Partnerships

Partnerships at Reading Museum Service

Reading Museum Service (RMS) works in short and long-term partnership with other organisations to share expertise, to reach new audiences and to maximise resources.

Partnership within Reading Borough Council

Reading Museum Service is one of a group of cultural services within Reading Borough Council that work together to provide learning and leisure opportunities for all.

• Reading Museum Service
• Berkshire Record Office
• Reading Libraries
• Berkshire Archaeology
• Reading Arts & Theatres

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Partnerships:

• Outside the Box
  This is an exciting project in partnership with organisations across the two counties to develop Reading's Loan Service for schools and local communities.
   
• Collections Gateway
  Collections Gateway is a single 'first point of call' website providing descriptions of research collections held by Berkshire and South East institutions, and information for users on access arrangements. The partnership is led by the University of Reading.
   
• Jelly Leg'd Chicken
  

  The Museum has worked collaboratively with this popular artist-led gallery since its foundation in 1993. In 2004 the relationship became even closer when the Jelly relocated from The Oracle to the Town Hall and Museum. The Jelly has an activity space at the front of the Town Hall and holds regular art exhibitions and joint events within the Museum.

• Making It Work
  An organisation hosted by Reading Museum Service aiming to encourage the study of craft at all levels of education.
   
• UK Museum Loans Network
  RMS leads a national network of the larger museum loans services. The network aims to develop models of best practice and promote the importance of providing schools and communities with hands-on learning opportunities through the loan of museum objects.
   
• Portable Antiquities Scheme
  A national voluntary scheme for recording archaeological objects found by members of the public. West Berkshire Heritage hosts the Berkshire and Oxfordshire part of the scheme in partnership with RMS and Oxfordshire Museums.
   
• Reading Foundation for Art
  A registered charity that acquires artworks cared for by Reading Museum Service.
   
• Sense of Place South East (SoPSE)
  SoPSE is a consortium of museums, archives and libraries in the South East that have together developed websites to provide access to digitised collections, including Reading's Huntley & Palmers Collection.
   
• Thames Valley Museums Group (TVMG)
  TVMG represents the interests of all museums in the Thames Valley (Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire) and co-ordinates partnership working and joint publicity. Reading currently holds the Chair.
   
• Waterstones Bookshop
  Located in Broad Street, Reading, Waterstones Bookshop was converted from the historic United Reformed Church. The shop has displays provided by RMS which interpret the history of the listed building.