Recognition for Museum
Tuesday, 21 March, 2006

Wiltshire Heritage Museum is delighted to announce that it has been awarded Full Accreditation by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). The Wiltshire Heritage Museum is one of the first museums in the South West to achieve this.

The Accreditation Scheme sets nationally agreed standards for UK museums. To qualify museums have to complete a lengthy application indicating how they care for and document their collections, how they are governed and managed, and on the information and services they offer to their users. Accreditation benefits museum visitors and the users of museum services and supports museum managers and governing bodies in planning and developing services. Accreditation also provides a benchmark for grant-making organisations, sponsors and donors giving them confidence that an Accredited museum meets approved standards in museum management, collection care and public services. The scheme will be monitored with Museums submitting an Accreditation Return to the MLA every two years to demonstrate that it continues to meet the Accreditation requirements.

The Curator, Paul Robinson, is delighted with the award. ‘This is further recognition of the importance of the museum and it’s collections, not only to Wiltshire but nationally. This award demonstrates that the collections are, and will continue to be, managed to a high standard for the benefit of all museum visitors now and in the future.’

End
1. For further information please contact Paul Robinson, Curator, on 01380 727369.

2. The Wiltshire Heritage Museum is owned and operated by the Wiltshire Archaeological and Natural History Society (WANHS), a registered charity now in its 152nd year. The Museum is largely funded from private sources, but also receives annual grants from Wiltshire County Council and Kennet District Council, as well as some funding from other sources for specific projects.

3. Founded over 150 years ago, WANHS has dedicated itself to preserving the rich archaeological and historical treasures and records of Wiltshire, including the World Heritage Site of Avebury and Stonehenge. The objects of WANHS are to educate the public by promoting, fostering interest in, exploration, research and publication on the archaeology, art, history and natural history of Wiltshire for the public benefit. To achieve this WANHS maintains a museum, library and art gallery and mounts exhibitions to stimulate and enhance appreciation of the county of Wiltshire; publishes newsletters, an annual magazine, reports, periodicals, books and other literature which are relevant to its activities; provides lectures and visits on topics and places of interest, both inside and outside the county, to disseminate greater knowledge and appreciation of our heritage; operates an archaeological field group which encourages members to become involved actively in the current archaeological scene in the county and provides activities for young people to enable them to appreciate the local environment and to explore their creative powers.

4. The Wiltshire Heritage Museum is ‘Designated’ by the Government as holding nationally significant collections. The archaeological collection contains what are arguably the most important Bronze Age finds outside the British Museum, the core of the displays being items from the Stourhead Collection of artefacts excavated in the early 19th century by the antiquarians Sir Richard Colt Hoare and William Cunnington. Alongside these are important collections from the Roman, Saxon, medieval and recent history periods, a natural history collection, an extensive art collection and library; the last contains unique archaeological records and extensive information and source material on the history of Wiltshire.

5. MLA (Museums, Libraries and Archives Council) was launched in April 2000 as the strategic body working with and for museums, archives and libraries, tapping into the potential for collaboration between them. They are a Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB), sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The Accreditation Scheme (established in 1988 as the Museum Registration Scheme) is regarded as one of the most innovative and effective developments in the museum sector in recent years. It has led the way in raising museum standards in the UK, and has been used as a model and source of inspiration for museums overseas. MLA administers the scheme in collaboration with the regional agencies for museums, libraries and archives in England, the Scottish Museums Council, the Northern Ireland Museum Council and CyMAL in Wales. For further information about the MLA or the Accreditation scheme visit www.mla.gov.uk.