by Portland Museum

Applications Invited for Trustees of 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 seven trustees.

 

Are you able to bring your skills and vitality to help take the museum’s operations, interpretation and activities to a new level? Due to the imminent retirement of some of our senior trustees, we are looking for new trustees in three key areas:

 

1. Finance: This position requires the trustee to liaise with our accountant and volunteer finance officer. Additionally, they need to prepare a short financial statement for the Board of Trustee meetings that are held every two months. Previous experience in dealing with finance would be very valuable.

 

2. Buildings Management: Portland Museum consists of two 17th century, listed, thatched cottages, alongside a modern entrance and gallery. We have a repairing lease from the council and it is imperative that the state of repair of the buildings is monitored regularly and action taken promptly when something needs doing. An interest and understanding of buildings management would be highly prized in our team. 

 

3. Fundraising: In the last few years Portland Museum has been very successful at obtaining project grants from various funding sources. A trustee is required to contribute to funding applications and to develop new stakeholders and partnerships with other organisations. This role has been shared between two of the trustees and the museum manager but additional support is needed to carry the work forward.

 

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 Dr Angela Scott, Chair of Trustees at [email protected]

 

Closing date for applications is March 31st 2023.

Background

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.

 

 

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]

Closing date for applications is March 31^st 2023.

Dr Angela Scott

Chair of Trustees

Portland Museum

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