Research and Museums Galleries Scotland

KT Scotland: Policy and Practice Conference

23 April 2010

Alison Turnbull Head of Research & Standards

Outline

• Research at Museums Galleries

Scotland

• Future research plans

• Exploring opportunities for closer

working with Universities

Background

• Museums Galleries Scotland (MGS) is the lead voice of over 350 museums and galleries representing an industry worth an estimated £800m to the Scottish economy

• Research capacity at MGS is fairly new

• First time we have had staff whose remit is specifically social research

MGS Research Team

• established in 2007, with aims to– Assess whether our strategies and

programmes are facilitating development for the sector

– Better focus our strategies, programmes and grants

– Improve our knowledge of the sector so that we are better able to advocate the case for museums

– Develop and promote our services for better efficiency and effectiveness

Social Impact Research

Key priority for MGS• Examines how museums and

galleries’ activities impact upon communities and individuals

• Purpose is to provide robust evidence of impacts to stakeholders to show how museums can support the delivery of policy

Research and Evidence Framework

• Provides a robust and comprehensive evidence base for the sector

• Developed in consultation with member museums

• States research priorities• Annual review• Linked to National Performance

Framework

Impacts on Communities Research Report (2008)

• Provides robust evidence of social and economic impact of the museum sector in Scotland

• Contains comprehensive literature review and results survey with sample of museum operators

• Informed policy and future research

Volunteering in Museums (2009)

Study area1. the role and impact of volunteers in

museums2. impact on the wider workforce

development3. impacts of volunteering on individuals and

communities

Built a demographic profile of volunteering in museums in Scotland

Cornerstones of the Community (2009)

• Uses 5 case studies to evidence how museums are a vehicle or means of creating community cohesion and identity

• Shows museums can deliver on range of Government policy

• Published recent advocacy document based on findings

National Performance Framework

• National Outcome 5 – Our children have the best start in life and are ready to succeed

- Grampian Transport Museum’s sponsorship arrangements with Foster Care Associates help provide a profile for the important work of fostering services in the area

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH)

• MGS in partnership with Scottish Arts Council and funded by UNESCO commissioned research in 2008

• Napier University received AHRC funding to develop an inventory of ICH in Scotland

• MGS will manage inventory at project completion

Research and Evaluation section on MGS website

• Research and evidence framework• Completed research and evaluation work• Research and evaluation conducted by

other organisations• The research and evaluation work

currently in progress • Tendering opportunities with Museums

Galleries Scotland

Evaluation Framework

• Internal framework to evaluate impact of work on wider sector

• Has a range of outcomes and indicators

• Will assist with wider reporting• Start to use in current financial year

Quality Improvement System (QIS)

• Continuous Improvement model which will allow museums to gather outcome based information

• Uses self-evaluation and produces an improvement plan

• Plan ran from September 2009 – March 2010

• Reviewing final report

Economic Impact Methodologies

• Leading UK group to map economic impact methodologies across the museums, libraries and archives sector

• Develop a series of toolkits for individual organisations

• Finish early 2011

Local Authority Museum Services and alternative

delivery models

• Working with Local Authorities to develop an options appraisal toolkit

• Pilot with Local Authorities• Complete September 2010

Partnerships

• Regularly meet with research colleagues

• Build relationship with Universities• Main contact with Universities is

through membership and commissioning research

Knowledge Transfer

• Like to develop this role• Can develop projects with MGS• Scope to facilitate an event with

member museums

Summary

• Research capacity at MGS• Previous research reports• Current research priorities including

Economic Impact and work on Trusts• Setting up partnerships and

collaboration on Knowledge Transfer work

Alison TurnbullHead of Research & StandardsMuseums Galleries Scotland1 Papermill WyndMcDonald RoadEdinburghEH7 4QL

Tel: 0131 440 4136Fax: 0131 550 4139alisont@museumsgalleriesscotland.org.ukwww.museumsgalleriesscotland.org.uk