The National Museum Accreditation Scheme (run by the Arts Council) sets nationally agreed standards for museums in the UK. There are currently just under 1,800 museums participating in the scheme, demonstrating their commitment to managing collections effectively for the enjoyment and benefit of users. The scheme is designed to show how a Museum manages and develops its collection for the enjoyment and benefit of the community. The scheme, which is renewable on a three-year basis, was established in 1988 has supported museums across the UK to focus on standards and identify areas for development. The scheme is regarded as one of the most innovative and effective developments in the museum sector. It has led the way in raising museum standards in the UK, and has been used as a model and source of inspiration for similar schemes overseas.
The scheme is administered by Arts Council England in partnership with CyMAL: Museum, Archives, Libraries Wales; Museums Galleries Scotland and the Northern Ireland Museum Council.
Accredited museums have a responsibility to keep their assessing organisation informed of any changes likely to impact on the museum's Accreditation status.
Updated Accreditation standard
People's expectations of museums have increased. Museums' reliance on volunteer support has also increased. Environmental and operational challenges continue to grow.
Accreditation has recently been developed to keep pace with the times, to help museums develop their resilience through effective forward planning, to balance aspects of collection management and to encourage all museums to be responsive to user needs and expectations.
The benefits of taking part in the Accreditation Scheme
Accreditation enables museums and governing bodies to assess their current performance, and it supports them in planning and developing their services. It helps with:
Performance
It is quality standard that serves as an authoritative benchmark for assessing performance, rewarding achievement and driving improvement.
Profile
It raises awareness and understanding of museums, building confidence and credibility both within the governing body and among the public.
People
It helps museums to improve their focus on meeting users' needs and interests and developing their workforce.
Partnerships
It helps museums to examine their services and to encourage joint working within and between organisations.
Planning
It helps with forward planning by formalising procedures and policies.
Patronage
It demonstrates that a museum has met a national standard, which strengthens applications for public and private funding and gives investors confidence in the organisation.
To contact the Accreditation Service email accreditation@artscouncil.org.uk.
You can use the accreditation to filter a search by selecting it in the Accreditations section of the Search List Filters.
A gallery full of contemporary craft, displays of historic items, plus events for all ages. Great inspiration for your little art fans as you can hold and touch a number of items. Free to visit.
The gallery has a changing exhibition programme that features some great examples of modern craft such as jewellery, textiles, ceramics, woodwork and more.
The Biggar Albion Foundation (Scottish Charity No. SC031203) is based in Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland. The Foundation is responsible for the Albion Club, the Albion Archive, the Biggar Rally and the Albion Museum at North Back Road, which houses a collection of historic Albion vehicles and units.
Big Pit is a real coal mine and one of Britain's leading mining museums. With facilities to educate and entertain all ages, Big Pit is an exciting and informative day out.
Underground Tours
This unique Museum is housed in an unusual 18thC 'Butchers Shambles'.
Situated in the heart of the picturesque Georgian town of Bewdley, the museum offers a friendly welcome and entertaining experience for the whole family.
The Beverley Guildhall is a Grade 1 listed building which has had a long and fascinating history. Originally purchased by the Beverley town keepers in 1501, it has been in continuous civic use since then. Today it is run as a historic building and community museum but is still used for ceremonial civic occasions.
The East Riding Treasure House is a heritage centre providing museum, library and archive facilities under one roof, plus access to the adjoining Edwardian exhibition spaces of the Beverley Art Gallery. The Treasure House tower provides splendid views over the rooftops of Beverley.
Learning
Have fun and learn about the history of Berwick-Upon-Tweed as you walk through the alleys of the old town recreated in the Window on Berwick displays. Meet some of its fascinating characters and find out about the old ways of life including the Mayor’s power to sentence to death!
Made famous by John ‘Iron Mad’ Wilkinson, a leading figure in the Industrial Revolution, the once noisy Bersham Ironworks now nestles quietly in the attractive Clywedog Valley, two miles outside Wrexham in north-east Wales.
School history workshops for KS2 - KS3 pupils.
Get creative in our den building area; join a garden, parkland or architecture tour; and explore the family rooms and see how the servants moved around the house unseen by the family and guests!
The museum contains a well displayed and comprehensive collection tracing the history of the Regiment since its beginnings in 1794.
The Royal Berkshire Medical Museum is part of the Berkshire Medical Heritage Centre which was founded in 1997.
Our aim is to preserve and display items of historical medical interest particularly those with a local connection.
The museum is based in the former USAF hardened command post o the former Bentwaters airfield. We believe this is the only such building open ot the public in hte UK and Europe.
Situated on a plateau above the gorge of the River Severn, this fine stone house has mullioned and transomed windows, a stunning interior with carved oak staircase and decorated plaster ceilings and oak panelling.
Inspired by his Grand Tour, John Bourchier created Beningbrough, an Italian Palace nestled between York, Harrogate and Leeds. The impressive rooms are a perfect backdrop for the rich collection of portraits on loan from the National Portrait Gallery, Beningbrough’s long-term partner.
The Ben Uri Collection is the world's most distinguished body of work by artists of European Jewish descent.
Schools
Ben Uri is dedicated to providing inclusive learning programmes for schools, families, communities and adult learners.
Begun for Sir John Brownlow in 1685, Belton was certainly designed to impress and across its 300 year history, each generation of the Brownlows left their creative mark.
The Beecroft Art Gallery is now open Tuesday - Saturday 10am-5pm. Come visit us in our new home in the old Central Library building on Victoria avenue, next to Central Museum.
Engaging Pupils with History and Science
The Higgins Bedford unites on one site three previous cultural venues : Cecil Higgins Art Gallery, Bedford Museum and Bedford Gallery. The buildings themselves date back 200 years and have their own rich history of occupation and use, even before they became used for their more recent cultural past.
The Museum of Early Medieval Northumbria at Jarrow. Looks at the life and times of the Venerable Bede (AD 673-735,) one of the greatest scholars of his age.
The Tower is an extraordinary building that stands today as the only surviving example of William Beckford’s great architectural achievements.
A beautiful museum in the small market town of Pickering.
Perfect for visiting when the sun's shining to enjoy the outdoor farm courtyard and riverside picnic area and just as great to spend time exploring our 27 themed rooms during the occasional Yorkshire rain shower.
The Museum was founded in 1976 and for twenty years occupied two rooms at the Quaker Hall, Beccles. In 1996 it moved to Leman House in Ballygate, Beccles where it can still be found. The collection has mainly been built up through donations and concentrates on objects and information related to Beccles and the surrounding area.
This Victorian jail was built by Hansom (famous for the Hansom Cab) in 1829. The gaol features the only original tread wheel in situ in Britain and a gibbet is still fixed to the outer wall.
This building is full of sad memories and secrets providing a fascinating insight into the world of the prisoner during the 1800s.
Step inside this charming old building to enjoy an exhibition of Beatrix Potter's original drawings and watercolours. This year we discover what it was like to go ‘On holiday with Beatrix Potter’ and how her unique travels inspired her wonderful stories.
Beaminster Museum is a local history museum for Beaminster and thesurrounding villages and hamlets, including Broadwindsor, Burstock, Chedington, Corscombe, Drimpton, Halstock, Hooke, Mapperton, Melplash, Mosterton, Netherbury, Salway Ash, Stoke Abbott, South Perrott, Thorncombe and Toller Whelme.
The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
A viral video shows a black girl being assaulted by a white woman in a corridor.
Police in Iceland are investigating after a British schoolgirl was slapped and chased by a tour guide in a hotel corridor.
The schoolgirl, 13, who attended Harris Girls’ Academy, was assaulted whilst on a school trip to Iceland to see the Northern Lights. The incident occurred at Hotel Örk, Hveragerdi on 13th October.