Exposure Draft, April 2001

Chapters 1 & 2: Background & The Context
Chapter 3: The Policy Framework
Chapter 4: The Market
Chapter 5: Museums & Their Collections
Chapter 6: Resources
Chapter 7: Conclusions
Annexes 

Government Policy

301.  There is no statement of government policy for English museums. The main policy objectives of the Department for Culture, Media & Sport, whose portfolio includes museums in England, has the following objectives:

• the promotion of access for the many, not just the few;

• the pursuit of excellence and innovation;

• the nurturing of educational opportunity; and

• the fostering of the creative industries.

302.  The Department's interests focus on the National Museums, though in recent years it has increased expenditure on museums in the English regions, a small number of which, for historical reasons, it directly funds. However, there is no coherent framework for central government's support for regional museums, as Table 6 shows:

Table 6: Government Regional Spend on Museums 1998/99

Sources: ^aMinistry of Defence (1999) & information from HQ Adjutant General (A); ^bDCMS; ^c information from Arts & Humanities Research Board (excludes 'one-off' contributions for Lottery projects);^d MGC; ^eRegistrar-General's Estimate, 1998;* Estimate

303.  Lacking any branch of a National Museum, or University Museum, and the worst-funded area museum council, the per capita spend by central government on museums in the East Midlands is substantially less than that in any other English region.

The Museum Registration Scheme

304.  The Museums Association's definition is embedded within the Museums Registration scheme, established in 1988 by the former Museums & Galleries Commission (MGC), and which is now operated by Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries, MGC's successor body. The Registration scheme describes minimum standards for museums and galleries in terms of caring for collections, providing services to the public, and the basis for efficient and effective management.

305.  Museum Registration is a voluntary scheme which is concerned not with the scale and scope of a museum's operations, but whether the systems and services it has put in place are appropriate to its particular circumstances. Thus it is an inclusive scheme, and its requirements are capable of being met by any properly-constituted and well-run museum, however small. Registration has become a criterion for public funding, and has been adopted by the Department for the Environment, Transport and the Regions as a national Performance Indicator for museums provided directly by, or supported by, local authorities.

306.  Facing the Future recommended that all public museums should participate in the Museum Registration scheme. Then, in 1996, there were 81 participants in the scheme. By the end of 2000 that number had risen to 99 - a 22% increase during the five-year period. Table 7 indicates the distribution of public museums in the region, and shows that there is still progress to be made - especially in Leicestershire and Lincolnshire - with 31% of eligible museums still falling outside the scheme.

Table 7: Registered Museums in the East Midlands*

307.  The Museum Designation scheme was established by central government in 1997 to recognise pre-eminent collections of national and international importance in non-National Registered museums in England. There are currently 43 governing bodies with Designated collections, operating 51 museums or museum services. There are two Designated collections in the East Midlands - those at the National Tramway Museum at Crich in Derbyshire, and the Boot and Shoe Collection at Northampton's Central Museum and Art Gallery.

308.  The East Midlands Regional Assembly is developing an Integrated Regional Strategy with four principal purposes:

• to pursue an agreed vision for the East Midlands;

• to strengthen regional partnerships and the role of the East Midlands Regional Assembly;

• to achieve consistency, added value and the genuine integration of regional policies and strategies; and

• to help gain maximum influence for the East Midlands with national government, the European Union and other bodies.

309.  The Strategy recognises that economic, social, environmental and spatial themes are closely linked. Many of these themes touch areas where museums already play a role, and where there is potential to develop those activities. In particular, the Strategy's objectives in terms of

• the economic and social benefits of lifelong learning;

• the contribution culture can make to the quality of life for people who live in the region;

• the development and growth of social capital;

• protecting, conserving and managing the natural and built environment; and

• enhancing the region's infrastructure, and exploiting the opportunities brought by the development of information and communications technology

are all areas where museums can make a useful contribution.

The East Midlands Regional Economic Strategy

310.  Prosperity Through People has been published by the East Midlands Development Agency (emda). It presents the means by which emda will seek to secure prosperity for the region, encourage the creation of new jobs, increase business competitiveness and skills, and in so doing reduce social exclusion. It is based on the following strategic priorities:

• developing the skills and knowledge of the people of the region;

• creating a culture of enterprise and innovation;

• making the most of the opportunities that arise from the ICT revolution;

• providing the right climate for investment; and

• developing strong local communities.

311.  As part of its implementation plan for the Strategy emda has developed rural and urban Action Plans. These identify areas for activity in

• learning and skills;

• tourism; and

• market towns.

312.  There is scope for museum support in many of these areas.

Cultural Strategies

313.  The East Midlands Cultural Consortium has published Time for Culture, a consultation document on the Consortium's campaign to increase participation in cultural activity. Local authorities are being encouraged by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport to put in place local cultural strategies by 2002. We hope that this strategy will inform the development of these parallel initiatives.

314.  Annex A links the Integrated Regional Strategy, emda's regional economic strategy, and the regional cultural strategy to the conclusions of Facing the Future 2.

Chapters 1 & 2: Background & The Context
Chapter 3: The Policy Framework
Chapter 4: The Market
Chapter 5: Museums & Their Collections
Chapter 6: Resources
Chapter 7: Conclusions
Annexes