Museum Accreditation in the UK: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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{{Short description|UK system for accrediting museums}}
'''Museum Accreditation in the UK''' is a process whereby a [[museum]] is recognised as meeting best standards in the field in terms of governance and management, collections care and management, and information and services provided to users. ▼
▲'''Museum Accreditation in the UK''' is a process whereby a [[museum]] is recognised as meeting best standards in the field in terms of governance and management, collections care and management, and information and services provided to users.
== History ==
The scheme emerged from the museum sector. The scheme was established in 1988 as the '''Registration Scheme'''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Stevens |first=Alex |date=2018-11-02 |title=Accreditation scheme relaunched for 30th anniversary |url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2018/11/02112018-accreditation-relaunched-30-years/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Museums Association |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last=Woodhead |first=Charlotte |url=https://wwwbooks.google.co.ukcom/books/edition/Caring_for_Cultural_Heritage/caDhEAAAQBAJ?hlid=en&gbpv=1caDhEAAAQBAJ&dq=accreditation+museums+UK&pg=PA93&printsec=frontcover |title=Caring for Cultural Heritage: An Integrated Approach to Legal and Ethical Initiatives in the United Kingdom |date=2023-11-23 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-108-57950-6 |language=en}}</ref> It was rebranded the '''Accreditation Standard''' in 2005.<ref name=":5">{{Cite book |last=Macdonald |first=Sharon |url=https://wwwbooks.google.co.ukcom/books/edition/A_Companion_to_Museum_Studies/oQ8c6kRgH1IC?hlid=en&gbpv=1oQ8c6kRgH1IC&dq=accreditation+museums+UK&pg=PA439&printsec=frontcover |title=A Companion to Museum Studies |date=2011-08-24 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-1-4443-5794-3 |language=en}}</ref>
The Accreditation Standard and guidance for museums were reviewed and updated in 2018–19.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Accreditation Scheme |url=https://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/museum-accreditation/accreditation-scheme/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Museums Galleries Scotland |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last= |date=2017-01-25 |title=UK Museum Accreditation Scheme |url=https://camd.org.au/uk-museum-accreditation-scheme/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Council of Australasian Museum Directors |language=en-AU}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Murphy |first=Adrian |date=2018-11-02 |title=What are the new changes to the Museum Accreditation Scheme? |url=https://museumsandheritage.com/advisor/posts/new-changes-museum-accreditation-scheme/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Museums + Heritage |language=en-US}}</ref> There was another review in 2023–24.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=UK Museum Accreditation Scheme |url=https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/supporting-arts-museums-and-libraries/uk-museum-accreditation-scheme |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Arts Council England |language=en}}</ref>
=== Covid-19 ===
During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom|CovidCOVID-19 pandemic]], the Accreditation Scheme was paused from 1 April 2020 and accredited status extended.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Accreditation Scheme for Museums and Galleries in the United Kingdom: COVID-19 Update |url=https://aim-museums.co.uk/accreditation-scheme-museums-galleries-united-kingdom-covid-19-update/ |website=Association of Independent Museums}}</ref>
== Requirements ==
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* Collections must be held and developed
* There must be useableusable and useful information about collections
* Collections must be cared for and conserved.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Managing collections |url=https://collectionstrust.org.uk/accreditation/managing-collections/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Collections Trust |language=en-GB}}</ref>{{NoteTag|Brittni Bradford has observed that accreditation requirements for emergency planning for collections care do not make reference to the [[Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict|Hague Convention]] or require mitigation of risks posed by armed conflict.<ref>{{Cite book |lastlast1=Cunliffe |firstfirst1=Emma |url=https://wwwbooks.google.co.ukcom/books/edition/Safeguarding_Cultural_Property_and_the_1/otnpEAAAQBAJ?hlid=en&gbpv=1otnpEAAAQBAJ&dq=accreditation+museums+UK&pg=PA164&printsec=frontcover |title=Safeguarding Cultural Property and the 1954 Hague Convention: All Possible Steps |last2=Fox |first2=Paul |date=2022 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=978-1-78327-666-0 |language=en}}</ref>}}
=== Users ===
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== Process ==
Most museums are required to submit an initial eligibility [[questionnaire]] for assessment. A local team makes an initial assessment and submits recommendatons to the accreditation manager of the relevant national body ([[Arts Council England|Arts Council England (ACE)]], [[Museums Galleries Scotland|Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS)]], [[Northern Ireland Museums Council]], or the [[Welsh Government]]). If the body decide to grant approval, the museum is classed as "Working Towards Accreditation" and must submit a full application demonstrating compliance with the three required areas within three years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Advice – About the UK Museum Accreditation Scheme |url=https://www.museumdevelopmentnorth.org.uk/accreditation-3/advice/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Museum Development North}}</ref>
In Scotland, museums must either subscribe to MGS or pay a fee for accreditation.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Atkinson |first=Rebecca |date=2013-01-30 |title=MGS to charge non-subscribers for Accreditation |url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2013/01/30012013-mgs-accreditation-fee/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Museums Association |language=en-US}}</ref> Museums in Scotland but covered by the [[National Heritage Act|National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985]] receive accreditation from Arts Council England.<ref name=":3" />
Museums are accredited fully for five years and then must demonstrate that they continue to meet standards on a returns schedule.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" />
== Organising bodies ==
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== Recognised museums ==
About 1800 of the around 2500 museums in the UK are accredited, up from 1304 in 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=FAQs |url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/about/faqs/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Museums Association |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The museums map: Mapping access to England’sEngland's museums |url=https://www.nesta.org.uk/blog/the-museums-map-mapping-access-to-englands-museums/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=nesta |language=en}}</ref> 250 museums in Scotland are Accredited.<ref name=":0" />
[[Glasgow Women's Library]] is the only UK accredited museum dedicated to women's history.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2017-12-24 |title=Women making an exhibition of themselves |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-42454412 |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
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=== Funding ===
SeveralMuseums do not need to be accredited to apply for Museum and Gallery Exhibitions Tax Relief.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Museum & Gallery Exhibitions Tax Relief FAQs |url=https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/sites/default/files/download-file/M%26G%20Exhibitions%20Tax%20Relief%20FAQ.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=28 August 2024 |website=Arts Council England}}</ref> However, several funding schemes, including those from [[Art Fund]], the [[Royal Society]], and Arts Council England, do require museums to be accredited, in the process of becoming accredited, or to justify why not.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hardaker |first=Alistair |date=2023-06-02 |title=Arts Council England to invest £20m in second round of investment programme |url=https://museumsandheritage.com/advisor/posts/arts-council-england-to-invest-20m-in-second-round-of-investment-programme/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Museums + Heritage |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Styles |first=David |date=2021-06-22 |title=Art Fund welcomes applications from museums and galleries for Weston Loan Programme |url=https://museumsandheritage.com/advisor/posts/art-fund-welcomes-applications-museums-galleries-weston-loan-programme/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Museums + Heritage |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Museums to benefit from £24 million investment to fund major infrastructure projects |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/museums-to-benefit-from-24-million-investment-to-fund-major-infrastructure-projects |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=ACE cuts funding for museum development work |url=https://www.artsprofessional.co.uk/news/ace-cuts-funding-museum-development-work |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=ArtsProfessional |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-01-07 |title=Grants to help small museums celebrate local science stories |url=https://www.museumsassociation.org/museums-journal/news/2022/01/grants-to-help-small-museums-celebrate-local-science-stories/ |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=Museums Association |language=en-US}}</ref>
Museums including the [[Museum of Croydon]] and [[Northampton Museum and Art Gallery|Northampton Museum]] lost accredited status for selling parts of their collections to raise funds. This made them ineligible for some funding streams.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-03-27 |title='Rebel' museums face funding blacklist |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32084263 |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
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Accredited museums are able to apply to the [[Treasure trove|Treasure Trove Unit]] to apply for ownership of significant [[Archaeology|archaeological]] finds.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2015-07-07 |title=Kirkcudbright Viking treasure bid could need £1m |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-south-scotland-33410516 |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Museum accreditation can limit what can be done with collections in terms of engagement, in order to meet professional standards.<ref>{{Cite book |lastlast1=Krmpotich |firstfirst1=Cara |url=https://wwwbooks.google.co.ukcom/books/edition/Collections_Management_as_Critical_Museu/zvIMEQAAQBAJ?hlid=en&gbpv=1zvIMEQAAQBAJ&dq=accreditation+museums+UK&pg=PA29&printsec=frontcover |title=Collections Management as Critical Museum Practice |last2=Stevenson |first2=Alice |date=2024-07-22 |publisher=UCL Press |isbn=978-1-80008-704-0 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Loans and touring exhibitions ===
Becoming accredited enables museums to host [[Travelling exhibition|touring exhibitions]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-07-04 |title=Accreditation for Northampton museum with 3,500-year-old loincloths |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-northamptonshire-61998280 |access-date=2024-07-24 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> British museums that are accredited may not be able to loan artefacts to museums that are not accredited.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Candlin |first=Fiona |url=https://wwwbooks.google.co.ukcom/books/edition/Micromuseology/HMfMDgAAQBAJ?hlid=enHMfMDgAAQBAJ&gbpv=1&dqq=accreditation+museums+UK&printsec=frontcover |title=Micromuseology: An Analysis of Small Independent Museums |date=2017-05-18 |publisher=Bloomsbury Academic |isbn=978-1-350-04010-6 |language=en}}</ref>
=== Impact on the sector ===
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== References ==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Accreditation]]
[[Category:Museums in the United Kingdom]]