Issue - items at meetings - Museums Accreditation Policies and Plans

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (copy attached)

Please Note: Items 8 and 9 will be preceded by a presentation by the Head of the Royal Pavilion and Museums.

RESOLVED – (1) That the importance of the Accreditation Scheme for the UK Museums sector be noted; and

            (2) That the following RPM Policies and Plans which had been made available in the Members’ Rooms and the dates for review be approved:

·        Strategic Forward Plan;

·        Sustainability Policy;

·        Collections Development Policy;

·        Collections Documentation and Information Policy;

·        Collections Care and Conservation Policy;

·        Equality and Inclusion Statement.

8.1       Before proceeding to consideration of this report and the one immediately following it detailing proposed future developments in relation to the Royal Pavilion Estate, the Head of the Royal Pavilion and Museums gave a power point presentation detailing the importance of museums accreditation, recent achievements, events proposed over the coming months and the emerging Master Plan for the Royal Pavilion Estate.

8.2       The Committee considered a report of the Assistant Chief Executive outlining the Accreditation Scheme for the Museums sector in the UK. To be awarded accredited status, Royal Pavilion and Museums (RPM) needed to complete a body of policies, procedures and plans. Some of these needed to be approved by the Economic Development & Culture Committee, these were outlined in the report.

8.3       In answer to questions it was explained that accreditation recognised not only the prestige and professional standards of excellence achieved across the museums’ collections, it also strengthened the funding opportunities available. There were a number of funding streams which could not be accessed unless in the absence of accreditation. As a result of these opportunities the service had been able to mount a number of exhibitions in the past, and currently e.g., the “Chilled to the Bone” exhibition and could continue to mount events into the future and was able to seek to engage with residents and groups from across the city, for example the recent “Art and Mind” event which had involved young people with mental health issues.

8.4       Councillor Brown commended the report and the approach being suggested and enquired regarding when the outcome of the accreditation application would be known. The Head of the Royal Pavilion and Museums explained that it was hoped that the outcome of the accreditation process (which was currently behind schedule) would be known by the early autumn and that Members would be kept informed.

8.5       Councillor Fitch commended the hard work that had been carried out to date and the exiting and innovative approach that was being taken. The Royal Pavilion was a royal palace which with its surrounding estate represented a marvellous resource which was very valuable to the city.

8.6       Councillor Hawtree referred to the diversity and range of the city’s art collection, he had recently visited Hove Museum and had been impressed by the wealth of items on display enquiring regarding the arrangements in place to ensure that items in storage were also displayed periodically.

8.7       The Chair, Councillor Bowden explained that arrangements were in place to ensure that items were rotated. Watercolours in particular needed to be “rested” periodically. It was important to have the ability to access all available funding streams, as well as receiving recognition of the city’s offer. As a result of lottery funding it had been possible to buy the recent Turner acquisition.

8.8       RESOLVED – (1) That the importance of the Accreditation Scheme for the UK Museums sector be noted; and

            (2) That the following RPM Policies and Plans which had been made available in the Members’ Rooms and the dates for review be approved;

·        Strategic Forward Plan;

·        Sustainability Policy;

·        Collections Development Policy;

·        Collections Documentation and Information Policy;

·        Collections Care and Conservation Policy;

·        Equality and Inclusion Statement.