The Welsh Government is consulting the sector on what to name a scheme to recognise nationally significant collections in local and independent museums.

The government is inviting non-national museums in Wales to get involved in a pilot phase of the scheme, which will develop an application process for it and identify a name that “encapsulates the sense of belonging that these important collections foster for all people”.

The pilot will be led by the consultancy Headland Design Associates, and the deadline for expressions of interest is the end of July.

The pilot is the third phase of the Welsh Government’s process to develop a scheme that will formally recognise the status of collections in Wales, similar to the Designation scheme in England and Recognition scheme in Scotland.

This work began with the publication of a new Significance Toolkit for museums, and has been followed by two research projects to consult and involve staff and volunteers in the development of the application process.

Museums are invited to submit an expression of interest in the pilot scheme by the end of July 2025, having first attended an introductory workshop or spoken with the Headland team.

Successful museums will then be supported through a two-stage process to develop significance statements and complete the application process. There is also a small grant available to help cover costs for community or specialist input to help define the collection’s significance.

Applications are also welcome from groups of museums to apply for joint status with collections which are connected. The project runs until March 2026.

In a statement, the Welsh Government said it “recognises that museums across the country hold objects that tell the story of their locality and communities, and therefore hold key resources to help tell the story of Wales as a whole”.

“Local and independent organisations hold objects and collections that are on a par with those held by our national bodies in their significance but unlike in England and Scotland, there is no Recognition/Designation scheme in Wales and so no formal way to recognise this status,” continued the statement.

Minister for culture Jack Sargeant said: “The stories of our nation that are represented in local and independent museum collections deserve to be given a platform upon which to be recognised.

“Our Priorities for Culture set ambitions for raising the profile of culture through celebration and promotion at a local, national and international level and ensuring our museums care for our collections and have a strategic approach to recognising significance. If successful, this type of scheme will be a first for Wales. I await the result of this piece of work with anticipation.”

For more information, contact museumdevelopment@gov.wales.

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