The Harris Museum and Art Gallery
In 2005 the Harris Museum and Art Gallery became one of the first museums in the country to be awarded Accreditation status by MLA, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. The award demonstrates that the museum meets nationally agreed standards in the way it is run, how it looks after its collections and the services it provides for its visitors.
Setting the standard
The Museum Registration Scheme was established in 1988. Since then it has helped over 1800 museums across the UK to focus on standards and to identify areas for further work and development. In 2004, the Scheme was renamed Accreditation to better reflect its purpose and the achievements of those museums which meet the standards it sets out. The Scheme is regarded as one of the most innovative and effective developments in the museum sector in recent years. It has led the way in raising museum standards in the UK, and has been used as a model and source of inspiration for museums overseas. MLA administers the scheme in collaboration with the regional agencies for museums, libraries and archives in England, the Scottish Museums Council, the Northern Ireland Museum Council and CyMAL in Wales.
Innovation and improvement
People expect more of museums today. The new standard has been developed by MLA and the museum community to keep pace with these expectations. It now gives greater emphasis to the needs and interests of those who use museums - or who might be encouraged to do so in the future. Accredited museums must adhere to published minimum standards in how they care for and document their collections, how they are governed and managed, and on the information and services they offer to their users. The Scheme encourages innovation and improvement through the use of other materials and resources produced by MLA relating to the care of collections, access, learning, inclusion and diversity. These materials provide support and guidance in meeting and exceeding the current standards.
Preserving the past for the future
Accreditation recognises the importance of collections and effective collections management as the foundation for everything that museums strive to do. Without adequate collections care and documentation, the potential of museums to extend access to new audiences, encourage learning and inspire people's creativity would, eventually, be lost. Accreditation also addresses the needs of museum visitors. It requires that all museums provide:
In this way, Accreditation helps museums to meet the needs of today's visitors, while at the same time safeguarding their collections for future generations.
In 2005 the Harris Museum and Art Gallery became one of the first museums in the country to be awarded Accreditation status by MLA, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council. The award demonstrates that the museum meets nationally agreed standards in the way it is run, how it looks after its collections and the services it provides for its visitors.
The Accreditation award also acknowledges the impact of the Harris Museum being a partner in the North West Hub. Membership of the Hub recognises the fact that the Harris holds nationally and internationally important collections. The museum will receive extra Hub funding over the next few years so that it can continue to improve its service.
Setting the standard
The Museum Registration Scheme was established in 1988. Since then it has helped over 1800 museums across the UK to focus on standards and to identify areas for further work and development. In 2004, the Scheme was renamed Accreditation to better reflect its purpose and the achievements of those museums which meet the standards it sets out. The Scheme is regarded as one of the most innovative and effective developments in the museum sector in recent years. It has led the way in raising museum standards in the UK, and has been used as a model and source of inspiration for museums overseas. MLA administers the scheme in collaboration with the regional agencies for museums, libraries and archives in England, the Scottish Museums Council, the Northern Ireland Museum Council and CyMAL in Wales.
Innovation and improvement
People expect more of museums today. The new standard has been developed by MLA and the museum community to keep pace with these expectations. It now gives greater emphasis to the needs and interests of those who use museums - or who might be encouraged to do so in the future. Accredited museums must adhere to published minimum standards in how they care for and document their collections, how they are governed and managed, and on the information and services they offer to their users. The Scheme encourages innovation and improvement through the use of other materials and resources produced by MLA relating to the care of collections, access, learning, inclusion and diversity. These materials provide support and guidance in meeting and exceeding the current standards.
Preserving the past for the future
Accreditation recognises the importance of collections and effective collections management as the foundation for everything that museums strive to do. Without adequate collections care and documentation, the potential of museums to extend access to new audiences, encourage learning and inspire people's creativity would, eventually, be lost. Accreditation also addresses the needs of museum visitors. It requires that all museums provide:
- opportunities to use, enjoy and learn from the collections
- an assurance that the collections, including donated items, are held in trust for society
- information about the museum, its collections and its services
- a commitment to consultation with users, to ensure that future developments and changes take account of their needs and interests
- appropriate visitor facilities or details about facilities nearby.
In this way, Accreditation helps museums to meet the needs of today's visitors, while at the same time safeguarding their collections for future generations.
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