Welcome to the Collett Consultancy! My name is Tonia and I’ve been working in museums for over twenty years, fifteen of those at management level. I work with museums of all sizes and am a passionate believer that engaging people with history at a local level, leads to a life-long love of, and passionate advocacy for, museums and culture!
When not working for my clients or developing resources, I can be found on my allotment or in a bookshop.
For details of my current clients and training opportunities, please see below. A copy of my privacy policy is available on request.
In 2026
I’m continuing to deliver the Stronger Museums programme for Museum Development Midlands. This ran as Organisational Health in 2024, supporting twelve museums with resilience, funding, Accreditation, succession planning, business planning and advocacy. Using cohort learning, one-to-one sessions and networking, this year’s participants will have the chance to work through challenges and opportunities in a supportive environment.
This year, I also have the privilege of heading the Stronger Boards programme for MDM. This programme supports trustees and those working with trustees to create more resilient boards for museums and heritage organisations across the Midlands.
In Southampton, I am supporting the Cultural Services team to review and future-proof their volunteering programme in their Volunteering Fit for the Future project, funded by South West Museum Development. Near the Cotswolds, I have been providing fundraising advice for St John the Baptist church in Wickhamford.
From April to August this year, I have worked with the innovative arts organisation, Hundred Heroines in Gloucestershire to prepare for Accreditation, develop business planning and supported the development of their volunteering programme.
Volunteering and Trusteeships
- Accreditation mentor for Tenbury Wells museum
- Volunteer at Morville Dower House Gardens
Previous Clients
- Association of Independent Museums: project officer for Connected Communities and New Stories New Audiences grant programmes.
- Association of Independent Museums: co-delivery of Legacy Manager working with Sophina Jagot to support the project leads in implementing legacy thinking and initiatives within their organisations. I co-wrote two new toolkits on Tackling Chronic Loneliness and Creating High-Quality Volunteering Programmes. I also liaised with Libraries Connected and Creative Lives to co-produce a one-day conference where DCMS and ACE were invited to meet project leads and hear about the learning and impact.
- Outside Arts: develop funding bid and resources for their regeneration of the Nicholson Museum in Leek
- Wolverhampton Art Gallery and Museum: evaluation for the Living with Difference project, funded by the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, and the Kabaddi World Cup Cultural Programme, funded by ACE
- Tudor House Museum: evaluation for the Arts Council England funded Bedfellows project
- Gordon Russell Design Museum: helping the team at this independent museum develop a realistic yet ambitious audience development plan, supported with research and with guidance to additional funding.
- Tenbury Wells Museum: as project development consultant, I helped this volunteer-led museum prepare for a new lease of life by carrying out a feasibility study and writing funding bids.
- National Football Museum: delivered Carbon Literacy for Museums training to over 30 members of staff throughout 2023.
- Everything to Everybody: Part of the evaluation team for this amazing multi-arts, multi-cultural Birmingham heritage project. The final evaluation report was published in 2024. You can find a link to it in my blog.
Training
Developing a Powerful Case for Support – Chartered Institute of Fundraising
Carbon Literacy for Museums certified trainer – Carbon Literacy Project
Mental Health First Aid Aware – Mental Health First Aid England
Equality Diversity & Inclusion – WMMD and Inclusive Boards
Website & Social Media Content Accessibility – WMMD
Association of Independent Museums Leaders Programme alumn
Employ–ment
The Almonry
Museum Manager responsible for staff management, Listed building management, collection care, Accreditation. I wrote a successful £1.4million National Lottery Heritage Fund bid whilst in role.
Tudor House Museum
Museum Manager responsible for managing staff, volunteers and a Listed building. During my time, I increased visitor numbers by 40% and successfully managed an NLHF funded project involving capital works and a museum-wide redevelopment of the interpretation.
The Coffin Works
Volunteer and Operations Manager, responsible for social media, volunteer management, daily operations and audience development. I continued as a volunteer (writing their monthly newsletters) for another three years. As the CW saying goes, “you can clock out but you can never leave!”
