Sorry for the delayed response – ‘university run’ with number 1 son and a rather hectic work schedule!

Ironically I don’t actually perceive it a being a matter of competing – each venue has its own individual ‘product’ / offering; whilst free admission may present a communication challenge with some visitors you just roll your sleeves up and get on with it!

Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire (AHL) is a great example of how like minded organisations can co-operate and gain mutual benefit from supporting and working with each other.

Yesterday I attended the AHL Conference at Hemswell Court and in the afternoon the key note speaker was the new Director General of the RAF Museum. I was greatly encouraged and heartened by what was a well considered presentation on a host of aviation related topics. 🙂

Within the presentation there was an acknowledgment that the whole aviation movement needs to pull together to develop an enhanced awareness and greater engagement with the general public to widen the appeal of aviation to as large an audience as possible! 🙂

Evening Tom, why did I provide that link – now I’ll let off a bit of steam! 😉

No really – free admission for the Nationals is something that the Independent Museum sector in the UK has had to live with for many years.

The biggest impact comes from some sections of the paying public who think that every museum receives a hefty government grant and then ask “why do we have to pay here when it’s free at xyz museum?” 😮 They then recoil when advised we get no central funding!

I suspect that with the latest grant cutbacks many of the Nationals are now struggling for income; and I always raise a wry smile when some of them are the biggest online advertisers on sites like this and the good old taxpayer is ultimately footing the bill.

Within the Independent sector there is some good evaluation work being done by AIM (Association of Independent Museums) to assess the economic impacts of the Independent sector; more reading / downloading for you here http://www.aim-museums.co.uk/pages/pg-18-aim-economic-impact-paper/

NAM (if you’ll pardon the pun) helped pilot the AIM Toolkit last year and based on its 2009 visitor figures it was estimated to have generated an additional £700k beneficial spend into the local economy – over and above what its own income was.

That made us feel good about ourselves and what we contribute indirectly to our local economy! 😀

Excellent summation JDK – near ‘text book’ stuff!! 🙂

Also like Bruce says never under estimate the power of the impulse buy it can help an important revenue stream but try and get an edge;for example like it says here – “Our special “shoppers ordering” facility is designed to help you track down specific book titles or those more illusive plastic kits.”

The NAM Shop caters for a wide range of people that just call in to make purchases and don’t go into the museum each time – hence the separate trading company that covenants all of the profits to the museum charity.

Great work jr and many thanks for the photos – I didn’t get chance to call in today but I will do asap! 🙂

The new board won’t change too much in the Notts booklet – I hope that you topped up supplies at the Staunton Arms!! 😀

Like Peter and AirportsEd I’m pleased to have played a small part in your excellent tribute to ‘Herb’ and the crew of W4270 – Snowdrop Sunday beckons in 2012!! 🙂

Ditto what Alan said, where are you located, NAM is a good place to visit, and if you ask T.O. nicely, you may get a free C of T.;)
Jim.

Lincoln .7

As there’s two of them I’d buy them both a cup of tea!! 😀