Amélina and the Talbots at Lacock is a new publication which takes extracts from the journals of Amélina Petit de Billier written between 1820 and 1835. She joined the family of W H F Talbot and remained at Lacock Abbey until her death in 1876. The volumes offer an absorbing insight in to her life with the Talbots at Lacock including both the busy social round and their continental travels. The journals were transcribed by Sheila Metcalf and Trudy Wallace.

The 84 page illustrated book is available from Madeiramedia@virginmedia.com or by writing to Madeira Media at 2 Madeira Road, Clevedon, BS21 7TJ. It costs £6.99 plus £1.45pp. For further information contact Jude Harris by email: jude.harris1@btinternet.com  

The post holder will make a significant contribution to the realisation of our ambition of becoming the best Museum Group in the world. They will deliver all elements of a comms campaign but will specialise in PR when appropriate. They will take specific responsibility for delivery a large number of campaigns and the Museum’s relationship with its online influencers.

KEY DELIVERABLES /ACCOUNTABILITIES

1.      By working with the Senior Press Officer contribute to the development of the Museum’s Media Relations strategy and play a significant role in its delivery. The strategy should have a heavy digital element (to agreed targets and priorities of digital strategy) and be based on visitor insight, innovative, creative and fully integrated with the whole comms mix.

2.      Work independently and with the Marketing, Web and Content teams to develop effective and integrated campaigns which have a strong digital bias (to agreed targets and priorities of digital strategy) where appropriate to drive physical and online visitation. Take the lead as Campaign Manager when appropriate.

3.      Manage an online influencer outreach program and build an active brand ambassador network to spread the word about the Museum (to agreed targets and priorities of digital strategy).

4.      Manage campaign budgets and timing schedules ensuring that all activity is delivered on time, on budget and compliant with SMG Finance guidelines e.g. the raising of Purchase Orders and the processing of invoices, raising queries directly with Finance where appropriate.

5.      To proactively identify both on and off-line media opportunities which the Museum could use to promote its activities.

6.      To proactively build and maintain effective local, regional and national media contacts, both on & off line.

7.      Proactively sell-in stories to targeted media and manage media enquiries.

8.      Make regular contributions to the NMeM social media platforms.

9.      Produce high quality media information (e.g. press releases, background documents, briefings, speeches) and organise press events, visits, and media calls.

10.  Develop online content for media use with a particular emphasis on rich media, e.g. video.

11.  Provide regular reviews of the Museum’s media coverage.

12.  Coordinate the Museum’s media competitions if outside an agreed campaign.

13.  Proactively develop excellent relationships with Museum staff and build an informed knowledge of the Museum, its intellectual territory and the sector.

14.  To assist with all general Comms Office duties and administration. These include maintaining the media contacts database, image library, monitoring media coverage and supervising filming and photography on site.

15.  Take care of your personal health and safety and that of others and report any health and safety concerns. Ensure proactive compliance with SMG H&S Policies, including risk assessments and implementing safe systems of work.

WORKING RELATIONSHIPS & CONTACTS

Internal

• They will report into the Senior Press Officer of the NationalMediaMuseum
• Collaborate with colleagues across the Museum to develop high profile comms campaigns and promotional initiatives and ensure relevant sign-off. This will particularly involve colleagues in the Cultural Programme, Film, Exhibitions teams, Design, Learning, Curators, Web, Development but also colleagues from right across the organisation.
• Work closely and share experiences with other Comms Team colleagues from across the Group e.g. those in sister Museums, the Visitor Insight Team.

External

• Press, Broadcasters, Bloggers and online influencers
• Partners - Sponsors, Welcome to Yorkshire and Bradford Council.
• Agencies – Press, Media Evaluation, Freelancers

Line management and budget responsibility

Budget holder of: will vary from campaign to campaign, unlikely to exceed £50k per campaign.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Experience

• Solid grounding in a digital comms, PR, Press Office or journalistic environment with proven experience of community management and online PR.
• Practical experience of formulating and delivering integrated communications campaigns and managing budgets.
• Project management experience with a track record for effectively delivering multiple projects at one time in a busy environment.
• Experience of working within a complex, matrix layered and multi stakeholder organisation.

Skills knowledge and relevant qualifications

• Excellent written skills with the ability to produce high quality, creative, effective and accurate written materials and Press information.
• Proven ability to build and maintain relationships with journalists, bloggers and broadcasters.
• Confident and articulate with strong analytical and strategic skills
• Educated to degree level or with a relevant Comms qualification or demonstrated experience.
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to plan and prioritise complex and competing workloads under budget, resource and time pressures.
• A proven ability of managing budgets/financial management processes
• Up to speed with the latest thinking in communications, paying particular attention to the latest trends and innovations in digital media.

Behaviours

• Exceptional team player with the confidence and integrity to earn internal team confidence quickly.
• Single minded, results driven with a track record of relentless delivery.
• Creative with the ability to think laterally.
• Highly motivated, solutions focused, identifies and deals with obstacles to success, not deterred by setbacks.
• Takes pride in delivering work of high standard.
• Prioritises objectives and plans work, flexible and uses initiative.
• Flexibility to work occasional unsocial hours.

Scope for impact

The main aim of the post holder is to deliver campaigns that will generate visits to the Museum, its festivals and to the Cinema offer. In some cases they’ll deliver the campaign in its entirety e.g. the whole mix. However, for larger campaigns they’ll focus on the PR component only. They’ll be specifically responsible for the Museum’s relationship with its online influencers. This activity will enable us to meet our targets whilst enhancing the reputation of the Museum and the strength of the brand.

• Visitor numbers – Delivery of budgeted visitor numbers will lead to us achieving commercial targets and more positive relationships with sponsors, partners and the DCMS.
• Reputation management – Protects and strengthens the standing of the Museum to secure financial stability through visitors and other sources of income.
• Brand – Delivery of a consistently strong brand underpins the successful delivery of our business plans.

Please note:

• This job description is not exhaustive and amendments and additions may be required in line with future changes in policy, regulation or organisational requirements, it will be reviewed on a regular basis.
• This role is subject to a Disclosure Scotland basic criminal record check

More details: https://vacancies.nmsi.ac.uk/VacancyDetails.aspx?FromSearch=True&MenuID=6Dqy3cKIDOg=&VacancyID=285

Award winning, visionary and unique, the National Media Museum holds world class collections that embrace photography, film, television, radio and the web. The museum also hosts a wide range of events, from film festivals to premieres.

We are now looking for a Communications Manager with a proven instinct for finding stories that capture the imagination of local, national and international journalists. They also need to be able to manage marketing campaigns that raise our profile and dramatically increase attendance at our exhibitions and events. The museum has collections of international importance including the Royal Photographic Society Collection, The Daily Herald Archive and the Kodak Museum Collection.  We also hold the National Television Collection, the National New Media Collection and the National Videogame Archive

This role will suit someone who is energetic, outgoing and ambitious. It’s an opportunity for an experienced, hands-on journalist/PR who can build their own media network, engage opinion formers directly and exploit PR opportunities across both press and social media channels.

You will have personal experience of social media, such as Twitter or blogging, a track record of being able to build relationships and have an eye for an angle, capable of leading a small team by example and introducing stories – big and small - to the press with passion and persuasiveness. You’ll have the vision to see exactly how Press & Marketing can help deliver the Museum’s aspirations – and also the skills to inspire and influence curators to help drive and contribute to a continuous flow of good news stories.

Part of the Science Museum Group, the National Media Museum aims to engage, inspire and educate through comprehensive collections, innovative education programmes and a powerful yet sensitive approach to contemporary issues.

To apply, please upload one document containing your CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the requirements of the position. 

Purpose of the Job

Through leadership of the National Media Museum’s Communications team you will make a significant contribution to the realisation of our wider goal of becoming the best Museum Group in the world.

You must be proactive and not afraid to get your hands dirty delivering task after task as you lead your team by example.  Whilst strategy has its place it must not get in the way of you doing your job and delivering tangible output.

You will oversee a small integrated Press and Marketing team but your strength will most definitely lie within Press.  Writing will come as second nature to you and you will have extensive experience with social media and online publishing.  You will have a knack for uncovering stories no matter how big or small and be well positioned to see these into the national and local press through your extensive contacts, persuasive personality and first rate networking skills.

You and your team will develop and execute campaigns that have innovation and visitor insight right at their core, these along with other initiatives will enhance our national and international reputation.  Appropriately for the National Media Museum the campaigns should have a strong digital element which when combined with traditional activity will exceed targets whilst enhancing the reputation of the Museum.  Working closely with the Science Museum Communications team you will identify and maximise publicity opportunities made possible from Media Space.

Critically important is your vision and the capability to take advantage of the socio-political landscape which Bradford has to offer.  All activity will be undertaken against a backdrop of building, managing and protecting the brand.

Key Deliverables/Accountabilities

1.                  Develop and implement high impact, cost effective, integrated communications strategies and plans, ensuring an appropriate balance between cultural, visitor experience, brand and commercial objectives.  Delivering budgeted visitor numbers and revenues and influencing peers to ensure you have the product necessary to pique both the interest of visitors and the media.  The Communications strategy should be established with your first six months; this should not only address the media but also the local key stakeholders for the NMeM and identify the Museum’s role within the Group.

2.                  Take overall responsibility for issues management at the Museum to protect its reputation and identify media and partnerships to maximise the profile of gallery developments, exhibitions, events, and achievements of the museum.

3.                  Identify and capitalise on stories big and small within both the Museum and the Media to demonstrate the vast array of exciting initiatives at the Museum and to communicate our relevance to current affairs.

4.                  Ensure the best return on the Communications budget by maximising agency relationships, tracking effectiveness of campaigns improving ROI and taking a rigorous approach to the budget management process which must be compliant with SMG Finance guidelines.

5.                  Work with the wider communications family within the Museum and across the Group e.g. Web, Development and Enterprises to seek synergies and ensure that we maximise all opportunities and that all communications strengthen the brand.  Advising others on their communications needs where resource permits.

6.                  Act as the contract manager for the One Film Strategy, ensuring comms activity supports revenue targets.

7.                  Advise the Head of Museum on Corporate Communications and Advocacy to ensure good will towards the Museum from Government, the media, funders and local stakeholders.

8.                  Proactively develop excellent relationships with Museum staff across the Group and build an informed knowledge of the Museum, its intellectual territory and the sector.

9.                  Develop and motivate a strong Communications team with the aspiration of making them the most innovative and effective team in the sector.  They will be target driven, positive, courageous and creative.  Taking specific responsibility for the line management of the Senior Marketing Executive and Press Officer and take responsibility for the delivery of their business and personal development objectives.

10.             To assist with all general Communications Office duties and administration.

11.             Take care of your personal health and safety and that of others and report any health and safety concerns.  Ensure proactive compliance with Science Museum Group H&S Policies, including risk assessments and implementing safe systems of work

Working Relationships and Contacts

Internal

• The Communications Manager will report into the Group’s Head of Communications.
• Executive, in particular the Director of External Affairs, Deputy Director of the Science Museum
• Take an active role on the Group’s Communications Strategic Team, and the National Media Museum’s Interim Management Group, Strategic Operations Group, Audience Evaluation Group and Programmes Board.
• Enterprises SMT: Head of Events & the Business Analyst.
• Museum SMT: Head of Museum, Head of Development, Head of Learning, Head of Public Programmes, Head of Collections, Future Strategy Coordinator and Head of VE.
• The Design Studio, Media Production Unit & Web.

External

• Through their team they will manage a variety of external agencies e.g. creative, media buying, PR, freelancers and media evaluation.
• Trade partners e.g. Yorkshire Attractions Group, Welcome to Yorkshire, Bradford Council, ALVA and Commercial partners e.g. Virgin Media.

Line Management and Budget Responsibility

Directly line manages:          2

Indirectly line manages:        1

Contractors/freelancers:       0

Budget Holder of £355k (includes salary costs)

Candidate Profile

Experience

• Extensive senior management experience in a busy press office of a major corporation/public body or on a busy new desk including issues management.
• A demonstrable record of building strong relationships with journalists on a national and regional basis, key opinion formers and stakeholders.  Additionally you’ll have a healthy network of media contacts at your finger tips.
• A demonstrable record of securing significant coverage by highlighting business relevance to current media stories.
• Significant experience of resource management i.e. budgets, people management, staff development, change management and performance monitoring.
• Seen as a leader in the use of digital and social media in a corporate context.
• Significant of experience of leading multi- disciplinary teams with a complex, matrix layered and multi stakeholder organisation.
• Proven track record of leading a motivated team that relentless and successfully deliver project after project over and above expectations.
• Experience of managing the marketing elements of an integrated Communications Campaign.

Skills, Knowledge and Relevant Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or with a relevant Communications qualification or demonstrated experience.
• Driven by results with the motivation and diplomacy skills to get the best out of your team.
• Able to demonstrate personal authority, credibility and leadership, to inspire confidence and respect in others.
• Able to evaluate political and sensitive situation and act accordingly.
• Extensive contacts, persuasive personality and first rate networking skills.
• Strong writing skills and good instincts for deciding what will be of interest to the Media along with the ability to identify potential issues which will need to be carefully managed to protect the reputation of the Museum.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills when dealing with peers, external stakeholders and colleagues at a senior level.
• Strong organisation skills and the ability to plan and priorities complex and competing workloads under budget, resource and time pressures.
• A proven ability of managing budgets/financial management processes
• Ability to think beyond the immediate area of responsibility to take into consideration the broader Museum agenda.

Behaviours

• A self starter, with a positive ‘can-do’ attitude and used to multi-tasking, balancing deadlines and workloads whilst always keeping a keen eye on the detail.
• Single minded, results driven with a track record of relentless delivery whilst possessing strong diplomatic skills.
• Sets a clear vision, objectives and expectation and ensures staff members understand their responsibilities.
• Calm in a crisis and when under pressure to deliver multiple projects/tasks simultaneously and concurrently.

Scope for Impact

The main aim of the post is to raise the profile of the Museum through the development and implementation of high-profile and creative communications campaigns and other marketing initiatives.  This will enable us to meet our visitor and revenue targets whilst enhancing the reputation of the Museum and the strength of the brand.

• Profile – Press coverage and Social Media secured in the UK and overseas will enhance the standing and financial stability of the Museum.
• Visitor numbers – delivery of budgeted visitor numbers will lead to us achieving commercial targets and more positive relationships with sponsors, partners and the DCMS.
• Onsite sales – Delivery of budgeted onsite revenue will continue to the successful trading of SMG Enterprises which in turn makes more cash available to SMG.
• Reputation management – protects and strengthens the standing of the Museum to secure financial stability through visitors and other sources of income.
• Consulting – By providing advice to the wider Communications team you will help increase effectiveness of their campaigns which will result in a better ROI. Additionally, it will ensure brand consistency across all communications activity.
• Brand – Delivery of a consistently strong brand underpins the successful delivery of our business plans.
• Product – Ensuring that our cultural programme is aligned to our audience and priorities and of a standard worthy of a ‘National Museum’ will help ensure financial stability through visitors and other sources of income.
• Strategy – Through the development of organisation wide strategies such as the brand alignment plan and audience plan you will shape the future of the organisation.

For further information about the National Media Museum, a full job description and details of how to apply, please visit www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/AboutUs/ and https://vacancies.nmsi.ac.uk/VacancyDetails.aspx?FromSearch=True&MenuID=6Dqy3cKIDOg=&VacancyID=279

Closing date: 13th January 2013

Interviews: week commencing 28th January 2013

The Media Collections possesses one of the most outstanding and valuable photographic collections in the region and one that ranks with major collections through the world. The photographs are of exceptional quality and span from the 19th century to present. The collection includes photographs from early daguerreotypes through albums, photography - illustrated books to contemporary color photographs and a significant collection of cameras and diverse photography and cinematography equipment.

The Media Collections is seeking a suitably qualified and experienced candidate to work full - time in collaboration with the Head of Collections on the registration planning of the collections.

Job responsabilities:

 1) Working with the Head of Collections and maintains records of accession, condition, and location of objects in museum collection, and oversees movement, packing, and shipping of objects to conform to insurance regulations: Observes unpacking of objects acquired by museum through gift, purchase, or loan to determine that damage or deterioration to objects has not occurred.

2) Registers and assigns accession and catalog numbers to all objects in collection, according to established registration system.

3) Composes concise description of objects, and records descriptions on file cards and in collection catalogs.

4) Oversees handling, packing, movement, and inspection of all objects entering or leaving establishment, including traveling exhibits, and confers with other personnel to develop and initiate most practical methods of packing and shipping fragile or valuable objects.

5) Maintains records of storage, exhibit, and loan locations of all objects in collection for use of establishment personnel, insurance representatives, and other persons utilizing facilities.

6) Prepares acquisition reports for review of curatorial and administrative staff.

7) Periodically reviews and evaluates registration and catalog system to maintain applicability, consistency, and operation.

8) Recommends changes in recordkeeping procedures to achieve maximum accessibility to and efficient retrieval of collection objects.

9) Arranges for insurance of objects on loan or special exhibition, or recommends insurance coverage on parts of or entire collection.

The Senior Registrar’s role is critical in identifying and resolving registration and labeling problems, working with the Head of Collections to organize the new acquisitions and updating the Museum’s collection management system with all new information and locations.

The Senior Registrar must thoroughly understand the Museum’s multi-layered object documentation processes and how to correctly enter and accurately retrieve information in the Museum's collection management system (currently The Filemaker System, but in process to migrate to KE Emu collection management system)

Required Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree in history, museum science or related field. An understanding of photography and film history can be an advantage.

- A minimum of two years experience with contemporary museum registration practices using complex databases and collections management systems. Experience with KE Emu collection management system is suitable.

- Experience organizing large amounts of information from multiple sources in a logical manner.

- Efficient typing and data entry.

More about the collections are here: http://www.qma.com.qa/en/collections/photography

Please send the CV to Maria Matta mmatta@qma.org.qa 

Closing date 21-12-2012

The Library of Birmingham which opens its new library building on 3 September 2013 has been awarded a major £162,000 grant by Arts Council England. It will undertake a 2 year project to create a new strategic hub and network for photography and photographers in collaboration with national and international partners. The project will be called Grain. This is the largest Grants for the Arts Award given to photography in the region. Details as to what is planned and how the money will be spent will be announced early in 2013.  

Over the last 20 years the Library’s Photography Collection Team has responded to the rapidly changing face of public cultural funding by building relationships with the corporate sector to encourage collaboration, sponsorship and philanthropy initiatives that have enabled them to continue to collect historical work, to support the work of mid to late career photographers, to commission, purchase and collect contemporary work and to support the professional development of emerging photographers.

Pete James, Head of Photographs at the Library said, “This amazing award comes at unique moment in the city’s and region’s cultural history. We stand perfectly positioned with the new Library of Birmingham to take a step-change in our work to support and develop photography in the region and to promote the Library as a photography centre of regional, national and international importance. Building on our work to date, we can now enter a two year period of research and development to deliver a of programme of exhibitions, workshops, seminars, portfolio reviews, commissions and networking events with new and existing partners that will provide the very best opportunities to create new work, new audiences, new partnerships and new ways of working that will result in strategic and sustainable future photography and photographers in the West Midlands."

Ros Robins, Regional Director, Arts Council England says: "The Library of Birmingham is one of the city's most exciting developments; it will be a huge part of Birmingham's cultural landscape and a regional photography Hub will help to make it a central point for photographers both nationally and internationally. The Libraries photography collection team have worked hard to develop an exciting collection and Arts Council England are pleased to support their next project so that their good work can continue."

The award follows previous grants for £62,000 to support Reference Works: The Library of Birmingham Photography Project (reference-works.com) commission established in the city - and a more recent £6284 grant from the Art Council's Designation Development Fund to undertake conservation work on a nine volume publication titled The People of India, published between 1865 and 1870, which contains over 480 original photographic prints.

The University of East London is a dynamic and rapidly expanding university in the heart of Europe’s largest regeneration area and adjacent to the site of the 2012 Olympics and Paralympics. UEL is in the top 10 of modern universities for research in the most recent RAE exercise.

We are seeking a new colleague to teach at all levels in the Subject Area of Cultural Studies and Creative Industries.

You will be educated to PhD level in Photography History or Theory, Contemporary Art History or a related subject area. You will have an excellent record of art historical and theoretical research. Experience of delivering successful, diverse approaches to teaching undergraduate and postgraduate students and in developing and managing modules is essential.

To obtain further details about this vacancy please visit our website at http://jobs.uel.ac.uk/ (reference number 098a2012). The closing date for applications is 4 January 2013 .

CVs without completed application forms will not be accepted

We are working actively to improve the diversity of our staff

School of Arts & Digital Industries

Lecturer in Photography History and Theory (0.4)

21-month fixed-term contract

Salary in the range £36,194 to £40,305 p.a. inc pro rata

Details here: http://jobs.uel.ac.uk/Vacancy.aspx?ref=098A2012

Dubai is to host a new moving image museum which is expected to open in January 2013. The space is currently being fitted out and will consist of the collection of Akram Miknas who has been assisted in the project by London-based dealer Pierre Patau.  

The space is around 400m2 in MCN Tower in the heart of TECOM Media City, Dubai.  Enas Abusidu has been appointed museum manager.  

The museum's website will be live shortly at: http://www.dubaimovingimagemuseum.com/ and a blog is live here: http://dmim-blog.com/ 

The museum is the Middle East's first such museum although Qatar has had plans for a photography museum, now re-named as, the International Media Museum for many years. BPH readers will be aware that the Qatar museum has recruited for several positions over recent years and it has produced a number of temporary exhibitions. 

The Ransom Center is accepting applications for its 2013–2014 research fellowships in the humanities. The application deadline is February 1, 2013. More than 50 fellowships are awarded annually by the Ransom Center to support research projects in all areas of the humanities, including literature, photography, film, art, the performing arts, music, and cultural history. The Center, as readers know, includes the Gernsheim Collection. 

More information here: http://www.hrc.utexas.edu/research/fellowships/

We are seeking an individual who will bring innovative new skills along with professional expertise and/or specialised postgraduate training to fulfil the full-time role of Photographic Research and Preservation Officer. Working within our Photographic Collection team, the successful candidate will provide research and client services as well as drive the preservation and preventive conservation of the physical collections.  The role is driven by access initiatives and departmental objectives to further knowledge transfer, learning and to support the research interests of key university, public, and commercial stakeholders. 

This is an opportunity to work with an outstanding collection of approximately 800,000 historic photographs from the medium's earliest practitioners through to the present day. The collection features an unsurpassed photographic record of Scottish identity and cultural transformation from the 1840s onward, an extensive topographic collection of towns, cities and people across the UK and abroad, as well as including works by some of photography’s international masters. The photographic medium's application as a resource for contemporary interdisciplinary study ensures that the collection is frequently used for research and teaching purposes by postgraduate students, academic researchers, art historians, museum curators, Scottish historians, genealogists, golf scholars, film makers, television production companies, members of the media as well as subject specialists from  divers disciplines.
 
We are actively embracing technological advancements and contemporary approaches to the management and dissemination of our photographic collection and invite similarly minded, dynamic professionals, with forward thinking ambitions to consider joining our team. The department is positioned at an exciting time in its evolution as we plan for the future home of the university’s Special Collections, and consider the best ways to develop the international recognition of our holdings. 

The post will start on 1 March 2013, or as soon as possible thereafter. 

Informal enquiries can be made to Marc Boulay – Photographic Archivist. Email:mdab@st-andrews.ac.uk, Tel: +44 (0)1334 462326. 

Interview Date:   30th or 31st January 2013

Closing Date:  9 January 2013

Please quote ref:  ME7131

Further Particulars: ME7131CG FPs.doc

University Library
Salary:  £24,520 - £29,249 per annum
Start Date:  1 March 2013, or as soon as possible therafter

More details are here.

Metro Imaging is teaming up with photographers, artists, curators and individuals who work in the photography industry to produce short, three-minute documentaries and interviews for the Metro Imaging website.

The videos, produced entirely by an in-house team at Metro, include one on one dialogue to the camera and reveal an insiders view of the processes and ideas behind exhibitions, photography techniques, production and curating as well as showing a much sought after ‘fly-on-the-wall’ view of a photographers studio.

The latest video produced by Metro, featured photographer Tif Hunter and his latest exhibition ‘On Maltby Street’. Back in October 2011, Tif set about taking Polaroid’s of stall holders he had met and befriended selling food and produce on his local market on Maltby Street in SE1, just round the corner from his studio.

As well as producing the Polaroid’s, he also took still life images of the goods available. Using a hand-built wooden camera, with nineteenth century lenses he employed the tricky use of the wet plate process inside his studio.

In the video, Tif discusses his passion for the almost lost art of Tintypes, a photograph which is made by creating a direct positive onto a sheet of metal that is blackened by painting, lacquering or enamelling and is used as a support for a photographic emulsion, first used circa 1853-1856.

He also discusses his collection of old Polaroid film, some of which he used for his portraits, and treats like gold dust as well as his passion for his local market and the importance of supporting our local traders.

To view the Tif Hunter video visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gIpg5Qgfgpw&feature=g-all (or see below)

For other videos by Metro Imaging visit: http://www.metroimaging.co.uk/metrovideos

For further details for ‘On Maltby Street’: http://onmaltbystreet2011.tumblr.com/

For further details on Tif Hunter: http://www.tifhunter.com/

Video © Metro Imaging

Image: Romanesco © Tif Hunter  

The Scientific Instrument Society has placed its first eighty-one Bulletins online, to view and download for free (for personal and non-commercial use). These cover the time period June 1984 to June 2004. An index to these Bulletins is also available. The Bulletins contain mainly crossovers with British and wider photographic history, mainly through research into companies and optics.

See: http://www.sis.org.uk/resources/bulletin-back-issues

The National Media Museum’s diverse collections encompass some of the most significant and historically important cultural, scientific and aesthetic material in the world. As Head of Collections and Exhibitions for the National Media Museum, you will play a prominent role in creating an internationally acclaimed programme of exhibitions and events, supported by collections of genuine significance to our cultural history. Substantial senior management experience in a large cultural organisation is essential with a proven track record of delivering world-class exhibitions of varying sizes, budgets and complexity and of managing the development of significant museum collections.

Central to your success will be your ability to build strong working relationships within the museum, understanding our strategic priorities and shaping a robust, imaginative and visitor-focused future plan. This is very much an opportunity to inspire rejuvenation at every level, exploring opportunities to improve how we operate in core areas: how we care for and develop collections, how we improve visitor access, learning and engagement, how we enhance the content of our exhibitions and our research programme. You will have a specific responsibility for bringing together the curatorial and exhibitions teams, uniting skill sets to create a rich public programme that will build new audiences and increase access to the collections.

Award winning, visionary and truly unique, The National Media Museum primarily embraces photography, film and television. Part of the Science Museum Group family of museums, it aims to engage, inspire and educate through comprehensive collections, innovative education programmes and a powerful yet sensitive approach to contemporary issues.

The Science Museum Group is devoted to the history and contemporary practice of science, medicine, technology, industry and media. Consisting of the Science Museum (http://www.sciencemuseum.ac.uk/), Museum of Science and Industry (http://www.mosi.org.uk/) (Manchester), National Media Museum (http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/), National Railway Museum (http://www.nrm.org.uk/) (York), and National Railway Museum (http://www.nrm.org.uk/shildon) (Shildon) we have five million visitors each year, making us the most significant group of museums of science and innovation worldwide.

Over the period 1 May 2011-30 April 2012 1378 photographs valued at £8,671,367 were licensed for export after reference to expert advisers. These are photographs that might have been sold at auction, through a dealer or privately and which would require an export licence under the Waverley criteria.

For an Open General Export Licence the threshold for 'A photographic positive or negative or any assemblage of such photographs over 50 years of age' is £10,000. Within the EU the threshold is £13,045

More information is here: http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/what-we-do/supporting-museums/cultural-property/export-controls/export-licensing/

Anne McNeill, Director, Impressions Gallery and Brian Liddy, Curator of Collections Access, National Media Museum will discuss the gallery's role in British photography and its connections with the museum's photographic archive. The Gallery has its own extensive - and important - photography archive which dates back to its founding in 1972.

The event will take place at Insight at the National Media Museum's Collections & Research Centre and will provide an opportunity to view original photographs from the museum’s collection.

This event is free, but please book in advance as places are limited on 01274 737843 or email: enquiries@impressions-gallery.com

After Archive Connections you are also welcome to attend the Directors Talk at Impressions Gallery at 3.30pm and view our 40th anniversary exhibitions Roads to Wigan Pier and The Way We Were.

Saturday 8 December 2012, 2.00pm to 3.00pm 

See:http://www.impressions-gallery.com/events/event.php?id=221

The Reverend Dr John Wall MA FRPS died on 5 October 2012 aged 84 years. His funeral was held in Kirkbymoorside on 16 October.  John Wall compiled the pioneering Directory of British Photographic Collections which was published by The Royal Photographic Society’s National Photographic Record and Heinemann in 1977.

John Wall was born in Middlesborough in the North Riding of Yorkshire in 1928. From the age of three he lived in Darlington, County Durham where he attended Darlington Queen Elizabeth Grammar School. Later he attended Hartley-Victoria Theological College and Manchester University. He obtained a BD degree (London), an MA, Classics (Bristol) and a PhD in Medieval History (London).

After graduating in divinity Wall took pastoral charge of churches in Newcastle and Somerset. He entered the teaching profession in 1966 and became a principal lecturer and head of religious and social studies at Middleton St George College of Education in County Durham.  Wall was an enthusiastic amateur photographer and joined the Royal Photographic Society. He gained his Associateship in 1966 and Fellowship in 1977.

His lasting legacy is the publication of the Directory of British Photographic Collections. This had its origins in a meeting held by the Society in March 1972. The idea of a National Register of Photographic Archives had been championed by Colin Osman for some years and this, under Wall’s efforts, was renamed the National Photographic Record and set up as a department of the Royal Photographic Society. (1) The NPR was supported by the Sunday Times and funded privately with some £16,000 raised to establish it. Wall became its leading advocate and, with a staff of four and four years, worked on the compilation of the Directory. The Directory aimed to collate basic information on photography collections in the United Kingdom and some 17,000 questionnaires were circulated with 1580 collections included in the book which was published in 1977. (2)

Following publication Wall continued to write and lecture extensively on photographic archives and related subjects. He gave The Peter Le Neve Foster lecture at the Royal Society of Arts in November 1982 titled ‘Towards a National Photographic Archive’ . (3)

Taking early retirement on account of his wife's incapacity, Wall retired to Kirkbymoorside, on account of its proximity to the North Yorks Moors Railway. His interests and hobbies included: steam railways; walking; coins and stamps; mazes; sundials; photography; medieval history and sculpture. In addition to the Directory he was the author of First in the World: The Stockton and Darlington Railway (Sutton Publishing, 2001); The Face of the Realm: Twentieth Century Coins of the United Kingdom: Their History and Design (Spink and Son, 2002) and well as articles and papers across all his interests.

Away from photography Wall was an active Methodist and a volunteer with the North Yorks Moors Railway. His wife, Betty, predeceased him and he had five children. Ruth, Michael, Antony, Mary and David.

Dr Michael Pritchard

(1). Colin Osman, ‘A National Register of Photographic Archives’, Newsletter of the Royal Photographic Society Historical Group, No. 1 (June 1972), p. 4.

(2). John Wall, ‘Recording Britain’s Photographic Heritage’, Transations Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society, vol. 78 (1984), pp. 16-17.

(3). John Wall, ‘Towards a National Photographic Archive’, Journal of the Royal Society of Arts
Vol. 131, No. 5318 (January 1983), pp. 70-86. 

Bonhams is to sell Beatle George Harrison's Pentax S1a camera in an auction on 12 December 2012 in London. The camera has come from the Harrison family collection. Click here to see the full lot description. It is estimated at £5000-6000. 

The BBC has today announced that it is gifting its collection of almost 1,000 historical objects to the National Media Museum as part of its celebrations to mark the 90th anniversary of the BBC.

This unique collection tells the story of British broadcasting, and specifically the BBC, from its earliest pioneering days in the 1920s right up to the present moment. The collection features important radio and television studio equipment used by the BBC over its 90-year history, plus production props, radio and television receivers, branding and merchandising objects.

A display of selected objects from the collection will open to the public at the National Media Museum, Bradford, on Wednesday 14 November - 90 years to the day since the BBC made its first radio broadcast.

The display will give people the opportunity to see some of the original artefacts that were used in the earliest years of the BBC, including seminal microphones such as one of the original Big Ben microphones used to capture the sounds of the bell in 1924; a nostalgic 'Lip microphone' dating from 1937, specially designed by the BBC to block background noise from sports commentary in the 1930s; and a famous 'biscuit tin' radio, dropped by parachute over occupied Europe during World War II and used by the resistance to tune into the secret 'personal messages' sent out over the BBC.

Other highlights from the collection, now incorporated into the Museum's National Television Collection, will feature in future displays. These include iconic objects such as an extremely rare Blattnerphone, the broadcast recording device which used steel tape to capture the voice of Neville Chamberlain as he announced the outbreak of World War II to the nation in 1939; the AXBT microphone, created by the BBC and now considered a design classic; and two original Emitron 405-line television cameras manufactured by EMI in 1936 and used at the BBC's television studios in London for the world’s first regular high-definition television service.

Robert Seatter, Head of BBC History, said:

"I know how absolutely fascinated audiences are to see the real objects that make broadcasting happen – whether it's that special microphone or the particular prop from a seminal TV show.

"I'm delighted that this BBC collection is being shared with the National Media Museum. I hope this donation will enable more people to connect with the history of the BBC, which of course is all our history."

Jo Quinton-Tulloch, Head of the National Media Museum, said:

"This generous and hugely significant gift will greatly enhance the National Television Collection held by the Museum, making it probably the best of its kind anywhere in the world. It also represents another major landmark in our flourishing partnership with the BBC."

Iain Logie Baird, Curator of Broadcast Culture at the National Media Museum said:

"This diverse collection of objects used by the BBC covers the evolution of public service broadcasting in this country, and celebrates the rich variety of programmes the BBC has produced over the decades. This collection will be a great asset to the Museum."

The BBC has gifted this collection to the National Media Museum in order to make it accessible to broadcast enthusiasts and the public in general through both temporary and permanent displays in the National Media Museum.

In another event marking the 90th anniversary, more than 55 BBC radio stations will come together for Radio Reunited – the first attempt at a simultaneous broadcast since what was then the British Broadcasting Company was formed in 1922. The broadcast will be live on the 14 November from the National Media Museum's sister museum - the Science Museum, now home to the original 2LO transmitter that made the first BBC broadcast on 14 November 1922. Part of the 2LO will feature in a new exhibition opening on the same day at the Science Museum that takes visitors back to the time of that first broadcast.

The National Media Museum is a longstanding partner of the BBC, the Museum has collaborated recently on a number of exhibitions and events, including the celebration of 25 years of popular TV soap EastEnders, the 75th anniversary of BBC high-definition (405-line) television last year, and the hugely successful exhibition marking 50 years of Blue Peter. This year, the Museum's Cubby Broccoli cinema was fitted to show the BBC's special Olympic coverage using Super Hi-Vision Ultra high-definition television, developed by Japanese broadcaster NHK, one of only three sites to do so in the UK.

www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/bbccollection

Image: Iain Logie Baird, curator of broadcast culture at the National Media Museum, holds a 1944 Marconi AXBT microphone

Martin Barnes, Senior Curator of Photographs at the Victoria & Albert Museum, will be at the Blau Gallery, London, on 22 November to talk about the history of how the museum’s collection was formed and how that set the pattern for current collecting. He will discuss the ‘collecting plan’ and recent collecting initiatives, as well as what catches his eye personally, what he sees too much of and avoids, and what he is looking for in excellent photography that is right for a museum.

Advance questions for Martin to address on the night of the talk are encouraged, and can be sent to mail@danielblau.com

This talk runs from 6:30 pm at 51 Hoxton Square, London N1 6PB.

Our talks are open to everyone. We recommend booking early to avoid disappointment, as numbers are limited. Tickets cost £6..Click here to book. 

Image: Photographic Society exhibition at the South Kensington Museum, 1858. 

For Michael Collins, one of the wonders of photography is that a photograph can record and show far more than could be observed at the time and occasion of the exposure.  This is what he regards as the "long look" of photography.  Moreover, he subscribes to the understanding that, subtly or otherwise, it will reveal the nature of the engagement between the photographer and the subject.  In his Reference Works lecture, Michael Collins will discuss these principles, and relate how they inform his work on the Library of Birmingham Photography Project.

Michael Collins is an artist who has had his work exhibited widely in Britain and the USA. He is the author of "Record Pictures: Photographs from the Archives of the Institution of Civil Engineers" (Steidl 2004). His exhibition "Birmingham Site Specific: Factories" was held in Hockley in 2006.

The event is part of a series of Photographers Talks linked to REFERENCE WORKS, the Library of Birmingham Photography Project.

www.reference-works.com

Tuesday 4 December 2012

2.00 - 3.30pm

Birmingham City University, Visual Communication, Gosta Green, Birmingham

Admission Free