Continued Professional Development

Training and Workshops

We provide extensive continued professional development events (webinars, discussions, workshops, seminars, conferences) throughout the year, as do the NI Museums Council, the Heritage Council, the Institute of Conservators-Restorers of Ireland, and the Network of European Museum Organisations, among others. 

These can be viewed in the 'Events' section of our website. 

In addition to our CPD offering for professionals at all stages of their career, we extend an course once a year aimed at providing an introduction to museum practice, Museum Basics. 

• Museum Basics Course

  Museum Basics is a foundation course that offers a practical introduction to the nature, context and operations of museums with the intention of providing practical examples and indicators of good practice and where and how further information can be found.

  Click here to download a pdf of the Museums Basics brochure.

  For individuals: 

  The IMA is currently running this course online once per year. It runs throughout four half-days and is generally held in early Spring. To be added to the mailing list for future courses, email programme@irishmuseums.org with subject line 'Museum Basics - expression of interest'. 

  For groups (in-person): 

  There is also an opportunity to bring the course in person to your region. If you are a museum or organisation/body interested in partnering with the IMA and hosting a course in your area, contact the IMA on programme@irishmuseums.org for a detailed quotation. 

Small Grants: Research and Development

In partnership with the Irish Museums Trust,  the IMA operates a small Research-Development Grant scheme offering five grants up to a maximum of €1,000 each, awarded twice a year, aimed at supporting individuals working in the museum sector in Ireland and students at research masters or Doctoral level, involved in researching a subject relevant to the understanding, management or development of museums across the island.

• Research-Development Grant Scheme

  What do you need to know before applying?

  1. For the purpose of this scheme, the current ICOM museum definition applies.
  2. These awards are intended to help individual researchers and museum staff to achieve personal development goals related either to current research projects or to developing the skills or experience conducive to enhanced curatorial or museum management practices. Awards will be paid directly to successful applicants.
  3. As one of the main purposes of the awards is to support the continuous, life-long development of museum staff, there is no age limit.
  4. Applications must indicate how the award will contribute to the applicant’s capacity to make an enhanced contribution to the Irish museum sector. In the case of academic applicants, they must demonstrate (a) the direct relevance of their work to Irish museums and (b) how the grant will practically assist with the research in hand.
  5. IMA membership may constitute a preferential factor in adjudicating the applications.
  6. Application forms must be endorsed by the director or CEO of a recognised museum. Academic applicants will need the endorsement of their designated academic supervisor.
  7. Applications will be judged on the basis of the information contained in the application form, though we may contact applicants in relation to clarification of information provided.
  8. The adjudicating committee will exercise its discretion in deciding whether the full amount of the award or a lesser amount is appropriate in each instance. To facilitate this evaluation, a full breakdown of costs should be provided.
  9. Applicants are expected to make realistic and proportionate applications (for example, where €500 is sufficient to cover the costs of a proposed project, this should be clearly stated).
  10. Applicants will be required to produce a short open access report and/or presentation of findings.

   

  How can you apply?

  The window for online applications opens twice per year and is advertised through our monthly enews.