Museums have a powerful impact on their communities. Working with our museum colleagues in Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, we've compiled three series of case studies about how museums have created positive and lasting change.

In these case studies, the museums demonstrate their meaningful value to the people who work in them, volunteer at them and visit them. Through these stories, we see a vision of the future of the UK's museum sector – one that is dynamic, inclusive and sustainable.

Scotland

Young musicians taking part in an event at Gairloch Museum image courtesy of Gairloch Museum

This inspiring Scotland chapter of our Museums Change Lives series captures just how successfully the sector has adapted and developed its socially impactful practice during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Wales

People standing above some rocks
Discussions on the heritage and future of Ceredigion’s uplands image courtesy of Ceredigion Museum

Welsh museums are a network of important community resources and the case studies in this booklet demonstrate how much value they bring to Wales and how vital they are to their localities.

Northern Ireland

The Late Shift, an after-hours audience development project led by NI Museums Council Emmett Moore

This document demonstrates that every museum has the power to make a meaningful and lasting difference. Museums in Northern Ireland are stepping up to the plate and the examples here are both a powerful tool and a clear statement of intent.

“Museums are becoming places with porous walls, working with communities and partners of all shapes and sizes to harness our fabulous collections and amazing spaces, led by a crystal clear goal of changing lives for the better.”

Maggie Appleton, President (2018-21), Museums Association