Working Internationally Conference: Working Internationally in a post-Brexit world

As the British Government prepares to trigger article 50 in March and so bring the UK out of the European Union, this year’s conference takes the pulse of working internationally in a post-Brexit world as questions arise about future museum relationships with EU counterparts, funding and travel issues.

Panel discussions will include: How important is the EU to UK museums? Chaired by Katie Childs, NMDC and panellists; Tony Butler (Director, Derby Museums Trust), Gabriele Finaldi (Director, National Gallery, London) and Laurie Barriol (Founder of Inspire EU and European Funding Consultant).

There will also be keynote speeches from Michael Dixon, Director, Natural History Museum, London on: What opportunities and challenges does Brexit open up for UK museums? And Richard Evans, Director, Beamish Museum – How is Brexit specifically relevant to UK museums?

The fifth Working Internationally Conference is organised by ICOM UK and NMDC, and supported by the British Council and Natural History Museum.

As well as talks on the issues and the practicalities of working internationally there will be workshops on forming, sustaining and managing successful partnerships. The conference will be a mix of sharing experiences and discussion as well as announcements on future funding plans.

The day before the conference on 1 March the Working Internationally Regional Project will hold its last workshop, which will draw on the experiences of the 2016 WIRP Travel Grant recipients from museums across the country.

One of the recipients was Craven Museum & Gallery in Skipton that visited Simbach-am-Inn Museum in Germany in November last year. Rob Freeman, Craven and the First World War Project Officer at Craven Museum & Gallery travelled to Skipton’s twin town to develop ideas for a project in 2018 that will bring together young people from both towns to mark 100 years since the end of WWI.

“Rob’s research visit to Germany has allowed him to develop our plans for an ambitious transnational WW1 project to conclude our centenary commemorations and leave a lasting cultural and educational legacy in ours, and our partners’ local areas,” said Rachel Terry, Museum & Collections Officer, Craven Museum & Gallery. “This trip was essential for gathering information first-hand and developing face to face partnerships that give our plans depth and relevance for all involved. The knowledge gained during the trip will now allow us to progress funding plans for the next phase of our WW1 project, so we are very grateful for the support provided by the WIRP to facilitate this opportunity.”

The Working Internationally Conference will take place on 2 March at the Natural History Museum in London and tickets can be purchased here.