Development of a national strategy for Scotland’s museums and galleries moves into a public consultation phase that will include meetings, events and an online survey.

Museums Galleries Scotland will publish a consultation document to be launched at their Collaborating to Compete conference in Edinburgh on 16 September 2011. An online public consultation will also open on this date and will remain open for eight weeks.

The consultation document will be available online from the Museums Galleries Scotland website. A limited run of printed copies will be made for delegates attending the Collaborating to Compete conference and Museums Galleries Scotland members. Delegates at the Museums Association conference this October will also receive copies.

The main purpose of the consultation document is to provide readers with an overview of the strategy development process and content and to encourage readers to contribute their thoughts by completing the online survey.

The next major steps in the strategy development will be two major consultation events in October and November. The final strategy will be launched in January 2012.

Advising and supporting the national strategy development is the Museum Strategy Group which brings together representatives from across the Scottish museums and galleries sector.

Chair of the Museum Strategy Group, Fiona Ballantyne, said:

“We are at a vital stage in the development of a national strategy for Scotland’s museums and galleries. Over the past months there has been much engagement with the sector which is helping to set the direction for the national strategy. ”

“As we prepare to open consultations on the strategy we are fully aware that we need wide input from the sector to make sure we get this right. This is our chance to create a framework that encompasses the full spectrum of Scotland’s diverse museums and galleries sector. I cannot stress enough how important it is that the sector makes its voice heard now. ”

The national strategy will inform the business plan of the National Development Body for Scotland’s museums. In the meantime, Museums Galleries Scotland are making the necessary transitional arrangements to become the National Development Body for the sector to be launched in 2012.

Read more about the development of the national strategy at http://www.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk/developing-a-national-strategy-2/

Source: Museums Galleries Scotland