Museum Accreditation Scheme

The Museum, Library and Archive Council’s (MLA) Museum Accreditation Scheme sets nationally agreed standards for UK museums.  Launched in 2004, the scheme means that museums who want to qualify for Accreditation must meet clear basic requirements on:

• how they care for and document their collections
  
• how they are governed and managed
  
• the information and services they offer to their users

Initially launched as the Museum Registration Scheme in 1988 it was renamed Accreditation to better reflect its purpose and the achievements of those museums which meet the standards.

MLA says: “The 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 East Midlands’ role is to administer the scheme on behalf of MLA and the museum community and to provide continuing support, via the Curatorial Advisors Network, to those smaller regional museums that are without professional curators.

The scheme:

• encourages museums to reach minimum levels in museum management, user services, visitor facilities and collections care,
  
• offers a shared ethical basis for all bodies that meet the definition of a museum,
  
• fosters public confidence in museums as institutions which hold collections in trust for society and which manage public resources responsibly, for both present and future generations,
  
• provides a benchmark for grant-making bodies, sponsors and donors wishing to support museums.

To find out more about the Museum Accreditation Scheme visit the MLA Council website.