Last week, I had the privilege of attending the AIM Conference 2025, held at the historic Mary Rose Museum in Portsmouth. With the theme “Museums in Motion: Building resilience for a changing world,” the conference brought together hundreds of museum and heritage professionals to explore how the sector is adapting with creativity, energy, and optimism.
Rhiannon Pratt, Research Manager at M·E·L Research
I was honoured to present M·E·L Research’s initial findings from our ongoing study into land use across the museum and heritage sector. Our research, commissioned by AIM and its partners, is uncovering how outdoor spaces, from rooftop terraces to acres of landscape, are being used to support community engagement, environmental sustainability, and cultural storytelling. It was incredibly rewarding to share early insights and hear from others navigating the challenges and opportunities in managing land and outdoor spaces.
Beyond presenting, I had the chance to attend several thought-provoking sessions. One standout was the discussion around the Re:Collections programme, part of the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan. This initiative is supporting museums in Wales to re-examine their collections through a decolonial lens, offering grants, mentoring, and co-creation opportunities to ensure more inclusive and representative storytelling. The work being done here is both urgent and inspiring. M·E·L Research has also undertaken work regarding the Anti-Racist Wales Action Plan. Our evaluation explores the Anti-racist Wales Culture, Heritage and Sport Fund which has provided grant funding over three financial years (up to December 2025) to support organisations at national, local and community level to deliver the culture, heritage and sport goals and actions outlined in the ArWAP. (Read more here: https://melresearch.co.uk/mel-news/mel-research-to-evaluate-culture-heritage-and-sport-anti-racist-wales-action-plan-grants-programme/).
Another highlight was hearing from the co-directors of the Cornwall Museum & Art Gallery, Jonathan Morton and Bryony Robins, who shared their ambitious transformation project. Their vision for a more immersive, community-connected museum experience, rooted in Cornwall’s unique identity, was a powerful reminder of the role museums can play in shaping place and belonging.
The keynote on Beach of Dreams was equally moving. This UK-wide coastal arts festival invites communities to explore the heritage and climate futures of our coastlines through walking, storytelling, and art. The project’s blend of creativity and environmental consciousness felt especially relevant as we consider how museums can contribute to broader societal change.
Being invited to speak at AIM Conference 2025 was a real honour. The setting was stunning, the conversations were rich, and the sense of shared purpose was palpable and inspiring. I left feeling energised by the work being done across the sector and excited about the role M·E·L Research can continue to play in supporting it.
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