Image: Emmie Kell
Arts Council England plans to revamp its museum certification process with ‘significant’ DCMS backing, focussing on accessibility and user experience
Arts Council England has announced plans for a review and redesign of the Museum Accreditation Scheme.
The first details of the review were announced by Emmie Kell, Director of Museums and Cultural Property at Arts Council England, earlier today.
“Understanding that we need to improve the usability and accessibility of Accreditation will guide our work going into this review. It has already informed the guidance refresh and website redesign”, writes Kell.
“We will work to better understand both the function and form of Accreditation. We want the process to be as effective and intuitive as possible for colleagues putting their time into completing it.”
The review will focus on “co-design, user-focus, improved communication and collaboration” , writes Kell.
Access to the Accreditation Scheme will remain uninterrupted throughout the review process, which is scheduled to take place over the course of 2025.
The review has been backed by ‘significant’ investment from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. It follows recent efforts to improve the application process, including a website redesign and updated applicant guidance, developed partnership with Museums Galleries Scotland, Northern Ireland Museums Council, and the Welsh government.
“We know that your operating environment is really challenging at the moment. You have told us that Accreditation should function as a useful check and challenge, and we are determined to ensure that is the case,” writes Kell.
“That’s why, during 2025, we will work with you to understand and review where we can improve your experience of Accreditation, and how we can increase the value of participation over the coming years.”