-£4,000. They are
available to cover travel and subsistence costs, additional equipment or
materials, and a contribution towards the employment of temporary staff
during the secondee's absence. A partnership contribution of at least
20% of the grant requested will be required for each application. This
will normally be in the form of in-kind support by the host museum.
Timetable Applications will be considered on a quarterly basis from
November 1998 to May 2001. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of
their applications within three months after each deadline. 

Equality of Opportunity 
The Sharing Museum Skills Millennium Awards consortium is keen to
support projects involving applicants from all sectors of the community
who meet the scheme criteria, and will assess all applications equally,
regardless of the applicant's sex, age, disabilities, ethnic origin,
religion or sexual orientation. 
David Dawson
Museums New Technology Adviser
Museums and Galleries Commission
tel: 0171 233 4200
email: [log in to unmask]
David Dawson
Museums New Technology Adviser
Museums and Galleries Commission
tel: 0171 233 4200
email: [log in to unmask]