Northern Ireland Museums Council
Business Plan
2014 – 15
Ministerial Foreword
DCAL is committed to harnessing culture, arts and leisure to promote
equality and tackle poverty and social exclusion. Over the course of the last
year, DCAL and its arm’s length bodies have made good progress
transforming delivery so that as much public resource as possible is invested
in these key priority areas in a way which will bring about lasting and
meaningful change to as many people as possible, but in particular to those
who are most disadvantaged.
The theme for the year ahead will be to continue this journey. There will be particular emphasis on
making culture, arts and leisure more accessible, promoting and supporting our cultural identity,
lifelong learning, and excellence in service delivery. Exciting and innovative programmes and
projects are set to come on-stream across the entire field of DCAL’s operations. Importantly, a new
strategic focus will be brought to our work in promoting equality, tackling poverty and social
exclusion which will involve delivery, advocacy, partnership development, knowledge sharing and
networking.
In order to successfully deliver our ambitious objectives work will continue behind the scenes to
ensure that DCAL further develops partnerships, enhances its processes, and invests in its people.
Carál Ní Chuilín MLA
Minister of Culture, Arts & Leisure
Réamhrá
Tá RCEF tiomanta do leas a bhaint as cultúr, ealaíona agus fóillíocht le comhionannas a chur chun
cinn agus le dul i ngleic le bochtaineacht agus le heisiamh sóisialta. Le bliain anuas, tá dul chun cinn
maith déanta ag RCEF agus ag a cuid comhlachtaí ar neamhthuilleamaí maidir le soláthar a
bhunathrú chun feabhais ionas go n-infheistítear an oiread acmhainne poiblí agus is féidir sna
heochair-réimsí tosaíochta sin ar bhealach a bhainfidh amach athrú buan agus lánbhrí don oiread
daoine agus is féidir, go háirithe dóibh siúd is mó atá faoi mhíbhuntáiste.
Leanúint ar aghaidh ar an turas sin an téama a bheidh ann don bhliain atá romhainn. Beidh béim
faoi leith ar chultúr, ealaíona agus fóillíocht a dhéanamh níos inrochtana. Ina theannta sin, tabharfar
tacaíocht dár bhféiniúlacht chultúrtha, d’fhoghlaim ar feadh an tsaoil agus do shármhaitheas i
soláthar seirbhíse agus cuirfear na nithe sin uile chun cinn. Tá cláir agus tionscadail spreagúla agus
nuálacha le tosú trasna réimse iomlán oibríochtaí RCEF. Is tábhachtach go dtabharfar fócas úr
straitéiseach dár gcuid oibre maidir le comhionannas a chur chun cinn, dul i ngleic le bochtaineacht
agus le heisiamh sóisialta agus beidh soláthar, tacaíocht, forbairt chomhpháirtíochta, comhroinnt
eolais agus líonrú mar chuid di.
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Lenár gcuspóirí uaillmhianacha a bhaint amach go rathúil leanfar den obair ar chúl stáitse lena
chinntiú go ndéanann RCEF breis forbartha ar chomhpháirtíochtaí, go bhfeabhsaíonn sí a cuid
próiseas, agus go n-infheistíonn sí ina cuid daoine.
Carál Ní Chuilín CTR
An tAire Cultúir, Ealaíon & Fóillíochta
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1.
Introduction
This document sets out what the Northern Ireland Museums Council will do during the 2014 15, in support of its remit as agreed by Government and in pursuit of the Statutory and
Public Policy Obligations and Departmental Priorities, in the context of the Northern Ireland
Museums Policy.
2.
NIMC Remit
In April 1993 the Minister of Education accepted the recommendation of the Northern Ireland
Museums Advisory Committee and established an Area Museums Council for Northern
Ireland. The Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC) was subsequently established as a
non-departmental public body in receipt of grant aid from the Department of Education. With
the establishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the Department of Culture, Arts and
Leisure (DCAL) became the sponsoring department. The Council does not carry out its
functions on behalf of the Crown.
The Council was established under the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 1986, is
registered as a company limited by guarantee, and operates in compliance with the
Companies Act 2006. It is a registered charity. The constitution of the Council is set out in
the Articles of Association, which establish that the main functions of the Council are to
promote and advance education by supporting and assisting museums and galleries
and to encourage the use and enjoyment by the public of museums and galleries in
Northern Ireland.
The Management Statement and Financial Memorandum established with the Department
states that the Council’s main aim is to support local museums (ie non-National
museums) in Northern Ireland in maintaining and improving their standards of
collections care and service to the public and to promote a coherent framework of
museum provision.
In pursuit of these aims the Council’s main objectives are:
 To assist museums in Northern Ireland to improve standards of collections care;
 To assist museums in Northern Ireland to improve the range and quality of services
to the public;
 To improve the status and standing of museums;
 To promote a coherent framework of museum provision in Northern Ireland; and
 To operate the Council efficiently, effectively and economically.
And the Council’s functions will include the following:
 The development and maintenance of links with interested bodies and agencies;
 The provision of information, advice and training to museums across a range of
activities such as curatorial practice, collections management, conservation services,
marketing and income-generation etc.;
 Assistance with feasibility studies and carrying out developmental research;
 The disbursement of grants to local museums towards approved projects and
specimen purchase;
 The promotion of Museum Accreditation for local museums.
With this remit, and through these aims, NIMC plays a unique and fundamental role in
the delivery of the Northern Ireland Museums Policy and the Programme for
Government Priorities.
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3.
Statutory Obligations
3.1
Equality
Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 requires the Northern Ireland Museums Council
(NIMC) to comply with two statutory duties:
Section 75 (1)
In carrying out its functions relating to Northern Ireland, NIMC is required to have due regard
to the need to promote equality of opportunity between
 persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status
or sexual orientation
 men and women generally
 persons with a disability and persons without
 persons with dependants and persons without.
Section 75 (2)
In addition, without prejudice to the obligations above, in carrying out our functions in relation
to Northern Ireland, NIMC is required to have regard to the desirability of promoting good
relations between persons of different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.
In line with these obligations NIMC has Equality Scheme and Disability Action Plan agreed
by the Equality Commission covering the period 2011-15
3.2
Freedom of Information
In compliance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, NIMC
maintains an associated policy and procedures.
3.3
Data Management
In compliance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998, NIMC maintains an
associated policy and procedures.
3.4
Audit
Consequent to The Companies (Public Sector Audit) Order (Northern Ireland) 2008, the
Council’s accounts are audited through the Northern Ireland Audit Office by the Comptroller
and Auditor General.
4.
Policy context – Programme for Government, Promoting Equality, Tackling
Poverty and Social Exclusion, and the Northern Ireland Museums Policy
4.1
Programme for Government
The Programme for Government 2011-15 of the Northern Ireland Executive has established
five priorities,
1.
Growing a Sustainable Economy and Investing in the Future
2.
Creating Opportunities, Tackling Disadvantage and Improving Health and Well-being
3.
Protecting our People, the Environment and Creating Safer Communities
4.
Building a Strong and Shared Community
5.
Delivering High Quality and Efficient Public Services
For NIMC, undertaking its work against this background, Priority 4 is the most relevant,
including as it does the objectives of:
 Better relations between communities
 Promoting volunteering
 Improving community and personal wellbeing
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


Unlocking the potential of the culture, arts and leisure sectors
Increasing participation in sport and physical recreation
Collaborative working
Each Priority has a series of ‘Building Blocks’ through which the objectives are advanced.
The Northern Ireland Museums Policy, launched in March 2011, is one of the building blocks
of Priority 4.
4.2
Departmental Priorities
The Departmental priorities are to promote social and economic equality, and to tackle
poverty and social exclusion, through allocating resources across areas of the perceived
greatest objective need. In addition excellence and equality are sought across the culture,
arts and leisure sectors. For museums both aspects become manifest through the protection
and enhancement of the cultural assets they hold, and the prioritising of programmes,
activities and resources with the intent of tackling poverty and social exclusion.
4.3
Northern Ireland Museums Policy
The vision of the policy is for a co-ordinated and sustainable museum sector that develops,
preserves and interprets collections to the highest possible standards; delivers quality
services that inspire, educate and engage local, national and international visitors and users;
harnesses its strengths and diversity to support economic, social and cultural development
in Northern Ireland and a shared and better future.
The policy states that “fulfilling this vision will require a concerted effort, not just by
museums, their staff and governing bodies, but also by central and local government”, with
the associated work set out as a series of goals corralled under four strategic priorities,
 Developing Audiences
 Education and Learning
 Collections Development, Care, Management and Use
 Infrastructure, Investment and Resources.
NIMC works closely with colleagues in National Museums Northern Ireland in pursuit of
policy vision.
4.4
Local Government Reorganisation
The Programme for Government 2011-15 states the commitment to proceed with the
reorganisation of local government by 2015. This will see a reduction in the number of local
councils, from 26 to 11 and this reform will affect all local museums in Northern Ireland, not
just those run directly by the councils. Fundamentally it will change the way museums are
run and how they deliver their services and how their collections will be developed and used
for the cultural, social and economic benefit of this and future generations. In 2012 NIMC
published a series of recommendations concerning museums within the reform process in its
report The Future of Local Museum Service in Northern Ireland. Over the next two years the
Council will assume a leadership role in addressing the challenges and maximising the
opportunities for local museums in contributing the cultural, social and economic
development across the new council areas.
4.5
Other Matters
In addition to the above, the work which NIMC undertakes, in conjunction with local
museums, contributes directly to a range of other programmes and initiatives. These include
increasing access to venues and their programmes, supporting the creative industries,
promoting life-long learning, enhancing north-south links and contributing to the exploration
of the political, social and cultural consequences of the events of the 1912 -1922 period
which have shaped the identities, needs and aspirations of today’s society.
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5.
NIMC’s contribution to Policy Priorities
This section sets out how the Northern Ireland Museums Council contributes to the areas
outlined above, establishes the priorities of need, thus pointing to the actions NIMC will
undertake in partnership with our local museums.
5.1
Social Exclusion
Social exclusion is concerned with the inability of individuals or households to participate
effectively in economic, social, and cultural life, and is usually defined through the perceived
barriers that exist (primarily physical and intellectual, but extending to political, economic and
cultural). It is addressed by enhancing an awareness of the opportunities to participate,
through encouraging individuals to actively engage, by developing education and learning
opportunities in particular, and through enabling a general equality of opportunity for all who
choose to participate.
In line with the Government’s Anti-Poverty and Social Inclusion Strategy for Northern Ireland
NIMC contributes to tackling poverty and social exclusion by targeting efforts and available
resources towards people, groups and areas objectively defined as being in social need
through the latest iteration of the Multiple Deprivation Indices. It does this by using such
information to inform the type and location of programmes and initiatives it funds either
through grant aid or partnership funding.
5.2
Equality of Opportunity
As indicated above, NIMC has a statutory obligation towards the promotion of equality and
good relations. The recently issued “Together Building a United Community” document sets
out a vision for a shared future which is “based on equality of opportunity and the desirability
of good relations and reconciliation - one which is strengthened by its diversity, where
cultural expression is celebrated and embraced and where everyone can live, learn, work
and socialise together, free from prejudice, hate and intolerance.”
In developing this vision the key priorities are children and young people, and cultural
expression, and there is an emphasis upon education and learning, together with the
encouragement of cultural celebration and exploration for cultures and identities. Museums
have an obvious role in delivering this strategy; the overlaps with the Northern Ireland
Museum Policy are apparent too and NIMC supports education and learning in local
museums through its research, promotional activity and direct support.
5.3
Tackling Poverty and the Promotion of Health and Well-being
With reference to simply visiting museums and art galleries an informed view is that, “There
is a growing body of research by university and state epidemiologists that cultural
attendance of this kind does make a difference to people’s mental and physical well-being,
such a difference in fact that people live longer as a result.” (O’Neill, Journal of Public and
Mental Health vol 9 issue 4 2010). Further gains in this regard come through encouraging
people to take an active role in the development of their museum, especially through
volunteering, with significant contributions to tackling poverty coming through developing
skills and employability.
NIMC works with local museums to disseminate information about museums exhibitions,
events and activities, especially through its digital media. It provides guidance on
volunteering in the sector, and links with other agencies to promote such opportunities in
museums.
Over the last three years NIMC, in partnership with National Museums Northern Ireland, and
with funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, has delivered a museum skills development
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scheme. Of the first intake, 11 of the 12 participants have gained employment in the sector.
Over the next two years NIMC will co-ordinate a similar programme, the Community
Engagement Initiative, which will train 10 individuals in the skills of engaging and developing
audiences in museums with a view to enhancing their employment prospects.
5.4
All-Ireland Co-operation
Museums by their very nature nurture a culture of national and international exchange. This
is manifest through strategic co-operation, inter-museum loans, and sharing intelligence and
good practice. NIMC has an ongoing relationship with its counterpart, the Heritage Council,
and seeks to exploit other such partnerships as and when it can. Such collaborative working
also extends to other bodies outside the island of Ireland.
5.5
Museum Standards
As the agreed definition states, “Museums enable people to explore collections for
inspiration, learning and enjoyment. They are institutions that collect, safeguard and make
accessible artefacts and specimens which they hold in trust for society.” Museums can only
contribute to the broader policy objectives if they fulfil their societal responsibility of caring
and managing their collections, and making them accessible, to adequate standards.
In the UK the Accreditation Scheme is the museum sector standard. It covers organisational
health, collections and user experience. NIMC administers the standard for local museums,
which is a basis upon which it funds museums through its grant programmes. The Council
will continue to manage the scheme and provide associated assistance.
In a similar vein, and in line with public demands, NIMC will continue to offer guidance,
information and advice to individuals, community organisations and statutory bodies on a
wide range of matters concerning heritage, museums, collections and associated matters.
5.6
Research on Museums
The Northern Ireland Multiple Deprivation Measure 2010 comprises seven domains of
deprivation, each developed to measure a distinct form or type of deprivation; income,
employment, health, education, proximity to services, living environment and crime. From
these measures a score and ranking of local authority areas according to deprivation is
presented.
Half of Northern Ireland’s Accredited local museums are operated by local councils and all
local museums deliver some form of education and learning programme. Consequently,
those deprivation measures relating to Council area and educational attainment are the most
appropriate to consider in relation to the work of local museums. In addition, bearing in mind
the geographic spread across rural areas, the local museums are optimally placed to
address deprivation relating to proximity to services.
NIMC is the main source of intelligence on the local museum sector and undertakes a
continuous programme of research covering the whole gambit of museum operations,
including; visitor numbers, financial performance, staffing levels, education delivery, visitor
profiles, buildings and services, as well as standards of collections care.
6.
Action Areas
In pursuit of the priorities given at Section 5 above, NIMC has examined the available data
and research around museums concerning access, participation, equality of opportunity,
engagement and awareness. The analysis of this information suggests eight themes for the
Council’s future work, which are listed below together with references to the ‘actions’ NIMC
will deliver in 2014-15, as set out at Section 11 below.
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 Targeting the delivery of museum services
In light of the available evidence local museums could further target their services to
particular communities defined by experience and geography. The former includes those
defined by age (particularly children and 65 and over) and by disability, and the latter could
focus on the local Councils identified as areas of high deprivation generally, with specific
programmes concentrated on deprived ward areas. Particular gains could be made through
focusing resources on education and learning provision, in promoting museum facilities (and
the benefits of participation) to these target communities, and delivering museum services
directly within such communities and areas. Action 1
 Presenting exhibitions and other activities on subjects of interest
While the Continuous Household Survey 2013 suggests that presenting exhibition on
subjects of interest is a factor in encouraging more museum attendance and participation, it
does not ascertain what these ‘subjects of interest’ might be. Establishing the areas of
interest, particularly amongst young people, the over 65s, people with disabilities, and those
living in deprived areas locally, could be the first step towards presenting interest-driven
exhibitions and activities outside of a museum. A key element in this regard is supporting
local museums in building their knowledge and understanding of community interests.
Actions 2, 6 and 7

Addressing the physical and intellectual barriers to accessing museums and their
services
The available research establishes that there are still some museums which require some
capital works to be undertaken by way of enhancing the physical access, particularly for the
disabled, older people and those with dependents. In addition, access and participation
(both physically and virtually) may be increased through the purchase of equipment that will
advance intellectual access. The needs on both counts require to be established by
museums at individual site level, based on good practice. NIMC will be seeking to raise
funds during 2014-15 to address this need

Looking to provide access to museum activities when people perceive that they have
more time
There is some evidence to suggest that local museums have adjusted their opening times of
late, but given that this remains a perceived barrier to participation by some people, new
initiatives, such as delivering museum services at times that suit particular communities,
might be considered further. The presentation of additional outreach programmes outside
museums would likely overcome this perceived access barrier. Also, further access can be
provided through the web and other IT platforms. Actions 1, 2, 3 and 13
 Addressing transport barriers
Subsidising the transport costs associated with the attendance by people from deprived
communities and areas would deal with this barrier directly, but alone this measure will have
short-term impact and is not sustainable in the long run. Alternatively (or in addition), it may
be preferable, easier and more cost effective to bring the museum activity to the target
beneficiaries through outreach programmes. Action 1
 Considering museum admission charges
While up to 25% of respondents to the Continuous Household Survey indicated that
‘cheaper admission prices’ would encourage greater participation, this response appears
somewhat at odds with the fact that nearly two-thirds of local museums do not charge an
admission fee. The associated perceptions might be ameliorated through greater awareness
of admission policies, the further promotion of ‘free’ events and activities, and consideration
of such sector-wide initiatives as regular ‘free museum days’. Action 3
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 Enhancing awareness of museum activities
The desire for enhanced information on museum activities is a constant across the
respondents to the surveys conducted. Considerable strides have been taken within the
local museum sector of late to improve the availability of timely and detailed information
about museums and their programmes. It may now be appropriate to tailor the dissemination
of this information to the target communities and exploiting digital and other media as
appropriate. Actions 3 and 10

Strengthening and sustaining the capacity of museums to deliver community-focused
services
The benefits accruing from pursuing the themes identified above are dependent upon the
local museums’ capacity to deliver programmes which will foster further engagement and
participation across the target communities. Such capacity is built through having the
appropriate policies, plans and targets in place; having the resources to devise and deliver
imaginative programmes; having appropriately trained staff and volunteers; and, having
access to ‘best practice’ models and guidance. These aspects of museum operations are
assured and underpinned through compliance with the sector standard, the Museum
Accreditation Scheme. Actions 4, 5, 8, 9, 10 and 12
8.
Zero Based Budgeting
During 2012-13 NIMC participated in a Zero Base Budgeting exercise instigated by the
Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure. As part of this exercise NIMC price tested the
services procured, examined options for savings and assessed the consequence on service
delivery of not undertaking non-statutory activity. The outcome of the exercise was that the
Department concurred with the NIMC’s Boards conclusion that no significant adjustments in
the current expenditure profiles are required.
9.
Resources
The Department has indicated that the proposed budget for NIMC during 2014-15 will be
£267,000.
If NIMC can successfully raise additional funding, it proposes establishing a Capital Fund
and enhance its Acquisition Fund, which will aims to channel resources to local museums
and collections to enable their governing bodies to purchase of equipment or undertake
minor capital works with a view to enhancing the physical and intellectual access to the
collections they hold, and assist with the purchase of artefacts that will enable the impact
and resonance of events concerning the ‘Decade of Centenaries’ to be interpreted locally
and to collect contemporary items connected with the history of the last 40 years.
The Council has a successful track record of fundraising and securing membership income.
In 2014-15 NIMC will initiate a two-year programme - the Community Engagement Initiative funded to the tune of £354,000 by the Heritage Lottery Fund, and is projecting income of
£15,000 through membership and training fees.
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NIMC’s principal resource for fulfilling its remit is its staff. In 2014-15 NIMC’s organisational
chart will be as follows:
Board
Director
Development
Officer (Learning)
Development
Officer (Museums
and Collections)
Business Executive Officer
HLF Project Officer
10.
Budget:
In 2014-15 the operating budget is anticipated at:
Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure (Resource)
Heritage Lottery Fund
Training Fees
Membership
Total
£266,000
£177,000
£3,000
£12,000
£458,000
In 2014-15 it is anticipated that expenditure will comprise:
Business Area
Developing Audiences
Actions: 1, 2, 3, 6, 12
Collections
Development, Care,
Management and Use
Actions: 2, 7
Education and Learning
Actions: 4, 13
Infrastructure,
Investment and
Resources
Actions: 5, 8, 9 ,10, 11
Governance and
Accountability
Total
Programme
Resource
£56,000
Administration
and office costs
£12,000
Total
£71,000
£12,000
£83,000
£221,000
£12,000
£233,000
£44,000
£12,000
£56,000
£0
£18,000
£18,000
£392,000
£66,000
£458,000
£68,000
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11.
Actions
In pursuit of the priorities, and in partnership with the local museums across Northern Ireland, NIMC will focus on the priorities of protecting and
enhancing the cultural assets, and supporting programmes and activities that will tackle social exclusion amongst target groups (particularly
young people and people from areas of high multiple deprivation).
Actions
Commentary
1. Museum
Engagement
Programme
Support
This pilot programme will establish proactive
partnerships with each of three museums in the top six
most deprived Council areas (according to MDI data) to
deliver outreach and learning programmes targeted at
people from the ten highest deprivation ranking wards
in each area. The implementation, outcomes,
evaluation and monitoring processes will be agreed
with each partner.
2. Accredited
Museum Grant
Programme
This programme will provide reactive support through
grant assistance to proposals from Accredited
museums. Applications to the grant scheme will be
assessed in light of the following priorities:
 addressing equality of opportunity and/or social
exclusion
 the protection of cultural assets held
 contributing to advancing the goals of the
Northern Ireland Museum Policy
 assisting the museum to renew or maintain
Accredited status
Museum Policy
reference
DA1, DA2, EL2,
EL3, EL4, EL5,
EL6.
Target and Outcome
By 31st March 2015, NIMC will have
worked with three local museums to
deliver pilot engagement projects.
3,000 people from areas of high multiple
deprivation will have a greater knowledge
of the heritage of their area and engaged
with the education and learning services
provided their local museum.
DA1, DA2, EL2,
EL3, EL4, EL5,
EL6, CD1.
By 31st March 2015, NIMC will have grantaided at least six projects at local
museums, benefitting at least 6,000
people.
Support will have been provided to allow
significant artefacts within local museum
collections to be conserved in preparation
to making them accessible through
exhibitions. And grant aid will have been
provided to projects that engage local
communities with their heritage by way of
increasing knowledge and enhancing their
understanding of the value of heritage and
museums.
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3. What’s On in
Museums Project
Given that 20% of respondents to the Continuous
Household Survey stated that “more information about
exhibitions or displays” would encourage museum
visits, NIMC has built and maintains a ‘one-stop shop’
web site which covers the events taking place at all
museums across Northern Ireland. www.nimc.co.uk
DA1, DA2, DA4,
EL3, EL5, EL6,
CD5,
By 31st March 2015 to have increased the
circulation of the NIMC newsletter by 48%
from 135 to 200.
This is supplemented through the public having the
option to subscribe to a newsletter which highlights and
details museum activities and admission policies.
4. Community
Engagement
Initiative
The Community Engagement Initiative is a two year
programme, delivered in partnership with National
Museums Northern Ireland and funded by the Heritage
Lottery Fund, which will train ten people from diverse
backgrounds to use museum collections as a tool to
connect communities with their heritage, with a view
developing their capacity to follow a career in the
sector or using the skills and benefits of using
museums in a community context.
People, particularly those within areas of
high deprivation, will have an enhanced
awareness of the programmes and
services provided by museums across
Northern Ireland.
DA1, DA3, DA6,
EL1, EL4, EL6,
EL8, CD5, IIR1.
The Museum Accreditation Scheme is the UK-wide
sector standard for museums that is co-ordinated
centrally by Arts Council England, with NIMC being
responsible for its management and administration for
local museums in Northern Ireland.
By 31st March 2015 NIMC will have
recruited ten trainees to participate in the
Community Engagement Initiative,
delivered the associated training and
placed them within selected museums.
Participants will have an enhanced
understanding of good practice within
museums concerning community
engagement and will have begun to put
learning into practice through projects at
their host museums.
The location and the community engagement scope
and focus of the proposed project, will be a
consideration in the process of selecting the local
museums that will host the trainee placements.
5. Museum
Accreditation
Scheme
By 31st March 2015 NIMC will have
promoted the web site to 150 community
and educational groups.
DA3, DA6, EL1,
CD1, IIR 2
By 31st March 2015 39 local museums will
be recognised under the Museum
Accreditation Scheme.
Standards of governance, management,
collections care and public services at
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Through the scheme institutions must meet minimum
standards across the three areas,
•
Organisational Health - governance and
management arrangements, business and financial
planning, security and emergency planning, workforce
and professional capacity.
•
Collections - ownership of their collections,
collections management policies and procedures
relating to the development, documentation, care and
conservation of the collection.
•
Users and their Experiences - the developing
good quality services for visitors and users, providing a
welcoming, accessible environment, with appropriate
services and facilities, and ensuring that an effective
and stimulating learning experience is delivered.
local museums will be maintained and
improved.
The standard requires museums to “offer and develop
good-quality, stimulating services for users and
potential users, in order to get the best out of its
collections, resources and local area”, thus
underpinning the equality and social exclusion
priorities.
6. Profiling
Museum Visitors
and Users
In order to be able to better serve visitors and develop
their visitor and user base, museums require up-to-date
intelligence on who is (and is not) coming to their
venue and who is using the services they offer.
DA1, DA2, DA3,
By 31st March 2015 NIMC will have
completed an audit on the mechanisms
local museums use to gain an
understanding of their visitors and users.
Museums will have better knowledge of
the profile of who is and is not benefiting
from the services they provide, thus
contributing to their thinking on increasing
levels of participation.
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7. NIMC
Acquisition Fund
The Acquisition Fund will focus on channelling
resources to local museums to enable their governing
bodies to purchase artefacts.
NIMC will be seeking to raise additional funds during
2014-15 to the purchase of objects relating to ‘Decade
of Centenaries’ and to collect contemporary items
connected with the history of the last 40 years, which
have a particular local resonance.
DA1, DA3, DA6, By 31st March 2015, NIMC will have grantEL6, EL7, CD2, aided at least six projects at local
CD3, CD4, CD5, museums.
IIR2.
Support will have been provided to allow
local museums to acquire artefacts of
local, national and international
significance in order to preserve aspects
of the common heritage; as a means of
increasing people’s knowledge, their
enjoyment and understanding of history,
and their sense well-being and pride of
place.
In addition to the seven principle targets above, NIMC will provide added value to advancing the priorities of tackling social exclusion and
promoting equality of opportunity through the support and guidance it gives to local museums.
Supporting
Actions
8. Training
Commentary
NIMC delivers an annual training programme that
supports the continuous professional development of
museum staff and volunteers. In the forthcoming years
the focus of the training will be upon matters pertaining
to tackling social exclusion, encouraging participation,
and developing the capacity in local museums to target
and attract diverse usership.
Museum Policy
reference
DA1, DA2, DA3,
DA6, EL1, EL3,
EL4, EL6, EL8,
CD1, IIR1, IIR5.
Outcome
By 31st March 2015, NIMC will have
provided training to 80 museum staff and
volunteers.
Those working in museums will be more
informed, confident and competent in
undertaking the services and functions
expected of museums.
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9. Museum
Forum
10. Advice and
Information
11. Guidance
The Forum aims to keep local museums abreast of
policy developments and current thinking on areas
having a direct impact upon the services museums
deliver. NIMC aims to co-ordinate biannual meetings of
personnel from the local museum sector at which
salient topics will be examined.
DA1, DA2, DA3,
DA6, EL1, EL3,
EL4, EL6, EL8,
CD1, IIR1, IIR5.
The Council answers queries and responds to enquiries
from the general public and the museum sector from
day-to-day. In response to the frequency enquiries and
the importance of the subjects raised, NIMC undertakes
research and publishes information and case studies.
EL3, EL6, CD1,
CD3, IIR5
To ensure that local museums undertake community
engagement to the highest possible standards, NIMC
will continue to develop the guidance provided to
museums.
DA7, IIR1, IIR2,
IIR4, IIR5
By 31st March 2015, two forum meetings
will have taken place with the deliberations
and recommendations for action being
published.
Those working in museums will be more
informed, confident and competent in
undertaking the services and functions
expected of museums.
NIMC will continue to answer enquires
from the public ‘on demand’.
People generally, and museum personnel
more particularly, will have a better
knowledge about artefacts, collections,
learning in museums, and the role and
value of heritage and museums.
By 31st March 2015, NIMC will have
published three guidance documents for
the sector
Those working in museums will have
access to information that will enhance
their knowledge and understanding of
good practice within museums concerning
community engagement, hence improving
standards of public service.
12. Promotion of
jobs, work
placements and
The NIMC web site and newsletters carry notice of the
vast majority of job opportunities available at museums
across Northern Ireland and sometimes further afield,
DA6, DA7, EL6,
EL8
By 31st March 2015, NIMC will have made
up-to-date listings of employment and
volunteering opportunities available to at
15
volunteering
opportunities at
museums
together with volunteering opportunities across the
sector.
least 1,000 unique visitors per month to
the NIMC web site.
People will have a better knowledge of the
opportunities to work in the museum
sector, and museums will be able to
broadcast such opportunities more widely
and more efficiently.
13. Learning
Resources
NIMC continues to work with staff at local museums to
raise the standard of the learning and education
experiences provided, to develop capacity and to
increase awareness of the programmes that local
museums offer.
DA1, DA2, DA4,
EL4, EL5, EL6,
CD3, CD5, IIR7
By 31st March 2015 NIMC will have
assisted four local museums to develop
their learning programmes.
Museums will have clear and wellstructured learning programmes enabling
them to engage more effectively with
visitors and users, and to support
curriculum-based education.
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