The British Association of Friends of Museums (BAFM) is an independent organisation for Friends, supporters, and volunteers in museums, galleries, and heritage sites within the United Kingdom.[1] It was established in 1973.[2] It is a registered charity no 1159670.[3] BAFM represents around 200,000 Friends and volunteers in the UK.[1] It provides a network of support from people with practical experience of running Friends organisations and is a central source of information. It has links with UK Area Museum Councils and other national UK organisations such as:
- Association of Independent Museums(AIM)
- Charity Commission for England and Wales
- Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport(DCMS)[4] (UK government)
- Museums Association(MA)
- National Council for Voluntary Organisations(NCVO)
BAFM is a member of the World Federation of Friends of Museums. It organizes national and regional events, provides a Handbook for Friends, a Handbook for Heritage Volunteer Managers & Administrators, and many information sheets. The BAFM publish a biannual Journal.[5]
Patron
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester
President
- 2005-2014 Loyd Grossman OBE, FSA.
- 2015-2023 Dame Rosemary Butler DBE.[7]
- from 2023- The Lord Cormack DL FSA
Annual Conferences
- 1989 Annual Conference at Bristol.[8]
- 2006 Norwich with keynote speaker Joan Bakewell.
- 2007 Annual Conference in Liverpool. 2007 Robert Logan award presented by Loyd Grossman.
- 2008 35th Annual Conference at Penzance.[9]
- 2009 36th Annual Conference and AGM at York.[10]
- 2010 BAFM 37th Annual Conference & AGM Isle of Man 24–26 September 2010.[11]
- 2011 Annual Conference at London Transport Museum in September.
- 2014 41st Annual Conference at Swansea.[12]
- 2015 42nd Annual Conference at Cheltenham.[13]
- 2016 43rd Annual Conference at the Ironbridge Gorge Museum, Coalbrookdale.[14]
- 2017 44th Annual Conference at the London Transport Museum.[15]
- 2018 Annual Conference at Newcastle upon Tyne.[16] The winner of the first best newsletter award was The Black Country Museum Friends.
- 2019 Annual Conference at Reading, Berkshire.[17] The winner of the best newsletter was the Lyme Regis Museum Friends.[18]
- 2020 AGM held remotely.[19]
- 2021 Annual AGM on Zoom.[20]
- 2022 49th Annual Conference at Dundee. October 2022[5]
- 2023 50th Annual Conference at Doncaster in September. The winner of the Newsletter of the year award was the Friends of Birmingham Museums.[21]
- 2024 51st Annual Conference at Wisbech in October in place of Southampton who withdrew and will run the 2025 event.[22]
- 2025 52nd Annual Conference at Southampton
- 2026 53rd Annual Conference at Knutsford
Awards
Since 2021 BAFM has operated an IMPACT award currently (2022) £1k.[23]
- The Friends of The Egypt Centre in Swansea were winners of 2022 Impact Award. Runners Up were The Friends of Beamish Museum. Highly commended were:
The Friends of Lyme Regis Museum, The Friends of Wisbech and Fenland Museum, Herefordshire Museum Service Support Group and The Friends of Reading Museum.[24]
- 2021 Impact Winners - Friends of Upminster Windmill. Highly Commended were: Costume and Textile Association, The Friends of the Judges Lodgings, Lancaster and The Friends of The Whitworth.[25]
Robert Logan Award
Newsletter of the Year Award
- 2023 Winners Friends of Birmingham Museums. Runners Up Certificates of Merit - Friends of Bowes Museum and the Friends of Bristol Museum and Archives. Highly Commended Certificates - The Friends of Oakwell Park, the Friends of Southampton City Art Gallery and the Friends of Rayleigh Town Museum.[28]
Friends of the Year Award
- 2023 Friends of Wisbech & Fenland Museum
References
- ^ a b What is BAFM? Archived 2010-06-28 at the Wayback Machine, British Association of Friends of Museums.
- ^ "A Brief History of BAfM | British Association of Friends of Museums". www.bafm.co.uk. Retrieved 22 January 2017.
- ^ "BAFM". www.charitycommission.gov.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ British Association of Friends of Museums: Understanding the Future[permanent dead link], DCMS, UK.
- ^ a b "BAFM Journal" (130). BAFM. 2022.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ "BAFM President". www.graphicdesugns.co.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ "President". www.bafm.co.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ "Newsletter wins". Sandwell Evening Mail. 5 September 1989. p. 25.
- ^ "The Museum's Association" (PDF). www.museumsassociation.org. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "FOIM Newsletter - Winter 2009/10" (PDF). www.squarespace.com. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "BAFM Annual Conference". www.imuseum.im. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "Swansea". www.jiscmail.ac.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "Cheltenham". www.graphicdesigns.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "Ironbridge Gorge Museum" (PDF). www.bafm.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "Annual Conference". www.bafm.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "Join us". www.bafm.co.uk. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- ^ Ross, Ramsay (2019). "BAFM Annual Conference". British Association of Friends of Museum's Journal (125): 5.
- ^ "The Friends of Lyme Regis Museum win top award for its newsletter". Retrieved 19 October 2022.
- ^ "2020 conference". www.bafm.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ "AGM". www.bafm.co.uk. Retrieved 2 October 2022.
- ^ Adgar, David (2023). "Newsletter of the year awards". BAFM Journal (131): 16.
- ^ Adgar, David (2023). "Stop Press". BAFM Journal (131): 18.
- ^ "Awards". www.bafm.co.uk. Retrieved 21 September 2022.
- ^ "Impact awards". www.bafm.co.uk. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
- ^ "Impact Award". www.bafm.co.uk. Retrieved 30 September 2022.
- ^ "BAfM – The Robert Logan Award 2017". www.aimuseums.wordpress.com. 2 February 2017. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
- ^ "People". www.punchdrunkenrichment.org.uk. Retrieved 3 October 2022.
- ^ Adgar, David. "Newsletter of the Year Award". BAFM Journal (131): 16–17.