Applications Invited for Trustees for Portland Museum

For 90 years, Portland Museum has promoted the island’s brilliant history, heritage and culture to locals and visitors.

As the museum works towards celebrating its Centennial in 2030 it is seeking to augment its team of volunteer trustees to help shape its exciting future. You would be joining a current team of six active trustees.

Are you able to bring your skills and vitality to help take the museum’s operations, interpretation and activities to a new level?

Applications from young people and from people who live on Portland are particularly encouraged but all applications will be welcomed.

Portland Museum is an equal opportunity organisation and is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace and in our public programming.

We are looking for trustees with broad range of skills, especially in the following areas:

• Finances
• Marketing & Social Media
• Bid writing
• Fundraising
• Retail
• Building management of listed buildings

Portland Museum Trust is a registered company and charity and its trustees are responsible for the effective governance of the museum and ensuring it fulfils its mission and delivers its vision. Successful applicants would also be directors of the not-for-profit company.

Background

Portland Museum Trust was formed in 2007 when they took over the running of Portland Museum from the council. The museum was formed 90 years ago by Dr Marie Stopes, the renowned palaeobotanist and advocate for birth control. She donated two Portland Stone cottages in Wakeham to the people of Portland for use as a museum.

Trustees are needed to join a small, dedicated team to help look after the listed buildings, maintain and care for the Collection, prepare for re-accreditation next year and engage with the local community.

 The museum houses various displays including, fossils, local archaeology, the mining of Portland stone and the Court Leet. Additionally, there is an important collection of artefacts in the Maritime Gallery.

Portland Museum works closely with other local heritage organisations as well as the Portland based bside festival. Over the last three years we have received several important grants, allowing the fabric of the building to be upgraded with new windows and doors and various exciting cultural projects to be carried out. During the Covid crisis in 2020, we were awarded a £70,000 ACE Culture Recovery Fund grant which was used to improve access to the Maritime Collection and for work to be carried out on the Collection, improving records and object care.

The ambition of the museum is to keep moving forward, improving the displays, increasing visitor numbers and the range of people visiting, taking some of the collection out into the community and working closely with National heritage organisations on two important local monuments (Rufus Castle and St Andrews Church).

Role Description

• An understanding of and commitment to the objectives and work of Portland Museum Trust
• The ability to work effectively as part of a team
• Excellent communication skills
• Attend regular Board meeting (6/year. Meetings are normally held from 10.00-12.00am but times can be varied to suit the participants)
• Get involved in the running of the museum, either in a hands on way or by being involved in other aspects of museum life e.g. applications for funding, collection care or event planning

The post is unpaid

For more information about Portland Museum, please look at the website:

                                                         www.portlandmuseum.co.uk

If you would like more information on the role and responsibilities, an informal chat or a guided tour of the museum, please contact the Chair of Trustees (Angela Scott) via the museum email at ([email protected])

How to apply

Applicants should submit an up-to-date CV, and a single page (A4) statement either direct to Portland Museum at 217 Wakeham, Easton, Portland DT5 1HS or by email to the Chair of Trustees at [email protected]

The closing date is Friday 14^th January 2022

Applicants will be notified by Friday 28^th January 2022

Dr Angela Scott

Chair of Trustees

Portland Museum

Dorset