Northern Ireland looks at free entry proposal
Free entry idea part of national strategy plan
The Northern Ireland Assembly has recommended the introduction of a national museums policy, including free entry for all, as part of a 28-point plan for the sector.
Guidelines for museums could be in place by the summer following a debate in the Assembly last month. This followed an inquiry by the Assembly's committee for culture, arts and leisure highlighting the need for a plan to guide museums over the next 15 years.
Recommendations include a stipulation for museums to tell Northern Ireland's sporting, maritime and industrial history, and the use of a museum accreditation scheme similar to that already used across Britain.
Chris Bailey, Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC) director, said two-thirds of the province's museums currently offered free entry. He added that the inquiry had recommended that the NIMC should continue in its present form for the immediate future.
NIMC chairman Lexie Scott said a national policy would mean museums could provide a yardstick by which the value of investment could be determined. "We can no longer afford to run our museums without a strong policy context," he said.
The committee recommended that a first draft of the recommendations be produced within six months. However, the Assembly will first report back on 13 March to discuss financing for the project.
There are 38 registered museums in Northern Ireland, comprising 18 local authority museums, 12 independents, four nationals, four National Trust sites and one university collection.
Guidelines for museums could be in place by the summer following a debate in the Assembly last month. This followed an inquiry by the Assembly's committee for culture, arts and leisure highlighting the need for a plan to guide museums over the next 15 years.
Recommendations include a stipulation for museums to tell Northern Ireland's sporting, maritime and industrial history, and the use of a museum accreditation scheme similar to that already used across Britain.
Chris Bailey, Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC) director, said two-thirds of the province's museums currently offered free entry. He added that the inquiry had recommended that the NIMC should continue in its present form for the immediate future.
NIMC chairman Lexie Scott said a national policy would mean museums could provide a yardstick by which the value of investment could be determined. "We can no longer afford to run our museums without a strong policy context," he said.
The committee recommended that a first draft of the recommendations be produced within six months. However, the Assembly will first report back on 13 March to discuss financing for the project.
There are 38 registered museums in Northern Ireland, comprising 18 local authority museums, 12 independents, four nationals, four National Trust sites and one university collection.