Taking a Global Perspective

Advocacy Resource

This resource is designed to provide support for anyone wishing to develop persuasive arguments relating to the benefits and opportunities of working internationally. It should be of interest to both policy makers and practitioners centrally, regionally and locally.

Whether we realise it or not, UK museums, libraries and archives increasingly operate in a global environment. Their web sites attract users from all over the world, and their collections and expertise can be found across the globe. The diversity of the country’s population encourages the sector to explore and learn from a multiplicity of cultures in order to provide the services its users demand.

Taking a Global Perspective has been compiled with this in mind. It is designed to demonstrate the relevance of museums, libraries and archives and is themed to be relevant across government. It will be of interest to policy makers and practitioners, as well as providing tools for advocacy by MLA and its board. Evidence and benefits are explored around ten themes:

International dimensions across government
Developing a world class sector and skills
Building and sharing collections and knowledge
Benefiting communities
Developing audiences
Broadening horizons and inspiring learning
Contributing to the economy
Enhancing regional, city and twinning links
Building positive perceptions of the UK overseas
Contributing to overseas development

Elsewhere on this site you can find the background information and contacts needed to support international work and a database of case studies illustrating benefits and providing practical information, where possible, on how projects developed and were funded.