Museums Galleries Scotland equips sector for change through choice

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Local Authorities face hard decisions about how to deliver services to the people in their communities. Today, details were announced by Museums Galleries Scotland of the work they are doing to support Local Authorities in meeting these challenges in advance of public sector cuts.

Museums Galleries Scotland are developing Choices for Change – a toolkit that will help local authorities to consider their public service delivery options and look at new ways of working. The groundbreaking work by Museums Galleries Scotland to develop Choices for Change could have an impact on how Scottish people live their lives.

Joanne Orr, CEO of Museums Galleries Scotland, said:
“In developing Choices for Change, Museums Galleries Scotland is leading on an important piece of work which we believe will be of UK interest. The public sector is facing difficult decisions and change is inevitable. Considering different ways of working to support change is essential.”

“Research demonstrates the vital role that museums and galleries play in communities across Scotland. It is proven that museums and galleries impact positively across portfolios such as health, tourism, education and community development. Decisions on how our museums and galleries are run will change the way people go about their daily lives and spend their time.”

“Choices for Change will assist Local Authorities in making a decision about how they provide services for their communities.”

Museums Galleries Scotland is developing Choices for Change with a wide range of partners.

Museums Galleries Scotland’s Choices for Change will be available in October 2010. This fits with timescales for Local Authorities considering and setting budgets for 2011.

Museums Galleries Scotland represent over 350 museums and galleries across Scotland. The sector welcomes 25 million visitors and contributes £800 million to the Scottish economy.

ENDS
NOTES TO NEWS EDITORS

• Museums Galleries Scotland is developing Choices for Change with local authorities and key partners including Creative Scotland, Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA), Improvement Service, Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), Scottish Government, Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC), Society of Local Authority Chief Officers (SOLACE), Sporta, Audit Scotland and Voice of Chief Officers of Cultural and Leisure Services in Scotland (VOCAL)
• The Improvement Service is a partnership between the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (COSLA) and the Society of Local Authority Chief Executives (SOLACE).
• Museums Galleries Scotland issued a systematic review of guidance, policy, pilot programmes, evaluation and models of public service delivery. The document entitled Delivering Public Services in the 21st Century is available from our website website.
• The Cornerstones of Communities report is available to download from the Museums Galleries Scotland website .

PRESS CONTACT:
Eithne Ní Chonghaile
Communications Manager (PR & Events)
Museums Galleries Scotland
Email: eithnenc@museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk
Phone: 0131 550 4123

Published
1st Sep 2010

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