FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 28 January 2021

GEM has received an award of £50,000 from Linbury Trust to deliver a programme of training and mentoring to a range of museums impacted by COVID-19.

This two-year funding will enable GEM to provide increased training and professional development support focusing on resilient leadership, governance, digital innovation, online learning and sustainable development. This recovery programme will respond to the needs of the sector and will include mentoring and resources as well as online training.

During the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and continuing into 2021, demand for GEM’s services has been high and the museum and heritage education membership organisation has been quick to respond to the needs of the sector. Since July 2020, GEM has developed five new online courses and successfully piloted the One-to-One Mentoring scheme. The award from the Linbury Trust will enable GEM to reach 5,000 museum and heritage professionals enabling opportunities for hundreds of thousands of people to engage meaningfully to develop museum learning.

Stuart Hobley, Director of The Linbury Trust said “Museums are such valued places for people to share common stories, as our need for connection becomes ever more important. We’re pleased to be funding GEM’s training programme and their work to help local museums emerge from the shadow of the pandemic more resilient.”

Caroline Marcus, Chair of GEM said: “Described by a GEM member as ‘a beacon during lockdown’, GEM has been successful in responding to the needs of the sector and adapting to digital to connect members in learning and sharing together. This generous award from the Linbury Trust will enable us to build on GEM’s recent achievements and create even more opportunities to support and uplift members during this unprecedented and challenging time. We are encouraged by the passion and energy of museum and heritage learning professionals and eager to provide development opportunities to upskill and strengthen the sector.”

The Linbury Trust award will also enable GEM to create and build partnerships, increasing GEM’s focus on advocacy through research and dissemination, joint initiatives and support for the learning workforce to ensure that through learning the sector builds back better with inclusion central to recovery.

 

ENDS

 

Notes to editors

For further information about GEM, images and interview opportunities, please contact Devon Turner, GEM Communications Manager at [email protected].

About GEM

GEM is a thriving and vibrant membership network of over 800 institutional and personal members. Our vision is of a connected and equipped community of people enabling learning across museum, heritage and cultural settings, creating inspiring experiences, relevant for everyone; that promote equality – transform and enrich lives.

We at GEM are continually inspired by our members’ creativity, passion and hard work. Whether you’d like to keep up to date with the latest sector news, develop new skills, or find a new job, GEM is here to help. Find out more about how GEM can help you.

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About Linbury Trust

The Linbury Trust is an independent grant-making trust established in 1973 by Lord Sainsbury of Preston Candover, and his wife Anya, Lady Sainsbury CBE. The Trust supports a wide variety of compelling and exciting projects across the world in the fields of arts, heritage and culture; the environment; and social and medical welfare.