Elaine Lees from Creativity Works in Pennine Lancashire explains how she successfully bid for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to create a new Museums at Night cluster of activity in her area, the "Festival of Wonders".

1. Pennine Lancashire Museums at Night
Festival of Wonders
27 Sept 2013

2. Pennine Lancashire

3. Background
• 3 yrs of MatN events with small number of venues
• 2013 represented shift in our ambition
• Went from 5 venues/events in 2012 to 15 venues/20
events in 2013
• Museums, galleries, libraries took part
• Mix of events under central theme
• Local coordinator across 5 districts, large semi rural
area
• Supported by Culture24
• Funded by Heritage Lottery Fund across 2 yrs

4. Central Theme

5. Central Theme

8. Results
• 1,530 people came
• 77% were first time MatN
attenders
• 33% were new to the
venue
• 51% attended more than
one event
• All venues want to take
part again next year

9. HLF Funding
• Culture24 had experience
- I had none!
• Used other bids to learn quickly
• Heritage, learning and volunteers are
priorities
• 3 months to confirm events/draft bid
with C24
• £44,400 secured for 2 yr programme

10. Securing the venues
• Written proposal and
meeting
• Asked for a one pager back
with outline costs
• Explained roles - shared
responsibility
• Set time limits
• Reconfirmed every
venue/event once funding
secured

11. What worked well
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Theme
Central branding
PR – national and local
Venue attitude and effort
Libraries
Volunteer photographers
Evaluation

12. Challenges
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Meeting venues
Staff changes
Marketing budget
Confirming events
Ownership of the event
Events schedule
Venues putting on more than one event
How to do it next year on half the
budget…

13. Plans for 2014
• Start earlier – ie now
• Build on what worked
• Update
branding/marketing
• Secure additional venues
• More effort in areas with
lower attendance
• Better use of social media
• Templates for 2015 and
beyond

14. Thank you