The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) has unveiled changes to how the Accreditation scheme will be run.
The scheme, which sets minimum standards for museums and galleries, will be managed by the MLA's new Quality and Standards team based in Birmingham.
In England, the Renaissance hubs will provide advice and support to museums undergoing accreditation, with the assessment of applications undertaken by independent consultants.
An MLA spokesman said a short-term invitation to tender for the work had been issued and that a longer-term tender for 12 to 18 months would be advertised shortly.
Concern has been expressed, though, about how much help will be available for museums and galleries going through the scheme.
Sally Cross, the collections coordinator at the Museums Association, said the way accreditation had been supported and assessed in England had varied between the regions.
"I hope this new structure will provide some stability," she said. "The question remains how hubs will provide the extra support to museums applying for accreditation - and how much of a priority it will be for them to do so."
An MLA spokesman said training would be available for the hubs to provide support to museums. Samuel Rowlands has taken over as manager of the scheme from Emmeline Leary, who had managed it for 20 years and is leaving the MLA in the autumn.
The scheme, which sets minimum standards for museums and galleries, will be managed by the MLA's new Quality and Standards team based in Birmingham.
In England, the Renaissance hubs will provide advice and support to museums undergoing accreditation, with the assessment of applications undertaken by independent consultants.
An MLA spokesman said a short-term invitation to tender for the work had been issued and that a longer-term tender for 12 to 18 months would be advertised shortly.
Concern has been expressed, though, about how much help will be available for museums and galleries going through the scheme.
Sally Cross, the collections coordinator at the Museums Association, said the way accreditation had been supported and assessed in England had varied between the regions.
"I hope this new structure will provide some stability," she said. "The question remains how hubs will provide the extra support to museums applying for accreditation - and how much of a priority it will be for them to do so."
An MLA spokesman said training would be available for the hubs to provide support to museums. Samuel Rowlands has taken over as manager of the scheme from Emmeline Leary, who had managed it for 20 years and is leaving the MLA in the autumn.
