The Collections Trust and MLA – A New Strategic Partnership
4th Jun, 2008
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) has commissioned the Collections Trust and Culture24 to partner them in taking forward a series of national programmes and strategic initiatives aimed at strengthening the profile, management and accessibility of UK culture.
The work will see the Collections Trust taking a lead on collections-related work including standards, copyright and professional development for collections management. Culture24 will develop a coherent online publishing strategy for the delivery of MLA customer focused digital services. Together, with other key partners, they will work on the development of a joined-up digital strategy, for the museum, library and archive sectors.
As part of the MLAs Renaissance programme for regional museums, the Collections Trust will be investing in the development of the award-winning Collections Link service. Collections Link will provide a single point of access to all collections-related output from MLA and its funded programmes, and will continue to act as a national focus for support to the Museum Accreditation Scheme. They will also roll out the innovative Revisiting Collections methodology for museums and archives (developed jointly with MLA London) as a core part of MLA's work towards 2012 as well as providing support to Subject Specialist Networks.
Together the Collections Trust and Culture24 are developing an Integrated Architecture to join up digital cultural content and make it available for re-use. A new generation of Culture24 websites will showcase how cultural information can be innovatively packaged to meet the needs of different users. Data-sharing partnerships are also being established with key agencies such as LOCOG, Visit Britain, Arts Council England and the National Education Network. Culture24 are working closely with Becta, DCSF, DCMS and the wider education sector on a new digital service to create an authoritative and comprehensive point of access to cultural sector educational resources
As part of this work, Collections Trust will be taking responsibility for the management, review and integration of MLA's digital programmes including Cornucopia, the Peoples Network Discover Service and MICHAEL. This will include the development of next-generation standards and policies for the creation, use and legacy of digital cultural content.
The aim of this partnership is to enhance the impact and cost-effectiveness of MLA's online activity by reducing duplication and building on existing infrastructure and skills
MLA Chief Executive Roy Clare commented, 'A joined-up digital strategy is vital for the future development of museums, libraries and archives in the next decade. This partnership with Collections Trust and Culture24 will enable the MLA to take a more strategic and pragmatic approach to these areas of work and get greater impact from our investments.'
Notes to Editors
- The MLA - Leading strategically, we promote best practice in museums, libraries and archives, to inspire innovative, integrated and sustainable services for all.
- Collections Trust is the new independent UK body for collections in museums, archives and libraries. The Trust believes that everybody everywhere should have the right to access and benefit from cultural collections. In addition to publishing SPECTRUM, the UK and international standard for collections management, the Trust is active in areas ranging from the international art & antiquities trade, workforce development, research and innovation.
- Culture24 is a not-for-profit online publisher that works across the arts, heritage, education, and tourism sectors. The organisation publishes the award-winning websites www.24hourmuseum.org.uk and www.show.me.uk which regularly attract over a million visitors a month. Culture24 was set up with DCMS funding in 2001 under the name 24 Hour Museum Ltd. It is governed by a board of trustees led by John Newbigin.
