Museum Basics: West Cork

Supported and funded by West Cork Development Agency, a Museum Basics course was held in West Cork (various Locations) in 2014. Participants included representatives from the following organisations: 

• Kinsale Museum
• Dunmanway Historical Association
• Duchas Clonakilty Heritag
• Allihies Copper Mine Musuem
• Old Head of Kinsale, Signal Tower
• Bantry Historical Socie
• Kinsale Harbour Cruises, Old Head Kinsale
• Kilmurry Historical & Archaeological Association

About Museum Basics

Museum Basics is a foundation course for those working in the local, regional and voluntary museum sector. Devised by the Irish Museums Association (IMA) in association with the Heritage Council, it offers a practical introduction to the nature, context and operations of museums, and includes modules on Introducing Museums, Preventative Conservation, Education and Access, Documentation, External Relations, Management and Governance, Diplay and Interpretation, and Collections & Collecting.

The intention of the training is to provide indicators and practical examples of good practice and where and how further information can be found. It is hoped that the process will also validate the participants' existing experience and knowledge and enable them to evaluate their current practice against agreed norms. A key element of the programme is contextualising and positioning museums as public entities working as part of, and in the service of, society as whole.

As well as providing a theoretical grounding to the participants, all sessions have a practical relevance. Aimed primarily at smaller and voluntary-run museums, participants are encouraged to use the course as an opportunity to meet with their colleagues and develop local museum networks.

All the Instructors are leading figures within the museum and related sectors. Museum Basics is bench-marked against agreed international standards and is relevant to institutions embarking on the Heritage Council's Museum Standards Programme for Ireland or the Northern Ireland Museum Council (NIMC) Museum Registration scheme.

Free participation on this course is by invitation only 

Click here for further information on hosting a course in your area or contact your local County Museum, Heritage Officer, or Arts Officer.