GEM - Group for Education in Museums

12/06/2026

Looking for something useful to read this weekend?

Download GEM's Work experience, work placements and inclusive pathways for young people toolkit!

Written by Rachel Moss, this toolkit focuses on work experience, work placements and inclusive pathways for young people, sharing the learning so far from research and discussions, along with case studies, resources and templates enabling you to initiate or develop further work-based opportunities for young people at your organisation.

🔗 Download the toolkit: https://gem.org.uk/resource/work-experience-work-placements-and-inclusive-pathways-for-young-people/

10/06/2026

GEM London: In-person Social & Visit to Orleans House Gallery and All The Things

Join GEM London for an exciting social and exhibition visit at Orleans House Gallery. Discover their approaches to learning and tour the exhibition All The Things: Exploring play and imagination across generations.

📅 Tuesday, June 23 • 6 - 8pm
📍 Orleans House Gallery, Twickenham
🔗 Book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/in-person-social-visit-to-orleans-house-gallery-and-all-the-things-tickets-1989308627656

09/06/2026

One month until the Launch of the Refreshed GLOs 2026 📣

Join GEM for the FREE launch of the refreshed Generic Learning Outcomes framework.

The newly refreshed 2026 GLO Framework represents a significant evolution of the original, which was created in 2003 as a tool to demonstrate the outcomes and impact of users’ learning experiences.

Sign up and hear an overview of the refresh process, how it has been tested and implemented and the resources now available for you to begin to use to embed it as a planning and evaluation tool within your work.

📅 Thursday, July 9 • 10 - 11am
📍 Online
🔗 Book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/launch-of-the-refreshed-glos-2026-tickets-1989304718965

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Join GEM for the launch of the refreshed Generic Learning Outcomes framework

09/06/2026

We are delighted to announce Art Fund as a partner for : Learning is Digital?

As part of the conference programme, Louise Rutledge, Digital Experience Manager at Art Fund, will deliver a keynote, Communicating the offer: Developing a digital platform for Teachers.

Art Fund supports thousands of school staff across the UK through Teacher Art Pass, helping educators access hundreds of museums, galleries and historic places for free or at a reduced price.

Join Louise's session to hear insights into developing digital platforms for teachers and communicating cultural opportunities effectively to support engagement with museums and galleries.

We are looking forward to welcoming Louise and our colleagues from Art Fund to GEM Conference 2026.

🔗 Find out more about the keynote and book your ticket: https://gem.org.uk/training-and-events/gem-courses/gem-conference-2026/

05/06/2026

Happy World Environment Day! 🌍🌿

Museums play an important role in raising awareness about climate change and promoting connection to nature. Museums offer spaces where people can slow down, engage their senses and reconnect with the living world, as this brilliant example from our latest Case Studies edition shows.

The Garden Museum's Community Garden in Old Paradise Gardens, Lambeth is an inclusive, multisensory space which supports wellbeing, education and creativity. It has opened new opportunities for sensory engagement through touch, smell, taste, sight and sound to create meaningful experiences across the museum's programmes.

🔗 Read the case study:https://gem.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/GEM-Case-Studies-35.pdf

04/06/2026

GEM Course: Accessible Interpretation in Practice

Looking to develop your understanding and practice of accessible, inclusive interpretation?

Join Sam Bowen and Sarah Oswald for this three-week online course and gain the knowledge, confidence and practical tools to create an inclusive experiences for all your visitors.

During these sessions you'll explore best practices in heritage interpretation and accessibility, what effective SEND provision looks like in museums and heritage settings, practical examples of accessible interpretation and much more.

📅 Tuesdays, 6, 13 & 20 October 2026
📍 Online
🔗 Book your place: https://gem.org.uk/training-and-events/gem-courses/accessible-interpretation-in-practice/

Accessible Interpretation in Practice Bookings for this course are now open. Click here to book your place. Led by Sam Bowen and Sarah Oswald Course dates: Tuesdays on 6th, 13th and 20th October 2026, 10:00 – 12:30 BST. This three week virtual course will provide insight and inspiration to help yo...

02/06/2026

GEM Course: Fundraising for Museum Learning

Looking to build your confidence in fundraising for your museum learning programme?

This course is designed to help museum and heritage professionals navigate the UK funding landscape and develop the skills needed to secure funding for learning activities.

Led by cultural learning consultant Sam Cairns, with support from GEM Director Rachel Tranter MBE as well as guest speakers from funding organisations and the museum sector, this course offers practical guidance to help you secure vital resources for your learning programmes.

📅 29th September - 13th October plus a 1:1 mentoring session.
📍 Online
🔗 Book your place: https://gem.org.uk/training-and-events/gem-courses/fundraising-for-museum-learning-2/

Fundraising for Museum Learning Bookings for this course are now open. Course dates: Tuesdays, 29 September, 6 & 13 October – 14.00-16.00 on Zoom Mentoring sessions: 19, 20 & 21 October About the course Want to improve your fundraising skills to enable more learning activities in your museum? Inte...

01/06/2026

Happy Volunteers' Week!

Thank you to all our fantastic volunteer Area and Nation Reps who support GEM members across the four nations. From organising training, networking opportunities and regional events to supporting GEM Conference, our reps strengthen local museum learning communities, advocate for GEM and bring members closer together.

Thank you for your dedication, commitment and invaluable support. We couldn't do it without you! 🧡

01/06/2026

How can museums embed health and wellbeing in their day-to-day work?

Our latest blog explores the impact of Working Together, GEM and CHWA's partnership project, which supported six museums and heritage organisations across the UK to develop inclusive wellbeing-focused programmes for their communities.

The project's learning continues with our upcoming study day, Embedding Health and Wellbeing in Museums, taking place on 30 September 2026 at the Scottish Maritime Museum. Join colleagues from across the sector for presentations, workshops and discussion, including a keynote from Ruthanne Baxter, creator of Prescribe Culture.

🔗Find out more: https://gem.org.uk/embedding-health-and-wellbeing-in-museums/

Image: Scottish Maritime Museum GEM has long been committed to supporting museums in embedding health and wellbeing into their practice through publications, training and study days. One of its most impactful initiatives was the two-year Working Together […]

28/05/2026

Embedding Health and Wellbeing in Museums

Join GEM in partnership with CHWA for an exciting in-person event at the Scottish Maritime Museum.

The day will include an overview of the Working Together project, an 18-month Creative Health programme co-delivered by CHWA and GEM, as well as an exploration of how health and wellbeing can be embedded within museums.

📅 Wednesday, September 30, 11am - 4pm
📍 Scottish Maritime Museum, Linthouse Building
🔗 Book your place: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/embedding-health-and-wellbeing-in-museums-tickets-1987602393263?