Museums training programme
Supporting skills development within the sector
Our training offer
Working with a network of over 140 UK Regimental & Corps Museums and international partners, we deliver a free annual training programme that encourages skills development within the sector, and explores the benefits of networking and sharing expertise in working with Army collections.
While our training is free for those working or volunteering in Regimental & Corps Museums, our courses are currently charged at £50 for a half day, £100 for a full day, and £450 for our week-long Regimental Curators’ Course, for those wishing to attend from outside the sector.
Please note that all volunteer bookings need to come direct from your volunteer-supervisor.
If you have any enquiries regarding the training programme, please contact Julian Farrance (jfarrance@nam.ac.uk).
Working with Asbestos in Military Collections Bitesize
Date: Tuesday, 18 March 2025
Time: 10.30am – 11.30am
Location: Online (Zoom)
Join us for an hour-long bitesize session to understand how the Conservation and Care team at the National Army Museum works with collections that contain asbestos. The session will provide examples of how to handle, transport, conserve and flag items that potentially contain asbestos.
Governance Training
Date: Wednesday, 19 March 2025
Time: 10.30am – 4.00pm
Location: National Army Museum,London
This day-long workshop will explore what good museum governance looks like for museum board trustees and directors/managers.
The workshop will cover why governance within museums is important and how good governance can be implemented in your organisation, including:
- knowing what good governance looks like
- how museums can differ from other types of charity
- understanding what open recruitment is and why it’s so important
- understanding conflict of interests and policy creation to combat it
- how to run productive board meetings
- succession planning and the problems this can pose
National Army Museum Conference 2025
Date: Monday, 28 April 2025
Time: 10.30am – 4.15pm
Location: National Army Museum, London / Online (Zoom)
Join us, either in person or virtually, for the 8th annual National Army Museum Conference. The day will be packed with presentations on museum best practice, relevant projects and initiatives, as well as Army Museum sector updates. The event also provides an excellent opportunity to network with other UK Regimental & Corps Museum professionals. A full programme of speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.
When booking, please indicate (under 'Additional requirements') whether you wish to attend in person or via Zoom.
Regimental Curators’ Course
Date: Tuesday, 29 April - Friday, 2 May 2025
Location: National Army Museum, London
This four-day training course covers various aspects of museum best practice and working with Army collections, and is open to staff, volunteers and trustees working in Regimental & Corps Museums.
Topics covered during the week include an introduction to preventative conservation, learning services, marketing for military museums, research and archives, photo identification, exhibitions, collections care and management, and much more.
Imperial Legacies: Curating Your Colonial Collections (Northern Region)
Date: Tuesday, 6 May 2025
Time: 10.30am – 4.00pm
Location: Museum of Liverpool
This full-day workshop is aimed at helping those museums interested in developing the interpretation and display of their colonial collections. Focused heavily on practical work, the session will look at how to create co-production projects based on shared heritage and the telling of contentious histories. Delivered by Chris Berriman and Freya Samuel.
Chemical Hazards Bitesize
Date: Thursday, 15 May 2025
Time: 10.30am – 11.30am
Location: Online (Zoom)
This one-hour bitesize session will focus on chemical hazards in collections and how we can handle and display them safely and securely. We will be discussing what to be aware of regarding chemicals, heavy metals, historic pesticides and more, and will discuss the dangers they may present.
Disposals Training
Date: Tuesday, 27 May 2025
Time: 10.30am – 12.30pm
Location: Online (Zoom)
Join our Head of Collections Standards and Care and learn about our process of collections disposals. We will cover appropriate documentation, Spectrum and accreditation compliance, legal considerations and ethical methods of disposal, including the right paths to sale, destruction and repatriation.
Managing Our Information: Archives, Libraries and Information Management
Date: Monday, 30 June 2025
Time: 10.30am – 3.30pm
Location: National Army Museum, London
Join us for a full-day workshop looking at the information held within museums. With a mixture of shared experiences, good practice and behind-the-scenes tours, the National Army Museum team will cover archive, library and information issues, ranging from information security and data protection, to archive and library management, to displays and providing access to collections.
