The British Museum is expected to get the go-ahead from trustees this month to develop new partnership deals with several regional museums. In some cases, the deals could lead to the development of joint galleries.
John Orna-Ornstein, head of national programmes at the British Museum, said the museum wanted to be more flexible and strategic in its partnership work.
"We are having conversations with a number of museums including York, Carlisle, Birmingham and Norwich ," he said. "There are up to half a dozen institutions where we could play a major part in the development of a new gallery or a suite of galleries."
Orna-Ornstein stressed that the museum would not be dropping any of its existing 17 partners and that long-term loans and tours of single objects would continue. But he added that there wouldn't be the same number of touring exhibitions as in previous years.
One of the first joint projects that could come to fruition is the redevelopment of the Yorkshire Museum, which is due to reopen its refurbished galleries in August next year.
Janet Barnes, chief executive of York Museum Trust, said it was in talks with the British Museum about a major loan of Roman material for the new galleries.
"We have always had a good relationship with the British Museum," she said. "We have things in our collections that they have knowledge of. We would hope to share that expertise and that, possibly, they would provide placements for our curators."
Barnes added that it was not a one-way relationship. "We have talked about lending our treasures to the British Museum while the Yorkshire Museum is closed," she said.
No decision has been made yet about the branding of any of the new galleries. But Orna-Ornstein said they would not be outposts of the British Museum.
"If they asked, 'Can we be the British Museum of... ', I would say 'no', as we don't want outpost or satellites, we prefer to work with existing museums."
The British Museum has been talking to Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery about the redevelopment of its Norman keep.
John Davies, chief curator at Norfolk Museums and Archaeology service, said: "We have got the shell of a building, but what it lacks at the moment is a collection.
"We need medieval and Norman material, and feel that bringing in the British Museum's collections would help draw the public in."
Other possible partnerships include the development of the ancient history and antiquities galleries at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and plans to create a Roman Gateway gallery at Carlisle's Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, which is due to open in May 2011.
John Orna-Ornstein, head of national programmes at the British Museum, said the museum wanted to be more flexible and strategic in its partnership work.
"We are having conversations with a number of museums including York, Carlisle, Birmingham and Norwich ," he said. "There are up to half a dozen institutions where we could play a major part in the development of a new gallery or a suite of galleries."
Orna-Ornstein stressed that the museum would not be dropping any of its existing 17 partners and that long-term loans and tours of single objects would continue. But he added that there wouldn't be the same number of touring exhibitions as in previous years.
One of the first joint projects that could come to fruition is the redevelopment of the Yorkshire Museum, which is due to reopen its refurbished galleries in August next year.
Janet Barnes, chief executive of York Museum Trust, said it was in talks with the British Museum about a major loan of Roman material for the new galleries.
"We have always had a good relationship with the British Museum," she said. "We have things in our collections that they have knowledge of. We would hope to share that expertise and that, possibly, they would provide placements for our curators."
Barnes added that it was not a one-way relationship. "We have talked about lending our treasures to the British Museum while the Yorkshire Museum is closed," she said.
No decision has been made yet about the branding of any of the new galleries. But Orna-Ornstein said they would not be outposts of the British Museum.
"If they asked, 'Can we be the British Museum of... ', I would say 'no', as we don't want outpost or satellites, we prefer to work with existing museums."
The British Museum has been talking to Norwich Castle Museum and Art Gallery about the redevelopment of its Norman keep.
John Davies, chief curator at Norfolk Museums and Archaeology service, said: "We have got the shell of a building, but what it lacks at the moment is a collection.
"We need medieval and Norman material, and feel that bringing in the British Museum's collections would help draw the public in."
Other possible partnerships include the development of the ancient history and antiquities galleries at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and plans to create a Roman Gateway gallery at Carlisle's Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, which is due to open in May 2011.
