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Museums Matter

Children in Museum of London. Image from Museums Matter.

National Museum Directors’ Council (UK), Museums Matter, NMDC newsletter, October 2015

NMDC has published a new document, Museums Matter, setting out the case for investment in museums ahead of the Government’s Comprehensive Spending Review.

Museums Matter illustrates how public investment in museums of all sizes and scope enables them to contribute to nine key public policy priorities across the UK: regional prosperity, tourism, soft power, peaceful and prosperous communities, health and well-being, education and apprenticeships, innovation and the knowledge economy, and creating a thriving, vibrant and diverse cultural life. It describes how museums are uniquely able to make such a significant impact because of their collections, their buildings and the expertise of their staff, and argues that museums preserve, promote and protect one of the few irreplaceable public assets – the nation’s heritage – which is fundamental to maintaining a healthy and prosperous civil society. Pulling together a wide range of evidence and case studies from across NMDC’s membership, Museums Matter demonstrates that the UK’s museums are more popular, innovative and internationally respected than they have ever been and provide a substantial return for the public investment they receive.

The new document is available to download from the NMDC website and museums of all kinds are encouraged to use it for their own advocacy, whether during discussions with funders, politicians, donors or potential partner organisations. Also available to download are the individual sections of Museums Matter as single page briefings, which museums can use to support examples of their own activity in key areas. There are also a series of fantastic infographics created for NMDC by Georgie Lowry of G.S. Lowry Design.  NMDC website  Download full report