A commitment to the four nations of the UK

The Museums Association (MA) recognises the legislative and constitutional differences between the four nations of the UK and strives to ensure equitable treatment for all members in the UK.

The MA appreciates that the diversity of the museum sector is one of its most important assets and that acknowledging and recognising national differences in context, history, legislation, policy, practice, approach and culture is vital if it is to fulfill its remit as a UK body.

It is the responsibility of the MA Board and staff to ensure that they treat individual, commercial and institutional members equitably, regardless of the nation in which they are based; that the organisation reflects the legal and ethical significance of devolution in all its activities; and that so far as possible its services and products are available equally in each nation. It is also the responsibility of the Board and staff to raise the profile of the Nations Policy and the work of the Nations and Advocacy Committee.

This policy is intended to:

  • ensure that the MA represents all four nations of the UK
  • ensure that the MA is aware of current relevant issues in each nation and keeps up to date with any changes and developments
  • demonstrate the organisation’s sensitivity to the differences between the four nations
  • boost membership in areas of low membership
  • provide a strategic context to policies and procedures which are pertinent to one or more of the nations of the UK
  • provide guidance on the allocation of resources across each of the nations to ensure that it is operating equitably
  • lead the sector in understanding the legal and political differences between the four nations.

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The MA will:

Understand and highlight the different context, priorities and policies of all four nations and:
  • maintain a Nations and Advocacy standing committee of the Board;
  • support nation committees in each of the nations;
  • ensure that all senior staff develop expertise, understanding of issues and links with each nation;
  • develop initiatives specific to each nation and, where appropriate, relevant for the whole of the United Kingdom;
  • ensure that all staff, Board members and representatives are sensitive to and have an understanding of the issues in each nation;
  • ensure that accurate and appropriate language is used when speaking about an issue, museum or government in a specific nation;
  • cover issues and news from all parts of the UK in its publications and on its website;
  • advocate for equitable distribution of resources from both national and UK governments and agencies;
  • ensure training for staff, Board and representatives on the different policy and cultural contexts in each nation.
Increase its effectiveness and responsiveness in all four nations by ensuring:
  • policy initiatives are relevant and tailored where necessary to each nation;
  • that Board and staff allocate their time equitably in each of the four nations;
  • the MA’s visibility by attending meetings and events in each of the four nations;
  • supporting and developing member representatives and members’ meetings;
  • a Board member and a senior member of staff attend one sector conference or significant meeting in each of the devolved nations at least once a year;
  • development of an eco-system of activities, events, launches and meetings in each nation on a proportionate basis;
  • establishing staff in the devolved nations, taking into account the circumstances in each nation and according to capacity;
  • that the annual conference takes place in each of the nations at least once every ten years, subject to satisfying the established criteria.
Support current and potential members in all four nations by:
  • reviewing networks and contacts in all four nations to ensure it has regular communication and develops working relationships with appropriate bodies;
  • establishing working relations with federations where they exist;
  • creating membership growth strategies for each nation to ensure membership is proportionate to the museum profile of each nation;
  • including comparative data and information about its activities in the four nations in its annual report;
  • conducting regular research to ascertain members’ views on the MA’s services for all four nations of the UK at least every three years.

This statement was originally published in 2013 and revised in 2015, 2017 and 2025.