We obtain funding for, and co-ordinate joint projects between, museums and other partners.

MIEC's current project is called 'Visitor Values' and it aims to help further improve standards in museums in Essex.  The project shall focus on four key areas:

• Education 
• Interpretation
• Front of House and Visitor Services
• Marketing

The project will provide training, funding and skills sharing worshops to help museums in Essex develop in these key areas. The project will culminate in the development of a toolkit for museums and a touring exhibition.

MIEC’s most recent project is called ‘Living Costume’, which seeks to raise the profile of the rich and varied collections of costume and textiles held in Essex museums and heritage organisations. During the first phase of ‘Living Costume’ the Museums in Essex Committee - which is partly funded by Essex County Council - is working with the Warner Textile Archive, Saffron Walden Museum, the Beecroft Art Gallery and Colchester Museum to produce a directory, listing all the costume and textile collections. As there are over 80 museums in Essex, many with significant archives, this is a huge undertaking, but the result will be a fantastic resource for museums, heritage sites, schools, libraries and community groups throughout Essex and beyond.

A series of Living Costume Workshops, will be held from November 2005 to September 2006. Held at locations around the county and open to all, these will offer costume lovers a chance to hear about fashion through the ages, learn how to care for vintage clothes and precious fabrics, try their hand at needlework or fabric design and even have items of clothing dated.

The second phase of the project followed in 2006 and included the production of a directory listing all fashion and textile collections in Essex. There has also been a Living Costume Road Show, and a hands-on outreach programme. The main aim of the project was to open up collections and publicise them during the project period so that museums can make better use of them in the future through their own organisations.