Derby Museums launches Business Network to support world class cultural experiences for the people of Derby

Derby Museums, with His Grace the Duke of Devonshire and Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, in collaboration with Wavensmere Homes, is pleased to launch the Derby Museums Business Network. This new network seeks to invite businesses in the city to help make Derby a more vibrant and inspiring place to live, work, and visit.

With three free, award-winning museums and collections of international significance, Derby Museums’ work embodies the unique spirit of Derby through its enlightenment values, industrial innovation and creative spirit. Derby Museums’ three sites – Pickford’s House, the Museum and Art Gallery and the Museum of Making – along with their collections of over 350,000 objects, are unique and invaluable assets for the city. They instill a sense of pride, ignite inspiration and foster a feeling of belonging.

Derby Museums and its founding members – Wavensmere Homes, Vaillant, Rolls-Royce, Circulayo, Fulton Partnership, Morley Hayes, Cosy Direct, Derby Pepperpot Property Company, Brian Ashby and Leonardo Hotels Derby – are calling for supporters to join the new Business Network and demonstrate their support for culture in the city. Joining the network is a great way to help the museums create a vibrant community, demonstrate commitment to education, cultural enrichment and building skills for the future. With the support of the Network, Derby Museums can continue to create opportunities for lifelong learning, which could include the acquisition and conservation of important cultural artefacts, supporting the careers programme to inspire the makers and thinkers of the future, or taking the Makory – the mobile Museum of Making – to free community events.

Speaking at the launch of the Business Network, Elizabeth Fothergill CBE, Chair of Trustees at Derby Museums, said “Derby Museums play a critical role in preserving our cultural heritage. They safeguard thousands of objects, precious works of art, items of social and industrial history that define who we are as a society and showcase Derby’s unique place in the world. Our Museums are vital centres for education and lifelong learning. They allow people to see themselves as makers, as engineers and creatives.”

“If you join our network, and I really hope you do, we can promise you some inspirational, exclusive events, opportunities to meet likeminded people, but most importantly you will be helping to encourage creativity, to enhance the quality of life for residents and tourists, by keeping these tremendous museums vibrant, innovative, dynamic and open for all to enjoy.”

 Another speaker at the launch was Alice Woolley, Marketing Director at Vaillant UK, who spoke of how culture and heritage unlock young people’s ingenuity and creative thinking, allowing them to see themselves as the engineers and technicians of the future. His Grace, the Duke of Devonshire concluded the launch by sharing his personal experience of how Derby’s museums promote wellbeing and bring people together, promoting local pride and excellence.

Tony Butler, Executive Director at Derby Museums, said: “Joining the Network is a great way for businesses to give back to the city and demonstrate their commitment to place-making, building skills for the future whilst enjoying the benefits of joining a network of professionals at informal business events. We are looking forward to connecting with local businesses to support Derby’s cultural growth together.”

 Members will also benefit from joining a network of like-minded professionals at quarterly social business events, which will include exclusive talks, brunches and intimate evening events. Benefits include access to behind the scenes tours and exhibition previews, providing opportunities to see items not on public display and learn more about how Derby and Derbyshire’s rich history formed the vibrant city of today.

James Dickens, Managing Director of Wavensmere Homes, said “As Derby’s most active housebuilder, we are a passionate investor in the wider regeneration of this vibrant city. We support the great work and initiatives by Derby Museums as it is feeding a culture-rich community that serves all generations.”

 The first exclusive event is an evening talk and nibbles with Lucy Bamford, Senior Curator of Art and the Joseph Wright Collection.

Annual membership costs £1,000. Individual members are also welcome.

Connect, inspire and make a difference by joining Derby Museums’ Business Network. To become a member, contact Jennifer Cuadrado at jennifer@derbymuseums.org, or phone 01332 641901. To purchase a membership, please visit our online shop or set up your annual Direct Debit here.