Cabinet Secretary opens Public Consultation on Museums Strategy

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Joint announcement by Scottish Government and Museums Galleries Scotland
September 16, 2011

Development of a National Strategy for Scotland’s museums and galleries moved into a public consultation phase today, September 16, 2011. The consultation, commissioned by Museums Galleries Scotland on behalf of the Museums Strategy Group, will help shape a strategy which will set the strategic direction for the entire sector in Scotland for the coming decade.

Launching the consultation at the Museums Galleries Scotland’s Collaborating to Compete conference, Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop said:

“This is an important milestone in the creation of the National Strategy. It brings us closer to securing a sustainable future for Scotland’s museums and galleries.”

“In Scotland we have a very diverse and geographically dispersed sector which brings benefits and opportunities but also presents some challenges. The final National Strategy will address these challenges and help the sector to move forward – to fulfil its ambitions and realise its aspirations. I urge all museums and galleries to take part in these consultations and to help shape their own future.”

“Getting to this stage in the process represents a major achievement by Museums Galleries Scotland and the Museums Strategy Group and I look forward to seeing the final National Strategy early next year.”

Chair of the Museum Strategy Group and of the Museums Galleries Scotland Board, Fiona Ballantyne, said:

“It is very appropriate that the consultation is launched today at a conference which focuses on how museums and galleries can succeed through collaboration. The consultation is essentially inviting views from across the sector on a proposed way forward that aims to develop and sustain best practice in the sector. ‘Proposed’ is the key word here. For the strategy to truly address the needs of the entire sector, it is vital that the sector makes its voice heard now. This is our chance to collaborate on a framework that will help to build resilience across the full spectrum of Scotland’s museums and galleries.”

A key component of the consultation is a document released today on Museums Galleries Scotland’s website. The product of a period of intense engagement with the sector, it outlines the proposed guiding principles, vision, themes and objectives for the National Strategy. Readers are invited to contribute their thoughts on the proposed details via an online survey. The survey opens today and will remain open until November 8, 2011.

The next steps in the strategy development will be two major consultation events in Edinburgh on October 14 and Glasgow on November 2. The final strategy will be launched in January 2012.

As well as setting the strategic direction for the sector, the National Strategy will inform the business plan for a new National Development Body for Scotland’s museums that will champion the National Strategy and support the Scottish museums and galleries sector. The National Development Body will be a strategic body and will be responsible for supporting and enabling the sector to deliver the National Strategy. Museums Galleries Scotland were invited to take on this role by the Scottish Government and are currently making the necessary transitional arrangements to become the National Development Body to be launched in 2012.

The Scottish museums and galleries sector welcomes 25 million visitors annually and contributes £800 million in value to the Scottish economy.

Read more about the development of the national strategy Developing a National Strategy. The National Strategy Consultation Document and online survey will be available on the consultation pages on this website from 5pm on Friday 16 September.

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Published
16th Sep 2011

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