Analysis
Will the Midlands Engine Strategy drive arts growth?
The government’s regeneration initiative will support cultural venues across the Midlands. But so far, the support is skewed in favour of large-scale projects.
Investment pays dividends for museum visitor figures
Alva visitor data shows that museums and galleries who invest in high-quality creative programming often attract more visitors to their sites
Welsh museums anxious over future of partnership work
Local authority funding cuts could make the costs associated with long-term loans and partnerships prohibitive
NMNI shake-up gathers pace
National Museums Northern Ireland continues restructure by cutting number of director posts from five to three
Firstsite boosts local value in bid to regain NPO status
New director has met community groups to help create a programme relevant to local people, as gallery seeks to alleviate Arts Council England’s concerns
NAM pledges its support for regimental museums
Revamped National Army Museum to host a conference for regimental museums to assess how it can best serve the cash-strapped institutions
A positive year for museums could be lull before the storm
The MA’s first Museums in the UK report reveals a complex picture of a dynamic sector that is struggling with funding cuts
Support for quality metrics
Cultural leaders deny that data about the perceived quality of an institution’s work might be open to manipulation
HLF urged to be more flexible and to take strategic approach
Government seeks evidence as to whether the HLF and National Heritage Memorial Fund are fit for purpose
Regional bodies key to local museum provision in Wales
Sector wants forthcoming strategy to follow through on panel’s recommendations and pull together the various reviews of museum provision in Wales
Museums hope for change from Accreditation review
Many in the sector are supportive of Accreditation, but feel that the nationally agreed standard for UK museums could be improved, particularly for smaller organisations. Geraldine Kendall Adams reports on the issues that a review of the scheme should look at