EMII European Standards Survey - National Overview 1.1-1.3

European Standards Survey

1. National Overview
Section 1 of the survey is intended to provide the EMII officers with valuable background information. This information will assist the EMII Officers in preparing for the programme of meetings with the Active Partners and also inform the preliminary work on the Business Plan and Culture 2000 application for the future development of EMII.

1.1 General

i. Is there a national definition of 'Museum' in your country?
Yes

ii. Published definition:
'Museums enable people to explore collections for inspiration, learning and enjoyment. They are institutions that collect, safeguard and make accessible artefacts and specimens, which they hold in trust for society.' Museums Association, UK.

iii. Is there national or state legislation governing the activities of museums in your country?
Yes

iv. Details:
Museums & Galleries Act 1992, UK

v. Do any museums in your country subscribe to the ICOM Code of Professional Ethics?
50% or less

vi. Your comments in relation to the ICOM Code of Professional Ethics usage in your country:
In the UK compliance with the ICOM Code of Professional Ethics is a requirement of the Museums & Galleries Commission Registration Scheme for museums.

vii. Is there a body or organisation responsible for co-ordinating national museum documentation and information?
Yes

viii. Details:
mda Jupiter House, Station Road, Cambridge, CB1 2JD Contact: Matthew Stiff, Head of Standards. Tel: + 44 (0)1223 315760 Fax: + 44 (0)1223 362521 e-mail: mda@mda.org.uk Web: www.mda.org.uk

1.2 Museum Types
i. By your own definition of museum how many are there in your country?

ii. Of the total number of museums given above, how many are public collections and how many are private collections?

*iii. Your definition of public* museum:**
There is no published definition of a public museum however one might define one (as the opposite to the AIM definition below) as: An institution with a board of trustees or other policy making body which are directly controlled by or the direct responsibility of any central government department or local or regional authority or similar political sub-division.

*iv. Your definition of private* museum:**
The Association of Independent Museums [AIM] has supplied the following definition for Independent museums , i.e. private museums. Independent museums must have: "a board of trustees or other policy making body which are not directly controlled by or the direct responsibility of any central government department or local or regional authority or similar political sub-division". Source: Memorandum and Articles of Association, Association of Independent Museums (AIM)

1.2.1 Public Museums

	Total No of Museums:	Total No of Objects:	Figures are:
National	23	100,000,000	Estimated
State	0	n/a	n/a
Regional	0	n/a	n/a
Local Authority	716	140,000,000	Estimated
University	90	50,000,000	Estimated
Military	109	1,500,000	Estimated
English Heritage Museums (and collections)	28	700,000	Estimated

1.2.2 Private Museums

	Total No of Museums:	Total No of Objects:	Figures are:
Independent	1,500	55,000,000	Estimated
Company	0	n/a	n/a
Charitable Institutions	0	n/a	n/a
Charitable Trusts	0	n/a	n/a
Church	0	n/a	n/a
Private Associations	0	n/a	n/a
Private Foundations	0	n/a	n/a
Private Individuals	0	n/a	n/a
National Trust (and other collections)	129	450,000	Estimated

Information sources:
For the numbers and types of museums: Museums & Galleries Commission information, and in particular the Digest of Museum Statistics (DOMUS). This is supplemented by information from the Association of Independent Museums. The number of National Museums is based on the membership of National Museum Directors Conference. For the numbers of object: Figures are estimated from an mda survey of 1998 that had responses from about 10% of institutions in the UK.

1.3 Additional Comments
None.

Submission Details

i. Submitted by:	Gordon McKenna
ii. Job title:	Special Projects & Systems Manager
iii. Organisation:	mda
iv. E-mail:	gordon@mda.org.uk
v. Date Submitted:	04/02/2000