Renaissance impact in London

The capital houses over 250 museums and galleries, including world famous national museums and galleries, local authority services, museums owned by university, military and other specialist interests, and a wide range of independent museums with charitable status.

The 2009/11 business plan builds on the successes and achievements of the 2008/9 plan. During 2008/9, Renaissance London invested more than ever before into supporting non-Hub, non-national museums. This funding has helped develop a lasting legacy for museums in London, improved workforce development, access to collections, partnership working, management of volunteers and records and information management. The work of the past year has also focussed on laying the foundations that will enable museums to play a key role in the Cultural Olympiad.

In particular Renaissance London has:

Delivered high quality learning experiences to school age children and young people. Contacts with school-age children increased by 36% compared with 2007/8 (263,207 visits in 2008/9).

Made museums more accessible to new users. London Hub museums attracted 1.3 million visits in 2008/9 with 165,000 visits from priority groups (up 30% on 2007/8).

Supported regional museum development. This includes the region’s first network of Museum Development Officers, providing a comprehensive advice and support service for all non-national museums in London and the launch of a groundbreaking improvement scheme for local authority based services. Last year 80 non-Hub museums received direct benefit from a Renaissance grant or substantial support through involvement in a Renaissance project. In addition, 571 museum staff attended Renaissance funded training.

To date, Renaissance London has benefitted over 100 museums in London. Click here to view the Renaissance London museum map.

London case studies

Details of previous Renaissance London programmes

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Impact of MDOs

The MDO network is one of the most important initiatives to be made available for museums and has proved completely invaluable

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Latest News

Responsibilities transfer

From 1st October 2011, this site will not be updated, so please treat it as the static archive it is. This is because <a target="_Blank" href="http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/">Arts Council England</a> has now taken over museums and libraries responsibilities. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/">The National Archives</a> has assumed responsibility for strategic leadership of the Archives sector. Arts Council responsibilities will also now include the Renaissance programme, Museum Accreditation, and Library Development, together with cultural property services such as Export Licensing and the Acceptance in Lieu scheme. The National Archives has assumed responsibility for providing strategic leadership to the archives sector and advising government on its development. The MLA is now winding down, with a skeleton staff remaining until May 2012 to complete the management of existing Renaissance contracts, complete outstanding financial and contractual arrangements and prepare for the appointment of a liquidator. This website will remain live until 31st March so that the public still has full access to the material on it – good practice case studies, toolkits, guidance and a range of other publications.  Continue reading

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Sector Statistics

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