2008 Sponsorship Opportunities

Detail, engineer's notebook from the building of Henley Bridge c.1782 now in the Museum's Henley collection

The Museum has selected 14 priority projects at varying estimated costs to ensure we remain relevant and refreshed. We want to develop new courses and exhibitions, renew popular displays and bring new audiences from inner cities to the Museum, whilst continuing the work of our expert curators.

For more information on these and all other projects, or to find out alternative ways to support the Museum, please contact the Chief Executive's office on 01491 415 615 or paul.mainds@rrm.co.uk

	Henley Collection Conservation cost estimate options from £500 - £4,000 Museums are about objects and one of our most important tasks is conserving for future generations the precious items in our care. This project will enable an annual health check of the Henley Collection’s artefacts and the active conservation of some of our more recently donated items, such as an engineer’s notebook containing original plans for Henley Bridge c.1782 and a medieval seal matrix from the Dean of Henley.
	Henley at War cost estimate £5,000 The Invesco Perpetual Henley Gallery is central to the Museum’s education programme and is a valuable local community resource. An upgrade of the gallery is now vital, both to integrate new objects and to refresh its displays, including a host of fascinating material on the untold story surrounding Henley’s experience of the Second World War.
	The 1908 London Olympic Gold Medal cost estimate £5,000 Won by a member of the 1908 Leander crew in the eight-oared race, the medal was designed by a prominent Edwardian sculptor. The exquisite detailing shows two female figures crowning a naked male athlete on the obverse and a composition of St George & the Dragon on the reverse. The 1908 Olympic Regatta took place over the Henley Royal Regatta course. Britain won all 4 rowing events. In the run-up to London 2012, the Museum and its treasures, including the 1908 medal - the earliest tangible record of Britain’s most successful Olympic sport - will play a central role.
	Siberechts Gallery Re-Interpretation cost estimate £9,500 In 2001, grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund and National Art Collections Fund allowed us to purchase Jan Siberechts’ 1698 painting Henley from the Wargrave Road. Ever since, it has been the focus of in-depth research. As one of the Museum’s most important objects, we now wish to develop its dedicated gallery to include a range of audio-visual and interactive exhibits that will shed light on findings from new, up-to-date research.
	Contemporary Art Commissions cost estimate per annum £10,000 Building on the success of previous commissions such as Sean Henry’s painted bronzes of Pinsent and Redgrave, the Museum is keen to engage established artists to create unique works to demonstrate how the Thames, rowing and the town of Henley continue to be enduring and powerful sources of inspiration to artists working in a variety of media.
	Henley History – Communities Cost estimate for the delivery of 20 sessions £3,800 This project will expand the audiences using materials and resources specially developed by the Museum’s education staff - in particular to offer reminiscence sessions for adults through community groups. These fascinating sessions include object handling to engender personal memories and discussion, and a visit to the Henley Gallery.
	Taylor Tug for Community Groups cost estimate for the delivery of 15 sessions £3,475 We would like to expand the audiences for our popular programme of weekly sessions for under-5s and their carers, as well as for our general children’s workshops programmes. A 90-minute session can include a combination of a visit to the Museum galleries, a variety of art and craft, singing, storytelling and other themed activities. We would like to offer tailor-made sessions to disadvantaged children during holidays - including young carers, children in care, children with special educational needs and groups from children's centres.
	Key Stage 3 and 4 Science Courses for secondary schools cost estimate to develop each course £3,950 Following on from the government’s Learning outside the Classroom manifesto, we want to support schools in developing a scientifically literate population by developing two new courses. The KS3 coursewould support the Life processes and living things curriculum enabling students to investigate habitatsaround the Museum and examine our natural history specimens. The KS4 course would support the newGCSE course 'How Science Works', enabling students to collect data and analyse historic data on Thames Valley flooding , evaluating potential climate change impact on human and wildlife populations.
	Enabling Visits from Disadvantaged Areas cost estimate for delivery of 10 funded class visits, including transport £4,500 Many schools find it difficult to raise funds for a course at the Museum and also for transport here. These schools are unlikely to have families who can afford these costs (often over £10 per pupil) and schools cannot enforce parent payment. Working with local education authorities we are able to identify suitable schools and offer funded visits. We would like to expand our current education audience and encourage visits from inner cities, specifically London.
	What's On for Schools cost estimate £4,600 Each year we produce a high-quality brochure to publicise the unique and award-winning resources the Museum has to offer. This is mailed to all primary and secondary schools in Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Berkshire. We now aim to increase awareness and usage of the Museum by mailing this further afield to cities such as London and Birmingham.
	Naturewatch Wildlife Map cost estimate £2,000 We would like to produce this illustrated map leaflet leading visitors on a voyage of discovery in consultation with Henley Wildlife Group. An interpretive educational and leisure map leaflet will guide visitors through the fascinating and wildlife-filled water meadows on the banks of the Thames around the River & Rowing Museum. This would encourage visitors to move away from the manicured grassland to explore the wilder fringes of this important habitat with a rich diversity of plants, invertebrates and animals.
	E-learning Virtual Inset cost estimate £8,850 In consultation with an e-learning consultant we want to develop web resources to inform teachers and parents about formal visits to the Museum to attract groups that currently do not visit. This will take the form of short video clips of talking heads - Museum tutors, teachers, pupils describing what to expect from a visit to the Museum.
	Thames Rowing Club Flagpole cost estimate £8,000 By the late 1930s, Thames Rowing Club had expanded and needed a more fitting monument to their new premises on the Thames at Putney. An “Adastra” 64-foot steel flagpole was commissioned in 1938 - the Museum holds the fascinating original correspondence and engineers’ drawings and plans. As proud custodian of this symbol of the sport’s popularity and heritage, we wish to conserve and erect this sophisticated piece of engineering.
	What’s On cost estimate £10,500 Published twice a year, this is our key marketing tool and keeps members, supporters and visitors up-to-date on events and exhibitions at the Museum. As well as a bi-annual mailing of the booklet, we publish an A4 flyer version as a bi-annual insert to the local newspaper The Henley Standard, which has a current readership of around 13,000.