Minutes Public Pack, 24/11/2025 Museum Committee

Recommended · This went to the meeting on Mon 16 Mar 2026. What was decided is in that meeting's minutes.

The Museum & Collections Manager gave the Museum Committee an update covering visitor numbers, shop income of £16,721, and regained Arts Council accreditation. p15p16p17

The NPO (National Portfolio Organisation) Programme Lead reported that a market event at the museum attracted over 1,000 visitors, with free transport provided for 160 attendees. p29p32

The collections report listed items proposed for disposal, including farm equipment, millstones and a taxidermy sheep, following the museum's Collections Development Policy. p46

The Museum Association reported becoming a Charitable Incorporated Organisation, with members due to vote on winding up the existing association and transferring assets to it at the AGM on 14 December. p66p68

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• p15Katherine Buckland, Museum & Collections Manager, introduced the report and gave a summary of activities.
• p16• Visitor Numbers & Income: Visitor numbers for Quarter 3 are already ahead of the same period last year, with over a month remaining. Shop income stands at £16,721. There are 12 weddings and 13 venue hires booked for this financial year.
• p17• Accreditation: The museum has successfully regained Arts Council accreditation. This confirms compliance with standards for collections care, access, and public engagement, and ensures eligibility for key funding streams.
• p295. NPO UPDATE Oriana Calman, NPO Programme Lead, introduced the item and gave an update which focused on achievements made through NPO (National Portfolio Organisation) funding.
• p32• Quarterly Highlight: The recent market event at the museum, supported by NPO, attracted over 1,000 visitors. Free transport provided for 160 attendees contributed to its success. The team aims to embed this approach in future programming.
• p46• Disposals: Items proposed for disposal include farm equipment, millstones, and a taxidermy sheep. The disposals process follows the museum’s Collections Development Policy, offering items first to accredited museums, then non-accredited museums, educational institutions, and businesses before final disposal. o Community Panel Feedback: The panel requested short descriptions of items on disposal lists to avoid “rubber-stamping” decisions without understanding what objects are.
• p66• Charitable Status: Hastings and St Leonards Museum Association is now a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) as of last Friday. Thanks were recorded to Steve Mannering (HVA) and Bill for their significant contributions.
• p68o Next step: Members will vote to wind up the existing association and transfer assets to the CIO at the AGM on 14 December, followed by a talk on historic maps of Hastings and St Leonards (and mince pies).