Analysis

The International Style of Dame Muriel Spark, National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh

This enchanting show unwraps the many layers of the author’s colourful life and prolific writing career, says Alison Parfitt

Sector requires a step change to tackle workforce diversity

ACE report asserts that increasing diversity requires more power in the hands of those who appreciate the need for change. By Rob Sharp

Nationals urged to share

Long-term funding cuts leading to staff reductions and a loss of expertise at smaller museums are undermining collaborations with the nationals. Caroline Parry reports

Plan to buoy Titanic Quarter

Development strategy reveals plan to create cohesive destination to appeal to tourists, while better serving locals. Caroline Parry reports

Taskforce focus on funding, collections and relevance

The Museums Association convened the Museums Taskforce in 2016 to look at the challenges and opportunities that UK museums face in the short to medium term. Jonathan Knott reports on its main findings, which are being published this month

Museums address issues with their storage facilities

Following the Mendoza Review highlighting some of the challenges of storing museum collections, Rob Sharp reports on the efforts being made to address the problems

Relief as draft budget boosts Scottish culture spend by 10%

Fears of deep cuts allayed, but Cultural Collections fund is cut for third year, increasing focus on income generation. By Caroline Parry

Future looks bright but funding is still a challenge

The Museums Association’s second annual survey reveals rising visitor numbers and a greater focus on often-marginalised groups. But it’s against a backdrop of continued funding cuts, a shrinking workforce and the uncertainty of Brexit. By Jonathan Knott

Cardiff Story to be relocated?

Public consultation proposing a move to Cardiff Bay met with concern that museum may become less accessible

Coventry cites museums as key to City of Culture win

West Midlands city expects its winning bid to boost visitor numbers to its cultural attractions and provide more opportunities to share collections. Caroline Parry reports

Child visits down by 6%

Number of visits by under-16s to DCMS-sponsored museums fell to 7.5 million last year, although there are signs that numbers will bounce back this year. Rob Sharp reports

Aberdeen Art Gallery hit by redevelopment delays

Report reveals that project team was aware of timetable slipping back 12 months ago, as a result of site discoveries and contractor performance, but did not act