About the Project
The Accreditation Scheme, launched in 2004, is being redeveloped in a project led by MLA, with the input of colleagues in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, as well as crucial contributions from colleagues working directly in museums.
MLA is committed to developing Accreditation to strengthen it as a UK agreed standard. Accreditation will become a more powerful improvement tool as well as a more rigorous benchmark.
There are now 1795 Accredited Museums in the UK while over 100 new museums are working towards applying for Accreditation for the first time.
The revised standard was outlined in October 2010, at the Museums Association conference. The presentation is available in the 'related links' column on the right.
Roll out and implementation is planned for later in 2011.
Accreditation 2011 Roadshows
The revised Accreditation Standard for 2011 is more straightforward and useful and will be published as a slimmer and more user-friendly advocacy tool. Its themes will be organisational health, collections and users and their experiences. In the run up to its rollout by Arts Council England in October 2011, MLA is running introductory roadshow events around England. These will give those working in the sector the opportunity to learn more about the revised standard and provide feedback. Please click on the links below to view the roadshow flyer and download a booking form.
Accreditation roadshow flyer (PDF 126KB)
Delegate booking form (Word 148KB)
Consultation process
Research reports which have informed the development of Accreditation, 'The Development of Accreditation - Gauging the museum sector's response' and 'Impact of the Museum Accreditation Scheme', plus MLA's 'Accreditation: The Way Forward', based on earlier consultation are available in the 'related links' column on the right.
Two new reports have also been published. One was based on reactions to the developed requirements, 'Accreditation Development: Analysis and interpretation of online survey findings', the other is a 'Curatorial Adviser Review'. Again both are available in the 'related links' column.
Alongside these, MLA has published its response to the main findings: 'Accreditation: What next?'
Next stage
The requirements and the process are being tested in a pilot phase. Museums of different scales and resources are working up submissions based on the developed standard. We will then refine the requirements, guidance, process and support further.
Accreditation will transfer to Arts Council England (ACE) management later in 2011.
The revised standard will be launched at the Museums Association Conference in Brighton on 3 October 2011.
Accreditation Committee
The role of the Committee in this process is to provide cross sector expertise and rationale to any proposals emerging from the scoping and consultation exercise. The Committee remain advocates for museum practitioners within the UK.
Advisory Panel
The Advisory Panel is made up of museum colleagues and stakeholders from many different organisations. The purpose of the Advisory Panel is to:
- guide the development of Accreditation
- represent the viewpoints/interests of the sector
- advocate the benefits of developing Accreditation and
- challenge the assumptions within the review.
The panel met five times during the development process between May 2009 and January 2011.
The Advisory Panel is made up of:
- David Adshead, Head Curator, National Trust
- Kate Arnold-Forster, Head of Museums and Collections, University of Reading, University Museums Group
- Chris Bailey, Director, Northern Ireland Museums Council
- Vivienne Bennett, Director of Visual Arts Strategy, Arts Council England
- Tony Butler, Director of Museum of Anglian Life, Association of Independent Museums
- Angela Doane, Director, Collections, National Maritime Museum & Royal Observatory Greenwich
- Diane Gwilt, Chair of ICON
- Nick Kingsley, Head of Standards, The National Archive
- Glen Lawes, Chairman, Accreditation Committee, MLA Board member
- Elizabeth Mackenzie, British Association of Friends of Museums
- Nick Poole, CEO, Collections Trust
- Trevor Reynolds, Collections Registrar, English Heritage
- Samuel Rowlands, Accreditation Manager, MLA Council
- Bill Seaman, Norfolk Museum & Archaeology Service
- Colin Sibun, Director, Army Museums Ogilby Trust
- Hedley Swain, Director, Programme Delivery, MLA Council
- Fiona Talbott, Head of Museums, Libraries and Archives, Heritage Lottery Fund
- Mark Taylor, Director, Museums Association
- Suzie Tucker, Projects and Policy Officer, National Museum Directors Conference
- Alison Turnbull, Head of Research & Standards, Museums Galleries Scotland
- Carol Whittaker, CyMAL: Museums Archives Libraries Wales
- Isabel Wilson, Project Manager: Quality & Standards, MLA Council
Contacts for the Development Project
Should you have any queries or comments regarding the Accreditation Development Project described above, contact Isabel Wilson, Project Manager: Quality & Standards (isabel.wilson@mla.gov.uk, 0121 345 7325), or Samuel Rowlands, Accreditation Manager (samuel.rowlands@mla.gov.uk, 0121 345 7328).