Museums Live! was set up by a partnership of seven organisations led by Killhope, the North of England Lead Mining Museum in Upper Weardale. It is managed by the partnership which has since expanded to include new members, and by a project coordinator based at Killhope.

Funding for the project came from One North East, the regional development agency, as part of a wider programme called North East Volunteers. Under this programme, nine pilot projects are operating across the region to promote volunteering as a route into employment. Each pilot covers a different geographical area and is working with different groups within the community.

Additional funding for the project came from in-kind support from partner organisations, whilst the final part of the costs for 2009-2011 came from the Working Neighbourhoods Fund in Wear Valley. The project began in April 2008, with volunteers being engaged from autumn 2008 and regular group challenges beginning in January 2009.

The project employs a full-time project coordinator and a part-time group leader. Other contributions come from artists and environmentalists brought in for one-off challenges and through voluntary leaders offering both general support and specific leadership skills.

We are happy to share materials or ideas with other projects or organisations with similar aims to our own. Evaluation results and formal documents will be added to this section of the site as the project continues, but if you have any specific enquiries in the meantime then please get in touch. We’re always interested in hearing what else is happening across the region and nationwide. Contact us with any questions, ideas, or to arrange a meeting or visit.