Thank you for your interest in our study. We’re conducting this research on behalf of AIM (the Association of Independent Museums), the National Museum Directors’ Council, Welsh Government, and Arts Council England, to gain insights into how the museum sector is managing outdoor spaces and to determine what support could help museums optimise their land use.
The study comprises two key elements which have been informed by an initial phase of in-depth conversations with sector organisations.
First, our survey aims to capture quantitative data on current land use practices, offering a snapshot of how outdoor spaces are managed across the sector and providing a sense of the amount of outdoor space under museum management, what it is used for, and who it might benefit.
If you haven’t completed it yet, please do. You can do so here: https://survey.euro.confirmit.com/wix/p432724015954.aspx
You can view the survey in advance here. It should take around ten minutes to complete.
Question G1 will cycle 6 times in slightly different iterations – this is normal and to be expected.
Following the survey, we invite you to join our online community, where you’ll be able to tell us about your management of land and outdoor spaces in more detail and to hear from others.
This community provides a forum to discuss your experiences, share the challenges you face, and exchange insights with other professionals. It allows you to complete a small number of individual tasks as well as to engage in group discussions – though there is no pressure to join in the latter.
If you’re interested in participating, please join the community here. If this is your first visit, please ‘Register’, if you are returning you can login with an existing account: https://mel.recollective.com/aim-outdoor-space-research/join?key=fY6P
You can read our privacy policy here: https://melresearch.co.uk/privacy-policy/
You will need to setup a username and password. The community will be open for several weeks and this will allow you to login multiple times as more people take part, and to respond to comments on any discussions you are involved in.
The online community aims to create a collaborative space for museum professionals to discuss their approach to managing outdoor spaces. It provides an opportunity to share knowledge, address challenges, and learn from each other’s experiences regarding land management and outdoor space use.
The community is open to individuals working in the museum and cultural heritage sector who are interested in land management, outdoor spaces, or sustainability initiatives. Please note, we are as interested to hear from sites with very small outdoor spaces or those operating in urban areas as we are from those with larger areas of land. We welcome contributions from all museum roles and experience levels.
Topics will cover a range of themes, including innovative land use, sustainable practices, common challenges, and the types of support needed to enhance the use of outdoor spaces. Members can also suggest additional topics or areas of interest.
Members can participate as much or as little as they wish. A small number of activities will be scheduled, but you’re welcome to contribute whenever it’s convenient. Please note, we are limited to 50 active members at any one time and so if we reach this number, we will contact those who joined earlier and have been inactive for some time to discuss removing them to make space.
Yes, the community is facilitated by moderators from M·E·L Research who will guide discussions, post prompts, and ensure a respectful and collaborative environment.
While a profile is required to join, you may choose how much information to share with the group. Other members of the community will only see your Username.
Insights gathered from community discussions will help AIM, the National Museum Directors’ Council, Welsh Government, and Arts Council England to understand sector needs and design targeted support. Please note, any text, videos or images uploaded to the site may be used in reporting and this may be published in the public domain.
If you experience any technical difficulties, please contact Rhiannon, below in the first instance. She will be happy to assist you with any issues accessing the community or participating in discussions.
No, participation in the community is voluntary and unpaid. However, your contributions are invaluable to helping us shape support for the sector.
Please email Rhiannon (below). We are limited to 50 active members at any one time and so if we reach this number, we will contact those who joined earlier and have been inactive for some time to discuss removing them to make space. We will invite new members to take these places in order of expression of interest.
You can find out more about the project here: https://melresearch.co.uk/mel-news/mel-research-to-deliver-exploratory-research-in-to-museum-use-and-management-of-land-outdoor-spaces-green-and-blue-spaces/
You can contact the project team via Rhiannon Pratt, on: Rhiannon.Pratt@melresearch.co.uk