It’s never been more crucial for museums to develop sustainable commercial models that complement their wider organisational values and objectives. Rising costs combined with fewer funding opportunities and changing audience visiting and spending behaviour means museums of all shapes and sizes are having to make difficult business decisions in order to keep the doors open.

At this one day conference, through case studies and panel discussions discover:

  • practical, creative and achievable ways that your museum can generate sustainable income
  • ways to create income while staying true to your core mission
  • how to overcome the challenges of recent years
  • future trends across retail, e-commerce, events, corporate hire and more.

This event is for you if:

  • you work in a commercial team or have responsibility for income generation
  • you manage a small museum that needs to raise income and become self-sustaining
  • you are interested in the future sustainability of the museum sector
  • you need new ideas for raising income
  • you lead a museum and want to better understand how commercial strategy can support your wider mission.

Programme highlights:

  • The Association for Cultural Enterprises hosts a panel discussion exploring how organisations can integrate commercial thinking into strategic decision-making.
  • The Cartoon Museum shares how smaller museums can take a proactive approach to commercial operations – from programming to bring in new and repeat audiences and running a sustainable online shop.
  • The Amelia Scott civic museum and centre discusses expanding their commercial offer while maintaining free access and inclusion – including the development of its first “Yarnavale” event designed to tap into new markets.

Please note that this event will be recorded and available exclusively to delegates after the event, so if you can’t attend on the day you can catch up in your own time.

A full programme will be available in due course.

Important booking information

Please sign in and check the email address on your profile before booking. Your confirmation and joining instruction emails will go to the email address you use to log in to the website. 

If you create a new record with a different email address your membership will not be recognised and you will be charged the incorrect fee. You can check and change your email address before booking.

If you are interested in speaking at one of our events, or have a project you’d like to see explored, please tell us more by emailing the events team.

Competency Framework

Our events programme supports the Museums Association’s Competency Framework, which is designed to inform professional development, improve professional practice and support museums in making a positive difference to people’s lives. This event supports the following competencies: Managing People, Money and Organisations.