Subject Specialist Networks (SSNs) are groups of people with special expertise in a given subject area. They bring together the wider museums community and are supported, where appropriate, by parent organisations that provide specialist curatorial support for relevant collections across England and the UK.
SSNs enable sector professionals to share knowledge and expertise, gained from experiences both within and outside the sector, with the aim of maximising the value of collections to the public. They strengthen the capacity to understand existing collections and extend the benefits to related collections outside of the networks themselves. It is recognised that these mutually supportive groups add critical mass and economies of scale whilst allowing for the sharing of expertise, ideas and best practice.
SSNs were a recommendation of the original Renaissance report and their ongoing relevance has been emphasised through the Renaissance Review and Leading Museums. Renaissance funded a series of Exploratory and Implementation Grants in 05/06, a second round of Exploratory Grants in 06/07 and a further round of Implementation Grants in 07/08. This phased and reactive approach enabled the networks to be organic in their development – which now sees the SSNs at various stages of development and maturity.
Click here for a list of current Subject Specialist Networks.
Tailored support package
Responding to the Renaissance Review, the MLA acknowledges the need to invest in supporting and advertising the existing networks and will do this by:
- continuing to advertise and support active SSNs that can demonstrate their adherence to the SSN criteria
- continuing to support Collections Link and Culture 24 in their web offer to SSNs
- ensuring that all networks are regularly kept informed about news, good practice and contact details of other SSNs operating within the sector
- developing a range of frameworks and case studies for sharing throughout the networks and the sector
- ensuring there is dedicated resource within the MLA to coordinate the support package
- valuing the impact of institutional support for SSNs
- holding further networking events for the SSNs – building on the positive feedback received from the Review
- looking at developing and delivering a series of seminars on collaboration and networking
Many collections do not currently have direct curatorial support and so can not be used to their maximum benefit in engaging with audiences; SSNs can help provide that required support. The MLA will therefore actively support and where appropriate, develop, SSNs that address key subject areas outlined below:
Where appropriate, small amounts of funding is now being made available to SSNs to, for example:
- implement specific elements of their forward plans
- further organisational development work
- support projects which implement initiatives built on existing research
- develop networking activities and tools
- support projects identified as contributing to regional sector improvment
For further information, please contact Jo-ann Lloyd jo-ann.lloyd@mla.gov.uk tel 0121 345 7312
Finding a network
Click here to find out more information about existing SSNs.
To find a network, go to the Networks Directory on www.collectionslink.org.uk.