Group for Education in Museums (GEM) introduces new levels for Institutional Members
Following a vote at the 2020 Annual General Meeting, GEM will be introducing four new levels of Institutional Membership on 25th November 2021.
These four levels will be based on annual turnover, and are intended to be fairer to different sized organisations. An increase to the cost of membership for organisations with a relatively high annual turnover will help to support learning teams with fewer resources, and the sector’s smallest organisations will pay a lower rate than before.
This change also brings benefits for larger organisations, who for the first time, will have no limits on the number of staff members or volunteers who can benefit from GEM discounts on training and events. An unlimited number of colleagues from member institutions will now be able to access GEM’s One to One Mentoring Programme at no additional cost, and member spaces on training courses will no longer be limited to four members of staff. We encourage organisations to share their member benefits with volunteers too, as part of an effort to empower, upskill and support the whole sector.
This rate change follows extensive consultation, and a unanimous decision at the 2020 Annual General Meeting, where members voted to bring in the new levels in 2021. GEM has maintained the Institutional Members rate for several years, including choosing not to increase rates in line with inflation during the Covid-19 pandemic in recognition of the difficulties faced by our member organisations.
From the end of November, organisations will be able to self-select their level based on annual turnover. Existing GEM Institutional Members will be automatically renewed at a new level based on estimated annual turnover, however organisations are encouraged to get in touch at [email protected] if they have been assigned an incorrect rate.
Rachel Tranter, Director of GEM says:
“GEM welcomes these new levels for Institutional Membership, implemented with the unanimous support of our members at the 2020 Annual General Meeting. It is important to us that the whole sector supports one another, and these new rates are one way for organisations with a relatively high annual turnover to encourage learning in institutions that have particularly struggled during the Covid-19 pandemic. We hope that these changes will support the smallest organisations in our sector, while also offering new opportunities for staff and volunteers at larger institutions.”
There will be no changes to membership rates for individuals, freelancers or concessionary members at this time, however it is now possible to pay monthly for these personal subscriptions. Please see our website for more details.
