Space to play and learn

Photo of young child playing with shoes in cobblers shop
27 Jun 2018

With arts engagement known to play a key role in social mobility, Claudine Matthews calls for UK cultural institutions to take a cue from the Finnish and become more welcoming to young children and families.

UK museums slip down worldwide top 20 visitor rankings

Photo of Victoria and Albert
01 Jun 2018

The number of visits to UK museums fell last year, while Asian museums increased attendance by 11%.

Lessons in effective fundraising

Photo of two men in discussion in workshop
24 May 2018

When trustees and senior managers develop their fundraising skills alongside staff and volunteers, some key barriers to fundraising success can be overcome. Miranda Rowlands explains.

Breaking into the museum sector

Photo of young people celebrating success
10 May 2018

To work in a museum you need the right academic qualifications and the resources to volunteer, but new initiatives in Scotland are starting to open up the sector to young people from more diverse backgrounds, says Catherine Cartmell.

From institution to inclusion

Photo of people in sunshine outside museum
12 Apr 2018

Why would a cultural venue install a swimming pool? Alexia Jacques Casanova charts the evolution of inclusive and participatory practice in museums and shares advice from Bozar in Brussels.

Museum and galleries funding must be “urgently” increased

Photo of art sale
21 Feb 2018

A new report is heavily critical of the Mendoza Reivew, after identifying a gap between museum resources and the cost of acquiring art through auction.

How Bristol Culture turned its retail operation around

Photo of interior of shop
14 Feb 2018

Three years ago Bristol’s museum and gallery shops were running without a plan and losing money, but now they are on track to increase revenue by 60%. Zak Mensah tells the story.

Being an international in the creative sector

Photo of Concorde
12 Feb 2018

Julie Bécaud, now a researcher at the Scottish Maritime Museum, explains her first steps into the arts in the UK.

Late openings key to improving gallery audience diversity

Photo of late night
09 Feb 2018

Museums and galleries are urged to regularly extend opening hours and put on after-hours events, which are estimated to be worth an annual £9.6m in ticket sales.

Brexit could affect staff at one in three UK museums

Wollaton Hall
09 Feb 2018

The Museums Association’s annual survey finds 4% of the workforce are non-UK EU citizens.

More than the remnants of an Empire

Photo of boy in gallery
01 Feb 2018

As we begin the process of leaving the EU, our regional museums have the power to change perceptions about Britain’s place in the world. We should celebrate them more, says Jonty Claypole.

Attendance down at London galleries despite record tourism

Photo of National Gallery
06 Dec 2017

The threat of terrorism is thought to have contributed to falling visitor numbers at some of London’s leading museums and galleries, although the V&A bucked the trend with record figures.

Review calls for a more strategic approach to museums funding

Photo of skull
17 Nov 2017

Arts Council England has committed to developing a Museums Action Plan, on the recommendation of the first independent review of the museums sector for more than ten years.

Readers respond: what should Animazing do next?

Photo of thunderbirds
13 Nov 2017

Paul Young receives guidance on partnerships and funding, in response to his question about opening a children’s TV museum as a social enterprise.

Redeveloping a period mansion

Photo of front elevation of building with sculpture
12 Oct 2017

Abbot Hall in Kendal, a Grade I listed mansion and now home to an art gallery and museum, is in the early stages of its redevelopment. Gordon Watson outlines the proposals.

No right answers

Photo of children walking round a maze made of paper
20 Jul 2017

Why do we talk about organisational change as if there are right and wrong answers? David Jubb discusses how the Scratch collaborative process for theatre production is also a powerful tool for organisational development.

A radical rescue plan

Photo of young people acting
13 Jul 2017

The Canterbury Heritage Museum has attracted fewer and fewer visitors in recent years, but a rescue plan involving the Marlowe Theatre is set to revitalise it. Janice McGuinness tells the story.

Young imaginations

Photo of young people round table
11 May 2017

Preston’s Harris Museum and Art Gallery needs ‘re-imagining’ and who better to do it than the young people who will be its visitors in the years to come, says Matthew Wilde.

Trial and error

Photo of visitors to an exhibition
13 Apr 2017

Inspired by theatres, Bristol’s museums and galleries decided to try out a ‘pay what you think’ model for exhibitions. Philip Walker tells the story.

Museums in ‘crisis’ as a quarter are dealt public funding cuts

Photo of a smiling skull
04 Apr 2017

Despite the cuts, many museums are managing to increase income through commercial activities and fundraising, the Museums Association’s survey has found.

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