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January 2009
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If you are a journalist and need more information, contact our policy officer, Nikola Burdon, nikola@museumsassociation.org
The Museums Association agreed a definition in 1998. It says: '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.' This definition includes art galleries with collections of works of art, as well as museums with historical collections of objects.
Between 2000 and 2500, depending what you include. There are about 1,860 museums accredited by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council as meeting their minimum standards, while the Museums Association Yearbook, which uses a broader definition, lists 2,500. To visit MLA's website, click here Click here for more information about the MA Yearbook
Click here to visit jobs and careers for advice on getting started Most museums jobs are advertised in the Museums Journal, or its supplement, Museums Journal Jobs Extra. These advertisements are also available online to MA members. Click here to join the MA
Most people following a professional or management career in museums have a postgraduate professional qualification. The Museums Association Yearbook lists all available postgraduate museum studies courses. Click here to purchase a yearbook Some of these courses are recognised by the MA and form part of the criteria for the Associateship of the Museums Association (AMA). The AMA is a Continuing Professional development (CPD) programme for the work place. Click here to find out more about recognised courses Click here to find out more about the AMA
Although many people find working in museums and galleries a rewarding and interesting career, it is not a very well paid one. The MA published a salary survey in 2004 which found that almost everyone working in museums earned less than people working in comparable roles elsewhere. The average starting salary for a curator was less than £17,000 and less than £14,000 for a member of front of house staff. The MA is committed to addressing the issue of low pay and has produced best practice salary guidelines. Click here to read the survey results and see salary guidelines
Nearly all museums and galleries have volunteers working for them. They work in all sections of the museum from front-of-house to exhibitions departments. Some museums are entirely run by volunteers. At least half, according to a recent survey by the Museums, Libraries and Archives council, would like more volunteers. The Museums Association cannot help you find volunteer work. It is best to approach individual museums and galleries directly to find out if they need new volunteers. Many large museums have volunteer managers. Don't get put off if national museums have no volunteer vacancies - many local authority and independent museums will welcome your services. Museums usually offer different kinds of opportunity to long term volunteers, and students looking for work experience, so make it clear which you are interested in.
The MA is an equal opportunities employer, which means all our jobs are advertised externally. It also means you should not send us CVs on spec. Click here to find out about career opportunities at the MA
There are about 80 million visits to museums in the UK every year, and new research carried out for DCMS suggests that 43% of people living in England have made at least one museum visit in the previous year. The top five most visited museums in the UK in 2006 were*: 1. Tate Modern, London - 4,915,000 2. British Museum, London - 4,837,878 3. National Gallery, London - 4,562,471 4. Natural History Museum, London - 3,754,496 5. Science Museum, London - 2,421,440 *Source: Association of Leading Visitor Attractions (www.alva.org.uk)
Try contacting museums with suitable collections directly. Or you could place a notice in Museums Journal. To do so, please send details to: Noticeboard, Museums Journal, 24 Calvin Street, London E1 6NW, Fax: 020 7426 6962, Email: journal@museumsassociation.org
Anybody thinking of setting up a new museum should consider how it could be sustained over time. The climate for setting up a new museum is difficult, public money is not easily available and existing museums are finding it increasingly hard to meet revenue costs. Big Questions, Big Answers, published by Museums Galleries Scotland offers step-by-step guidance on the planning process for anyone considering opening a museum. To obtain a copy contact: Museums Galleries Scotland, 1 Papermill Wynd, McDonald Road, Edinburgh EH7 4QL. Tel: 0131 550 4100 www.MuseumsGalleriesScotland.org.uk
The best guidance can be found in A Guide to Copyright for Museums and Galleries, produced by the Museums Copyright Group and published by Routledge, priced £19.99. Written by three legal specialists, Peter Wienand, Anna Booy and Robin Fry the book offers a wealth of practical advice and information, including a series of photocopiable sample legal agreements which cover matters such as filming, publishing, licensing rights and multi-media issues. Available from bookshops or directly (www.routledge.co.uk), ISBN: 0-415-21721-0 In addition to this, three factsheets on copyright are available on the mda website: www.mda.org.uk/facts.htm
Look no further. The MA website has a large, searchable database of over 700 companies. Click here to search the suppliers database You can also order copies of the Museum Services Directory which is available free. Email: info@museumsassociation.org
The Museums & Galleries Yearbook, published annually by Museums Association, has an extensive directory of museums in the UK, listed by area. To find out more about the yearbook, or to buy one, click here The 24 Hour Museum is an online resource with a search facility for museums and related articles, events and educational resources. www.24hourmuseum.org.uk
Try these web sites: Virtual Library Museum Pages: www.icom.museum/vlmp Musée: www.musee-online.org Alternatively, a museum directory called Museums of the World offers information on over 41,600 museums in 199 countries. It is published by a German publisher, K G Saur and is available in both print and CD Rom, ISBN 3-598-20613-5: www.saur.de/home
Although it is not yet a complete listing, try www.cornucopia.org.uk, which aims to list museum collections by type. You could also try the MA's Museums and Galleries Yearbook which carries brief descriptions of each museum's collections. Click here for more about the Museums and Galleries Yearbook Other reference books include: Directory of Museums, Galleries and Buildings of Historic Interest 3rd Edition, Edited by Keith W Reynard, ISBN 0851424732, Taylor & Francis Group The Essential Guide to Collectibles A Source Book of Public Collections in Europe and the USA Alistair McAlpine & Cathy Giangrande ISBN 1-84159-080-0
The Institute of Conservation is the new lead voice for the conservation of cultural heritage in the UK. It operates an accreditation scheme and the Conservation Register, a national database of conservators and restorers. www.conservationregister.com
Museum staff are happy to offer information about objects brought in by members of the public for identification, but they do not give financial valuations. If you would like to find out the commercial value of an object you need to find a reputable dealer or auction house. Museums have to concentrate on what they do best - informing and advising on the historical and cultural significance of an object. The expertise of curators and museum professionals differs from those in the commercial sector. Most do not keep up with current trends in the art or antiques market, so they would be unable to offer a member of the public the most well-informed and accurate valuation. ^ TOP
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