NATIONAL AUDIT OFFICE
REPORTBY THE COMPTROLLERAND AUDITORGENERAL
Scotland’sNational Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguardingthe Collections
ORDEREDBY THE HOUSEOF COMMONS TO BE PRINTED 28 NOVEMBER1995
LONDON:HMSO HC 14 Session 1995-96 Published 8 December 1995 f10.75 NET Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
This report has heen prepared under Section 6 of the National Audit Act 1983 for presentation to the House of Commons in accordance with Section 9 of the Act.
John Bourn National Audit Office Comptroller and Auditor General 6 November 1995
The Comptroller and Auditor General is the head of the National Audit Office employing some 750 staff. He, and the NAO, are totally independent of Government. He certifies the accounts of all Government departments and a wide range of other public sector bodies; and he has statutory authority to report to Parliament on the economy, effkiency and effectiveness with which departments and other bodies have used their resources. Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Contents
Page
Preface
Summary and conclusions 1
1: Introduction 6
2: The National Museums of Scotland 9
3: The National Galleries of Scotland 26
Appendices
1. Recommendations of the Committee of 40 Public Accounts
2. Performance indicators for national museums 43 and galleries
3. NAO evaluation of exhibitions 45
4. NAO survey of Edinburgh adults 46
5. NAO survey of Scottish primary schools 55 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Preface
The National Museums of Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland are responsible for caring for and adding to their respective collections; to make them available for research, to promote public awareness and understanding; and to provide education.
The National Audit Office found that both Institutions provide high standards of service, although scope exists to improve some exhibitions and their management. The Institutions held information about their potential market but would derive benefit from surveys of users and non-users commissioned by the National Audit Office and from recent market-tide research commissioned by the Museums and Galleries Commission. The surveys commissioned by the National Audit Office identified ways of encouraging more visits. Programmes to computerise stock records have been extended by several years and need to be completed to provide full stock control. Storage is being improved but it will be some time before all the collections are kept iu appropriate conditions. Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Prize possessions
National Museumsof Scotland:Carnyx This bronzetrumpet headin the form of a boar’shead, from Deskfordin Banffshire(c.lst century BC- 1st centuryAD), is the only surviving carnyx,or war trumpet,from Britainand one of only three known examplesin Europe.The carnyx was originallyabout 2 metreslong. The noisefrom the trumpetwould havebeen intended to frighten and confuse the enemy.Museums visitors will be ableto investigatethe carnyx in moredetail and hearthe sound it would havemade through the new interactivecomputer system, MOSAICS, which is underdevelopment for the Museumof Scotland. due to open in 1998.
National Gallery of Scotland: PeterPaul Rubens(1577-1640) TheFeast of Herod,c. 1633-38 Oil on canvas,208 cm x 264 cm. This pictureexerted a majorinfluence on Neapolitanpainting in the secondhalf of the 17th Century.
Scoliish National Gallery of ModernArt A/ A Joan Mir6 (1893-1963) Materm, 1924 1 / . Oil on canvas.92.1 cm x 73.1 cm \dG-\ ..: Formerlyin the collectionof the late Sir RolandPenrose and ‘~ A now part of the permanentcollection of the Scottish ,. ,’ NationalGallery of ModernArt PC::- ‘i’ Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Summary and conclusions
1 The National Museums of Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland are each governed by a Board of Trustees, appointed by the Secretary of State, with statutory responsibilities related to their respective collections. They are both executive non-departmental public bodies operating at arms length from Government. The Secretary of State funds the Trustees’ expenditure from his arts and libraries expenditure programme through the Scottish Office Education Department (the Department). In 1994-95 grant-in-aid payments totalled f18.7 million to the Museums, and f8.9 million to the Galleries.
2 The Secretary of State requires the Museums and Galleries to apply their funds towards increasing public awareness and participation in the arts and Scotland’s cultural heritage and has indicated general policies which he expects to be pursued. In pursuit of these aims each Institution has objectives to provide high quality, cost-effective services and increase public access to and enjoyment of their collections. Under the arms-length principle, the Museums and Galleries determine the quality of service provided and the audience targeted.
3 The Department monitor the Museums’ and Galleries’ activities through their scrutiny of corporate plans and Board papers, approval of grant payments, examination of annual reports and accounts, and through meetings with their Trustees and staff. Since 1992, Ministers have acknowledged the improvements made in the Museums’ and Galleries’ corporate plans and in extending performance indicators.
4 In their First Report of the 1988-89 session the Committee of Public Accounts made recommendations relating to the management of the collections in English national museums and galleries which they believed applied equally to other museums and galleries, including those in Scotland.
5 Against this background the National Audit Office examined: how well the Museums and Galleries present their collections; whether they encourage the widest range of users: and whether the collections are adequately conserved and stored. Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Main findings and conclusions
i) On how well the Museums and Galleries present their collections 6 The Museums and Galleries have each undertaken visitor surveys which have shown satisfaction levels similar to survey results in other museums and galleries in the United Kingdom. Expert reviews of the Museums’ major permanent and temporary exhibitions, conducted since 1991, concluded that they were of high quality, although scope existed to improve project management. The Galleries regard the favourable critical response to their exhibitions to be a key indication of their quality.
7 The National Audit Office commissioned surveys of two of the Museums’ and Galleries’ key user groups: local adults and primary schools. The results of these surveys confirmed that those using the Museums’ and Galleries’ services were generally very satisfied.
8 The National Audit Office also evaluated exhibitions, using a panel of experts experienced in the work of national institutions, and found that the Museums’ new exhibitions met standards they expected but that their older displays fell short of those standards. The panel also considered that the Galleries’ exhibitions met the highest standards for presentation to a well-informed audience but that improvements - in the labelling of exhibits, publications, and remote access to the collections - could be made to encourage less-informed visitors.
9 Both the Museums and the Galleries plan major extensions to their display facilities. The Museums’ plans commit resources to the creation of a new Museum of Scotland but they have not always assessed how this major development may adversely affect other services. The Galleries have not underpinned their proposal for a new Gallery of Scottish Art by drawing all their information together in the form of an accommodation strategy for the cost-effective use of existing premises.
10 Neither the Museums nor the Galleries have sufiicient management information to identify the full cost of mounting projects such as new exhibitions. The Museums are addressing this deficiency by introducing a full costing system during 1996-97.
2 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Conclusions on presenting the collections 11 The Museums’ and Galleries’ exhibitions attract high satisfaction ratings from their visitors and both plan major investments in new sites. These developments need to be underpinned by sound plating and comprehensive cost control. In particular the Museums and Galleries should place a greater emphasis on identifying the full costs and potential impacts of new developments and exhibitions, the type and size of audience they intend to attract, and the full use of existing assets such as buildings. The Museums’ plans for improved costing and their accommodation strategy and the Galleries’ appointment of a Marketing and Development Manager are useful steps in this direction.
ii) On whether the Museums and Galleries encourage the widest range of users 12 Visitor numbers to the Museums and Galleries have increased significantly since 1988. The visitor surveys undertaken by the Museums and Galleries have indicated the profile of their users but until the Museums and Galleries Commission published a report on the potential market for museums and galleries in October 1994, the institutions held limited market-wide information on their potential audience or on the reasons for visits.
13 The results of the National Audit Office survey of local adults found that 56 per cent had visited museum sites in the last three years with most visiting the Royal Museum of Scotland. Thirty-five per cent had visited one of the Galleries’ buildings in Edinburgh. The results indicated that the reasons for visits to Museums and Galleries vary, with 43 per cent of visits to the Royal Museum of Scotland related to the needs of children, and 35 per cent of those to Galleries related to interest in specific exhibitions. Twenty-nine per cent of the population said they had little or no interest in museums and 40 per cent had little or no interest in pictures and sculptures.
14 Fifty-three per cent of those who had not visited the Royal Museum of Scotland and 49 per cent of those who had not visited Galleries said they were unlikely to be encouraged to make a visit. The most frequently suggested measures to encourage visits were more publicity about events, more activities for children and a greater focus on Scotland.
15 The primary schools survey found that, while visits to the Museums mostly arose from interest in the collections, a significant proportion of school visits to both the Museums and the Galleries were related
3 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
to specific school topics or projects. Reasons for not visiting the Museums and Galleries frequently related to distance, cost or time but some respondents were not fully aware of the collections on display.
Conclusions on encouraging users 16 The Museums and Galleries rely to an extent on their professional judgement and experience in deciding how awareness and enjoyment of their collections can be increased by the visiting public. However the National Audit Office surveys of local adults and Scottish schools, along with the Museums and Galleries Commission surveys, show how more visitors could be attracted through more publicity about events, more activities for children and a greater emphasis on Scotland. The Museums and Galleries should consider how these approaches can be used to develop their marketing services and in their exhibition and accommodation plans. iii) On whether the collections are adequately conserved and stored 17 The Museums and Galleries have both taken steps to meet the Committee of Public Accounts recommendations for storage and conservation of their collections, although both have some way to go before these recommendations are met in full. The development of computerised inventories has been rescheduled against original timetables; complete computerisation of the Museum’s 645,000 records has been re-programmed from 1998 to 2004 and complete computerisation of the Galleries’ 200,000 collections records has been reprogrammed from 1994 to 1998. Although the Museums and the Galleries each carry out regular stock checks of the most valuable items in their collections and are introducing randomstocktaking of their computerisedrecords, neither have plans to check items, other than those of high value, still held on manual records on a regular basis.
18 The Museums and Galleries recognise that parts of their collections are stored in conditions which do not meet standards recommended by the Museums and Galleries Commission. Nevertheless there is no evidence of serious deterioration to the stored collections and each have developed plans to address the shortcomings.
19 Neither the Museums nor the Galleries have met the Committee of Public Accounts’ recommendations for full condition surveys of their collections to provide the basis of a costed and scheduled conservation programme. Instead each seek to prioritise
4 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
conservation work according to preservation needs and prevailing strategic priorities, such as the new Museum of Scotland or Galleries’ new acquisitions and loans.
Conclusions on conservation and storage 20 The Museums and Galleries have addressed the Committee of Public Accounts recommendations for managing their collections. But, due to changing circumstances and shifting priorities, much work is still needed to complete computerisation programmes. Until these programmes, which have been extended by several years, are completed it will not be possible for the Institutions to exercise adequate stock control of collections.
21 Conservation needs have been prioritised to cover preservation risks and objects scheduled for display. Plans are in place to Improve storage conditions, and there is no evidence of serious loss or damage to the collections, but the Museums and Galleries still need to improve the conditions under which their collections are stored.
5 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
1. Introduction
1.1 The National Museums of Scotland (the Museums) and the National Galleries of Scotland (the Galleries) are each managed by a Board of Trustees under the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985 and the National Galleries of Scotland Act 1906. Trustees of the Museums and of the Galleries are appointed by the Secretary of State.
1.2 The Museums’ and Galleries’ collections are recognised to be of international as well as national importance:
l The Museums’ collections contain some 3.9 million objects relating to archaeology, armed forces history, geology, history and applied art, natural sciences, and history of science technology and working life. The Museums have seven sites open to the public, four in Edinburgh and one each in East Lothian, Dumfries, and Strathclyde;
l The Galleries have the largest collection of paintings in Scotland and in addition hold prints, drawings, watercolours and miniatures; photography and sculpture; certain Roman Antiquities: medallions; and furniture. The National Gallery has works by major European and Scottish artists from 1300 to 1900; the Gallery of Modern Art covers 20th Century and contemporary works in all media; and the National Portrait Gallery includes important Scottish portraits, and paintings of historical events. The Galleries have three sites in Edinburgh, increasing to four in 1997, and two branch galleries at Duff House in Banffshire and Paxton House in Berwickshlre. In addition the National Galleries of Scotland have the use of the Royal Scottish Academy for temporary exhibitions, usually during the Ediiurgh International Festival period.
1.3 The Museums and Galleries do not charge an admission fee for their main permanent exhibitions. They do however make a charge for entry to their outstation exhibitions, and to temporary exhibitions mounted in their main sites.
1.4 Under the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985 the Secretary of State makes payments to each Board of Trustees to meet their expenditure. The Museums and Galleries are funded primarily through grant-in-aid from The Scottish Office Education Department (the Department) and are subject to conditions set down in Rnancial
6 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
memoranda drawn up by the Department. In 1994-95 grant in aid payments totalled f18.7 million to the Museums and 158.9million to the Galleries. In the eight years to 1994-95 payments to the Museums and Galleries totalled f151 million, f86 million of which was allocated to running costs, f20 million to additions to the institutions collections, and f45 million to capital projects.
1.5 The Secretary of State, through the Department, funds the Museums’ and Galleries’ expenditure from the Scottish Arts and Libraries programme which aims to increase public awareness and participation in the arts and Scotland’s cultural heritage. He requires the Museums and Galleries to provide high quality cost-effective services by improving facilities and increasing public access to and enjoyment of national collections.
1.6 In sponsoring the institutions the Department oversee the use of grant-in-aid funds, operating at arms-length with no involvement in day-to-day management of institutions’ activities.
1.7 The Department monitor the Museums’ and Galleries’ activities through scrutiny of their annual reports, bi-monthly papers and funding requests, approval of grant payments and examination of their annual audited accounts. They are represented at meetings of the Trustees and meet senior staff regularly to discuss matters such as Government initiatives on the market testing and contracting-out of services and the progress on major capital projects.
1.8 The Department also review the Museums’ and Galleries’ activities through a scrutiny of their corporate plans and by commissioning or participating in specialist reviews of Museums’ and Galleries’ operations. Since 1992 Ministers have acknowledged the progress both the Museums and the Galleries have made in developing corporate planning and in extending their range of performance indicators to meet the recommendations of the Office of Arts and Libraries report on the Development of Performance Indicators for National Museums and Galleries (1991) (Appendix 2). Ministers have encouraged the Museums and Galleries to develop the targets and performance indicators; and to show a clearer, more systematic link between policy and operational plans.
1.9 The Museums and Galleries are individually responsible for the quality of their services and for the way in which they maintain and use their collections. However, the United Kingdom Museums and Galleries Commission, a Government sponsored body providing advice on the most effective development of museums and galleries, have produced guidance on environmental standards for the storage
7 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
and display of some types of collections in the UK. In their First Report of the 1988-89 session the Committee of Public Accounts made recommendations for the management of collections in English national museums and galleries which they believed applied equally to other national institutions, including those in Scotland. The Committee’s conclusions and recommendations are set out in Appendix 1.
Scope of the National Audit Office examination
1.10 Against this background the National Audit Office examined: how well the Museums and Galleries present their collections to visitors and users; whether they encourage the widest range of users to benefit from their collections; and whether the collections are being adequately conserved and stored.
1.11 The National Audit Office examined documents and interviewed staff in the Department and in the Museums and Galleries. The National Audit Office employed a panel of consultants to provide advice on the presentation of national collections. The panel consisted of Sir David Wilson, the former Director of the British Museum: Dr Ian Longworth, the Keeper of Prehistoric and Romano-British antiquities at the British Museum; Mr Barry Lord of Lord Cultural Services, Canada; and Mr Tony Harvey of L & R Leisure Services. They also engaged System Three Scotland to undertake surveys of users and potential users of the Museums’ and Galleries’ services.
8 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
2. The National Museums of Scotland
2.1 The National Museums of Scotland’s statutory functions are to:
l care for, preserve, and add to their collections;
l exhibit and interpret their collections;
l make their collections available for research;
l promote public awareness, appreciation and understanding of the collections; and
. provide education, instruction and advice, and carry out research.
2.2 The Museums’ 1994 Corporate Plan described their aim as being to present Scotland to the world and the world to Scotland. They seek to provide a national museum service of international standing which preserves and enhances the collections and promotes research on them so that they can be used to communicate and increase knowledge, understanding and enjoyment of human and natural history.
How well the collections are presented
2.3 The Museums’ collections consist of some 3.9 million objects (Figure 2.1) of which they consider some 500,000 have the potential Total (‘000) for display. The remainder of the collections are held for research. Archaeology 500 The display potential of the collections changes over time. Given the exhibition space available to the Museums, only five per cent of the ArmedForces History 30 collections can be on show at any one time, though this is expected Geology 170 to rise to eight per cent when the new Museum of Scotland is History and AppliedAlt 145 complete. NaturalHistory 3,000 ScienceTechnology&Working 70 Life ~Total 3,915
9 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Scope of services 2.4 The primary means of providing public access to the Museums’ collections is through permanent and temporary exhibitions. The main exhibitions are located at their three principal buildings in Edinburgh: the Royal Museum of Scotland. the Museum of Antiquities, and the Scottish United Services Museum (Figure 2.2). Smaller, permanent displays are presented at four outstations: The Museum of Flight in East Lothian, The Scottish Agricultural Museum , near Edinburgh; Shambellie House in Dumfries; and Biggar Gas Works in Strathclyde (Figure 2.3 on page 13). The Museums also mount touring exhibitions. Since 1991 they have been developing a Museum of Scotland to be situated in a new building adjacent to the Royal Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Construction work started in 1992. When the project is complete in 1998, the premises which currently house the Museum of Antiquities will return to their original use providing greater space for the National Portrait Gallery.
2.5 The Museums use the collections to provide education through formal and informal education programmes, with a schools programme principally directed at children through their teachers. They also undertake research to provide authoritative interpretation of items in the collections and issue publications promoting access to the collections for both scholars and the general public.
Measuring performance 2.6 The Museums produce annual corporate plans setting operational priorities and objectives for four years and indicating how they expect to deploy resources over the period. The plans contain performance indicators and targets (Appendix 2) for monitoring performancemainly in prioritypolicy areas.
2.7 The Museums have identified six key policies which provide the focus of their activities for the four years to 1998:
. the highest priority is the development of a Museum of Scotland to provide the best possible presentation of the Museums’ Scottish collections within a building of the highest quality and distinction:
. the second priority is the achievement of the Museums’ accommodation strategy to rationalise their estate and improve storage of their collections; and
10 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
WC’ EDINBURGHCASTLE
1. Museu~.6f,Anlisuities: (Findlay Building: 3. Museum’of Stiatland: (opening 1998) Queen Street) The new museumwill provide suitable display space Formerlythe National Museum of Antiquities. Displays for the Museums’ Scottish collections. The main part of the collections of Scottish materialsuch as the themes will be: TraprainTreasure, a hoard of 5th century AD Roman (1) Beginnings silver, and the maiden,a 16th century forerunner of the (2) First peoples guillotine. (3) Scotland in history Kingdomof the Scats 1100-1707 North Britain: Scotlandtransformed - 18th and 19th centuries Within living memory: Scotlandin the 20th century. Scottish United Services Museum: 2. (Edinburgh Castle) 4. The Royal Museum of Scotland: (ChambersStreet) Displays relatedto the history of the Navy,Army and Air The main site. Containsinternational collections in Force.Emphasis on the military history of Scotland, the subiects of decorativearts, natural history, especiallythe Scottish regiments. geology,and scienceand technology.
11 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Figure2.2 (continued)
Royal Museumof Scotland:Wandering albatross. Museumof Antiquities Diomedeaexulans, soaring over the ocean-a newly preparedmount in the Bird Biologyexhibition.
Royal Museumof Scotland:Entrance hall. Scottish United Services Museum
12 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Scottish Agricultural Museum: lnoliston Museum of Flight: East Fortune Airfield A museumof farming and rural life in Scotland. An aviation and aerospacemuseum sited on a It coversthe transition from subsistencefarming and former RoyalAir Forceairfield now scheduledas an the impact of the Agricultural Revolution on the Ancient Monument. Collection includes military and social and economic life of the countryside. civilian aircraft, aero enginesand rockets.
Gi.ggarGasworks Museum: Giggar Shambellie House Museum of Costume:New Abbe! The works of BiggarGas Light Company,founded in The displays show Europeanfashionable dress in 1839 and closed in 1973 with the introduction of room settings furnished to reflect a country house in natural gas, have been preservedto demonstrategas the period from about 1860 to 1940. The museum manufactureand record the history of the company. was reopenedto the public in June 1993 after a maior refurbishment lastina 18 months.
13 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
l the other key areas are the maintenance and improvement of services for the public of which the temporary and permanent exhibitions programmes are major elements; The preservation and enhancement of the collections; maintenance of scholarship; and efficient and effective use of resources.
2.8 The Museums have adopted the principles of the Citizen’s Charter as a framework for achieving quality of service to the public.
2.9 Until 1993-94 the Museums’ outturn against performance indicators for visitor numbers and quality satisfaction rates were judged on the basis of historical trends. From 1994-95, targets have been set for visitor numbers at each exhibition location, expenditure per visitor and percentage satisfaction levels for exhibitions and facilities.
2.10 The Museums assess visitor satisfaction through a programme of visitor surveys. Between 1991 and 1993 four surveys showed that visitor satisfaction with exhibitions and displays averaged 95 per cent - a result similar to that recorded by surveys in other national institutions. A 1993 survey at the Royal Museum of Scotland found that satisfaction with facilities and services ranged from 76 per cent excellent or good for direction signs to a 91 per cent rating for security staff. The satisfaction rate for all facilities had improved from 1991 to 1993.
2.11 For 1994-95 the Museums set target rates for visitor satisfaction of 85 per cent excellent or good rating on facilities and a 90 per cent excellent or good rating on exhibitions and displays. Their August 1994 survey found a visitor satisfaction rate of 95 per cent good or excellent.
2.12 Since 1991 the Museums have sought expert views on the presentation of their exhibitions through five reviews of major permanent exhibitions and one evaluation of a temporary and touring exhibition. Four of the reviews were undertaken by the Museums’ own staff while one review and the evaluation were undertaken by consultants. The reviews and evaluation concluded that the exhibitions were of high quality but identified scope for improvement in project management and the costing of exhibitions.
Exhibition development 2.13 The Museums regard new permanent and temporary exhibitions as essential in maintaining and improving their quality of service. In 1988 they produced a long-term exhibition plan setting priorities for the renewal of permanent exhibitions. Working groups meet regularly to determine policy; review programmes; and to
14 Scotland’s National Museums and GaIleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
co-ordinate proposals for new exhibitions. However, work on exhibitions at the Royal Museum of Scotland has been rescheduled by re-roofing and the need to give priority to the Museum of Scotland project. The Museums recognise that they have not developed a long term display strategy, encompassing possibly a 20-25 year period, whereby individual exhibition decisions have regard to the quality of presentation of the collections as a whole.
2.14 In the four years to 31 March 1994, the direct cost of exhibition development, including the Museum of Scotland, totalled El0 million. Fourteen new permanent and over 20 temporary exhibitions were opened in this period (Figure 2.4). The Museums recognise that new exhibitions require careful planning to ensure that they communicate information and give understanding to a range of potential audiences. In addition to curatorial staff, designers and contract managers, teams developing new exhibitions have increasingly contained staff with experience in education, marketing, public relations and security. In response to a consultants’ evaluation in October 1994, the Museums are developing it project procedures manual to provide guidelines on how exhibition development teams should monitor and control projects.
PermanentExhibitions TemporaryExhibitions Dynasty:The RoyalHouse of Stewart(1990) The Workof Angels(1990-91) (with the NationalGalleries)
Fish (1991) BehindGolden Screens (1991)’
World in our Hands(1992) Fromthe Heartof Europe:Art Treasuresof Hungary896 - 1896 (1992)’ WesternDecorative Art: 1850Towards 2000 (1993) The Powerof the Mask(1993)
Bird Biology(1994) TreasureIslands - RobertLouis Stevensonin the South Seas(1994) 1. Treasuresfrom the To@oFuji Alt Museum 2. Atiifacts from the HungarianNational Museumin Budapest
2.15 A National Audit Office review of project management in developing the Museums’ exhibition Art, History and Commerce 1850-2000 (see Figure 2.5 overleaf) found that great care had been taken with the content and themes of the exhibition and to ensure that the exhibition was capable of being updated. The exhibition was first proposed in 1985, and its cost was fast assessed at E309,OOOin
15 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
1990. Since then the scope and size of the exhibition have expanded and its budget has increased to E804,OOO.The Museums have consulted widely on likely interest in the exhibition and, in February 1995, they engaged consultants to undertake research into its potential audience.
Location Gallery618 in the RoyalMuseum of Scotland.Located on the ground floor nearthe front entrance,this spaceis one of the most visited at this site. Gallery618 occupies538 squaremetres. Period of DevelopmentThis gallery has beenunder consideration since the creationof the Museumsin 1985.Detailed planning and programme developmentstarted in summer1994. The main reasonsfor the delaywere prioritiesand constraintsimposed by building programmes.The gallery is dueto openin February1996. Display objectives (a) To give public accessto part of the Museum’simportant 20th century collections,in a way which challengesand informs by crossingtraditional curatorialboundaries: (b) to displayand interpretthis materialin a way which excitescuriosity and renewedinterest in objectsexperienced by manyusers; and (c)to encourageusers to think aboutwhy the objectsare the way they are,and why designis important. TargetAudience Because of the centralposition of the gallery,together with the wide interestin 20th centurycollections, this galleryis primarily aimedat the public in general,including tourists. The audiencehas beenan implicit centraltheme of developmentwork, such as the choiceof objectsfor display.More formalised audience research is being plannedfor 1995to assistwith projectdevelopment, such as labelling. CostsThe budgetwas set at f350,OOOin February 1993 but was increasedto f750,OOO(f1,394 per squaremetre) when offersof funding were receivedin 1994from the Museumsand GalleriesImprovement Fund (f350.000) and the Foundationfor Sportsand Arts (f72,OOO).These figures excludeMuseum staff costs. PresentationSlyle A projectrequirement is that the displaymust be sympatheticto and exploit the formal symmetryof the gallery echoingthe Victoriandesign of the space. Project ManagementConsultants are beingemployed to preparethe detaileddesign and superviseconstruction. The Museum’sproject team includesnot just curatorialstaff but also staff from specialistbranches, such as education,building servicesand public relations. Links with Wider Exhibition StrategyThis projectis part of the ongoing programmeof permanentgallery refurbishmentand renewalin the RoyalMuseum of Scotland.The strategicobjectives of this programmeare to ensurethe widest possiblepublic accessto importantareas of the collectionsby meansof representativeand regularlyupdated displays. TheMuseums propose to linkthis gallery, both physically and conceptually, to adjoining gallery 621 when it is redevelopedprior to theopening of the Museumof Scotland.621 will contain modemmaterial from the Departmentof ScienceTechnology and WorkingLife. The Museumsalso envisagethematic links to the 20th century displaysin the the Museumof Scotland. NAOObservations This displayhas beenlong in planningand for a while hadto be set aside.Because of the contentiousarea it seeksto illustrate. particulareffort has beenmade to consult peerbodies and individualsover contentand theme.The provisionfor updatinghas beenbuilt into the exhibition brief. Dueto pressurefrom otherwork, designwill be doneby a firm of specialists.Hands-on and inter-activedisplays are beingkept to a minimum becauseof initial cost and maintenance.The Museum’sproject team were not sufficientlyclear how gallely 618 fits into the current developmentstrategy for the RoyalMuseum of Scotlandas a whole.
The Museum of Scotland 2.16 The capital cost of the new Museum of Scotland project is estimated at E31 million and a full project management structure has been established to monitor progress. The Museums recognise that developing the exhibitions which will be displayed in the new
16 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
museum will absorb some 23 per cent of Museums’ staff time and 20 per cent of their revenue resources for 1995-96. Each of the Museums’ operational divisions therefore estimate the staffing and other resources which will be committed to the project. The total development costs for the project between 1992 to 1998 are estimated at Z15 million.
2.17 Information on the actual direct costs Incurred by the project - such as payments to contractors - is readily available to project managers. But information on indirect costs - such as staff time incurred in exhibition development - will not be available until a new activity costing system is introduced during 1995-96 and 1996-97.
2.18 The Museums’ operational plans set out how, in the light of the priority afforded to the Museum of Scotland project, they plan to address other lower order priorities, such as services to the public and conservation. But these plans do not always quantify how essential work in these areas is being adversely affected by reductions in the availability of resources.
Quality of presentation 2.19 The surveys undertaken by the Museums since 1991 concentrated on the views of visitors to Museums sites. In order to assess whether the Museums met the best standards of modern museum presentation and were attractive to the public, the National Audit Office obtained the views of important sectors of the Museums’ potential visitors - local adults and primary schools - and commissioned a peer review of museums’ exhibitions by a panel of experienced museum professionals.
2.20 The survey of local adults (Appendix 4) confirmed the views expressed in the Museums’ own surveys, with 91 per cent of those who had visited the Royal Museum of Scotland assessing displays to be very well (59 per cent) or well (32 per cent) presented.
2.21 In the survey of primary schools (Appendix 5) 62 per cent of those who had visited considered their needs had been exceeded (6 per cent) or met in full (56 per cent). A further 21 per cent considered their needs were mostly met. Among the five per cent who considered their needs had not been fully met, a wide range of suggestions were offered which the Museum are considering as an aid to meet schools objectives. The most frequent suggestions related to greater Museums’ staff involvement in school visits.
17 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
2.22 The National Audit Ofice’s consultants examined a sample of exhibitions at the Museums’ main locations and at outstations using a standard check-list of the features they and the Museums agreed comprised best practice for modern museum display in the UK and abroad (Appendix 3). A summary of their results (Figure 2.6) showed that the new displays met the standards to be expected but that some older exhibitions fell short of them. In particular, the condition of objects on display and their subject representation were of very high quality but exhibition design and interpretation of some subjects were less impressive.
Exhibition: The DiscoveryRoom: Interactive display focusing on Scottishsocial history and culture. Dateof exhibition: Touring:At PaisleyMuseum 3.10.94 - 12.11.94 Admission Fee: Free National Audit Office evaluation GoodPoints: Subjectinterpretation. Extent of interactivity,Orientation. Quality and condition of artifacts.Subject representation. Cost. Length of stay achieved. Scopefor improvement: Lighting.Scope for useof modulardesign. OVERALLASSESSMENT: Verv Good Responsefrom Museums:,.: Asuccessful,.. :_,~:, outreach ~.;.,~,_,.,initiative.
Exhibition: TreasureIslands: Robert Louis Stevenson Date of exhibition: Temporary:August 1994-January 1995 Admission Fee: Adultsf2 Childrenand concessionsfl Familyf5 National Audit Office evaluation GoadPoints: Lighting.Audio visual display.Levels of representation.Quality and conditionof artifacts.Subject representation. Length of stay achieved.Design. Scopefor improvement:Shorter and simplertext panels. OVERALLASSESSMENT; Excellent Gasponsefrom Museums: Very nature,,of ,~,.,I,: the exhibition ~,,;,~, .: ,. dictated .,~~,..:_:. the amount,,~::~_ of ,~. text. .I ,~:~,:,,:~-;
Exhibition: Bird Biology Dateof exhibition: Permanent.New autumn 1994 Admission Fee Free National Audit Office evaluation GoodPoints: Subjectinterpretation. Subject representation. Quality and condition of specimens.Low cost refurbishment.Bird song reproduction.Accuracy of text. Orientation.Fits into the generalbiology themes covered the Museums. Scopefor improvement: Lighting. Design. OVERALLASSESSMENT: Good value for moneywithin a conventionaldesign. Responsefrom Museums: Designdictated by budget,adjacent building workand natureof specimens.Teachers’ pack planned continued
18 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
~~~~hibitioni:,~~~bai’Arts~,~:;-:,’.”::;;I.1::’ ‘,,:‘:fs,::,: {:f~,-,:f ..,:, :;i!ly ‘,_:( :~,I: :,;~,~%:i ,I:;;~ ‘,:;!,:{, c,’I-.::-:.~’ ~Oat~~of,~xhibi~on~~‘Peima~~nt,ins~lledi~~lgj~~,~. ,~~‘5’:~ ~, ~:, ::: ‘., ~: ,‘~,’ Admission Fee: Free Natianal~AuditOffice evaluation GoodPoints: Qualityof artifacts. Scopefor imprOVeItIent:Display conditions. Lighting. Displaymode and exhibition design, Subjectinterpretation. Subject representation. OVERALLASSESSMENT: Neglected. ReSpOnSefrom Museums: Lighting now reducedfor somefragile objects.“Art” approach widely usedin other museumsto interpretnon-European artifacts. Somerefurbishment planned in short term, with a replacement gallerywithin five years.. i ..,,.,.,,_-_,,__i__ i::,.~;___;,~ i,‘Q. :,,:.:,_l,i,:-::‘::~,‘~Z^,_,~-.:.-.“.._^” 1,G’~’ i’ ;;.,.‘T”:~;, ._,-..~,,,~-I.~.;~;.Q’cz?i -...1.,,Y”:A&__“~.,_-. y& ‘I~:,,~~,~~~:~~~~~~~~:~~;~~~~~~_::_L.~~~~L:;~,~~~... ,, -,~;,*‘,;^il::--~~I,.<’ ‘. i + ::,_., .:. ;y,g i _ Exhibition: ScottishAgricultural Museum (Ingliston) Oateof exhibition: Permanent.Low budget. Admission Fee: Free National Audit Office evaluation GoodPaints: Qualityand condition of artifacts. Scopefor improvement: Lighting. Displaymode and exhibition design.Subject representation.Orientation. OVERALLASSESSMENT: Not up to nationalmuseum standards of display,but acceptable valuefor moneyfora low displaybudget. Responsefrom Museums: Displaysreflect limited funds and the managementpriority given to the planningof a replacementmuseum. Wide scope to existing displays.Revised short guide bookletissued in September1994. Teacher’pack in preparation.
Encouraging the widest range of users
2.23 Between 1988 and 1993 total visitor numbers to Museum sites increased from 0.8 to 1.1 million (37.5 per cent) (see Figure 2.7 overleaf). This compares favourably with trends in visitor numbers at other attractions in Scotland (see Figure 2.8 overleaf).
2.24 The Museums’ visitor surveys provided information on visitors’ age, sex and socio-economic group. Until the Museums and Galleries Commission published a report on the potential market for museums and galleries in the United Kingdom in October 1994, the Museums held limited market-wide information on their potential audience or the reasons why different groups of users either chose to or chose not to visit the Museums. In this respect the National Museums of Scotland consider themselves in a similar position to other United Kingdom museums. The National Audit Office’s surveys of local adults and primary schools therefore asked respondents to provide more information in these areas. The main results of the surveys are set out in the following paragraphs.
19 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Victor numbers 1.400,000
1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 YOarS n Royal Museumof Scotland @Scottish United Services Museum
Museum of Antiquities Outstations Source:National Museums of Scotland
.i~~ ,~,.,. ..,~~~~__ ,~..,. --.~~ “‘F&i& 233: ksitor trend at the N&anal Museums of Scotland compared with’thb~~enb for top’&tra&io& in’&tl&d”*~‘: ‘:~’
Movement in relation to 1989
““OI
Source:National Museums of Scotlandand the Scottish Tourist Board
20 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Survey of local adults 2.25 The National Audit Office survey covered a sample of 1,011 adults in the Edinburgh area. Detailed results are at Appendix 4. The main results were:
a) Some 56 per cent had visited one of the Museums’ sites in the last three years, with most visiting the Royal Museum of Scotland (51 per cent). However 29 per cent of respondents expressed little or no interest in museums.
b) A large proportion of visitors to the Royal Museum of Scotland related the reason for their visit to children - 43 per cent went with or took family or children; 13 per cent went because they judged museums to be good or educational for children.
c) Other frequent reasons for visiting were to see a specific exhibition (29 per cent) and more general interest in the Museums (16 per cent).
d) Of those not visiting the Museums’ sites the most common reason was a general lack of interest in museums. A significant proportion (28 per cent) had not heard of the Museum of Antiquities or did not know where it was.
e) Respondents were also asked what would encourage them to visit the Museums’ sites. While 53 per cent of those who had not visited suggested nothing would attract them, the most frequently advanced suggestions to encourage visits were more publicity about what was happening (25 per cent), more activities for children (17 per cent) and more hands-on displays (12 per cent).
Survey of primary schools in Scotland 2.26 The National Audit Office survey involved a postal questionnaire to all 2,408 primary schools in Scotland. Details of the 1,438 replies are at Appendix 5. The main results were:
a) 26 per cent of the schools who responded had visited a Museums’ site, although the proportion varied on account of distance from Museum sites - 83 per cent of the local Lothian region schools had visited but only 16 per cent of the more distant Highlands schools.
21 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
b) The most common reason for school visits was knowledge about the existence and scope of the collections (64 per cent). A significant number said that visits to complement a topic or teaching/learning strategy (52 per cent) or repeats of previous visits (43 per cent) were reasons for a visit.
c) Reasons for not visiting Museums sites were most frequently related to distance, cost or time.
Whether the collections are adequately stored and conserved
Computerisation 2.27 The Museums’ inventory records name and location of objects together with details of the background to individual objects, such as their source, historical significance etc.
2.28 Since 1987 the Museums have been transferring information b-om their manual records to a computerised inventory providing provenance and stock records. The inventory will eventually contain 645,000 records with the remainder of the collection - mostly Natural History specimens of low monetary value and low risk stored in a specialised taxonomic classification order - remaining on manual records. They have adopted a standard software package developed in Canada which they have updated to reflect their own circumstances. By December 1994, 63 per cent (425,000) of the candidate records were on the inventory and further acquisitions were being added. The original completion target for the computerised inventory was 1998 but this has been re-programmed to take account of the priority of upgrading records for the Museum of Scotland.The Museums now plan to completethe inventory by 2004.
2.29 The Museums’ 17 year computerisation timescale stems from changing priorities restricting the resources available, changes to system software and preparations for the new Museum of Scotland. However, the most significant factor has been the large number of records to be converted and the variable accuracy of the information on individual objects.
2.30 The Museums’ 3.9 millton objects have been gathered from a wide variety of sources, some dating back to the late 18th century. The documentation department have created records from original information where this was good but, for example, some 30 per cent of the archaeological objects do not have complete records.
22 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Stocktaking 2.31 The Museums have adopted the Committee of Public Accounts’ recommendation that stocktaking should concentrate on higher value items. They have identified some 500 of their most valuable objects to be checked annually and 750 primary type specimens from natural history collections which are checked on a quinquennial cycle.
2.32 The remainder of the objects on the computerised inventory are checked on a sample basis. Stocktaking is carried out by an independent group of Museums staff, supplemented as necessary by external experts where specialised knowledge is required. Other than high-value items, there is no stocktaking of the objects which have not been transferred to the computerised inventory. The Museums consider that stocktaking those objects which are candidates for transfer to the computer record would divert resources from the computerisation programme and that the low monetary value and systematic storage of those Natural History objects which are to remain on manual records present a low risk of loss.
2.33 In November 1993 the Museums compiled a report on Accounting for the Collections of the Museums which summarised the results of stocktaking in each of their curatorial departments. The results conhnmed (see Figure 2.9 overleaf) that all higher value items had been checked and that checks on selected high-risk objects, and random checks of collections, had been carried out. AU objects selected had been located, though some locations were not as recorded. The report noted that, of the 12,000 items selected for display in the Museum of Scotland, some 400 had still to be located, although all these items were found by March 1995.
Conservation and storage 2.34 The Museums maintain the condition of their collections through a combination of preventative and active conservation. Preventive conservation is achieved through display and storage of collection objects in environmental conditions which limit natural decay and avoid damage. Active conservation involves the treatment of objects where damage has heen identified.
2.35 The Museums cannot store all their collections at their display sites and therefore maintain several off-site stores in the Edinburgh area (see Figure 2.10 overleaf). These stores generally operate with simple background heating. For some collections this does not meet
23 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Curatorialbranch Collection size Percentage Scope of stocktaking Other work ‘000s computerised Archaeology 500 99 100 high value itemsannually. 750 randomitems for a conservationsurvey. 250 randomitems in store. ArmedForces History 30 99 102 high value itemsannually. Pistolschecked by expert.Presentation swordschecked by expert. All firearmschecked for certificates. Geology 170 28 24 high value itemsannually. 653 high risk gemstonescompletely checked and 1 in 10 weighed. Rolling programmeon fossil collections Historyand AppliedArt 145 76 201 high value itemsannually. 2050 itemsof silver. 1424 itemsof jewellery. 400 gold coins. 1010 (all) medals. NaturalHistory 3000 34 750 Primarytypes on a This collectionhas to be inspectedevery quinquennialcycle six months by curatorsto checkcondition. ScienceTechnology & 34 99 76 high value itemsannually 956 scientificinstruments. Precision watch WorkingLife and chronometercollection by expert Collectionof modelsfrom Highlandand AgriculturalSociety- rolling programme.
Source:The National Museums of Scotland.
the optimum environmental conditions recommended by the /Figure2;10~bff-site’stbres Museums and Galleries Commission for temperature and humidity Location Typeof Objectsin control. Store ‘EastFortune Science 2.36 The Museums first recognised the need for improvements to their Technologyand WorkingLife storage facilities within a coherent accommodation strategy in 1985. Leith Custom Historyand In 1990 they undertook a feasibility study to review options for House AppliedArc offsitestorage which concluded that the purchase and development Archaeology of a site at West Granton in Edinburgh was the most cost effective Newbattle Science long-term solution to the Museums’ storage accommodation Technologyand requirements. The site was purchased, with Treasury approval, in WorkingLife: 1992. Geology;Natural History;History 2.37 In 1993 the Museums commissioned consultants to develop an and AppliedArt accommodation strategy to optimise the long term utilisation of the Port Edgar Science Technologyand Museums’ estate. The strategy involves the redevelopment, over a WorkingLife ten year period, of the West Granton site as the principal location for WestGranton Science collection storage and for the Royal Museum of Scotland as the Technologyand principal exhibition site and administration centre. Implementation WorkingLife of the strategy began in 1994 and is due for completion in NationalMuseums of Scotlandstorage April 2004. Because of the complexity of staff and collections moves facilitiesat non-displaysites. and the expiry of leases during the implementation programme, a
24 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
number of objects remain in storage under conditions which do not meet optimum standards. The Museums expect that 68 per cent of the collections will have satisfactory storage conditions by 31 March 1997 and that the remainder will be stored in suitable conditions by 2004.
Active conservation 2.38 The Museums seek to identify objects within the collection which require most urgent conservation, in particular the prospective need for display items in the new Museum of Scotland. They consider this approach represents a cost effective approach to the Committee of Public Accounts’ recommendation (Appendix 1) to carry out a systematic programme of surveys to assess the condition of all of the objects in their collections which addresses both preservation risks and other strategic priorities such as exhibitions. The policy is operated in parallel with improvements to storage conditions and environmental monitoring. While the Museums have not produced a full schedule of all conservation work for all the collections, they consider they have prioritised conservation needs within the resources available.
25 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
3. The National Galleries of Scotland
3.1 The National Galleries of Scotland’s statutory functions are to:
l care and add to their collections:
l exhibit their objects;
. make the objects available for research;
l promote public enjoyment and understanding of the fme arts; and
l provide education, instruction and advice; and carry out research.
3.2 The Galleries’ 1994 Corporate Plan described the Trustees’ strategic aims including the display, research and development of Scotland’s collection of works of fme art for the enjoyment and education of the widest possible public. They have set an objective to display as much as possible to as many people, in the best possible condition and in the most attractive way. In practice, they define the scope of their worksof ail target audience as the maximum number of people who might be expected to visit a high quality gallery. Paintings 6,000 Sculpture 700 : Takie gems 20,000 How well the collections are presented : Photographs 57,poo Prints 30,goo 3.3 The Galleries’ collections consist of some 225,000 objects, including Drawings 11,300 6,000 paintings, 700 items of sculpture, 41,000 prints and drawings, 125,000 57,000 photographs, 20,000 paste cameos and intaglios (the Tassie gems) and some 50,000 library items (Figure 3.1). Although only a Miscellaneous small proportion of the collections is on display at any one time, the 16,000 Artist files masterpieces are on permanent display unless removed for Slides 5,000 conservation work. Works on paper - which include many Cuttings 5,000 masterpieces - are on display for short periods only hecause of the Archival 3,000 risks of fading hut may be seen by prior arrangement. Library 50,000 collection Scope of services in Sodialhistory 21,000 collection 3.4 The Galleries are dedicated primarily to the celebration of the visual 100,000 arts and therefore consider the display of their collections to be the most important of their objectives. They have three main sites for Total 225,000
26 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
permanent and temporary collections located in Edinburgh - the National Gallery of Scotland, the National Gallery of Modern Art, and the National Portrait Gallery. In addition, they maintain the Royal Scottish Academy building, adjacent to the National Gallery of Scotland (see Figure 3.2 overleaf). They also display - through permanent loan - the picture gallery at Paxton House near Berwick-upon-%eed, operated by the Paxton House Trust; and have established another outstation at Duff House, Banffshire, in the care of Historic Scotland. In addition the Galleries’ trustees intend to create a new National Gallery of Scotland in Glasgow which will contain Scottish art from circa 1837 to the present day placed in its European and world context.
3.5 The Galleries’ education and research functions provide a pro-active teaching programme, pure and applied research, and assistance to students and mature scholars from the Galleries’ libraries and other activities.
Measuring performance 3.6 The Galleries’ corporate plan attaches their highest priority to the presentation of their collections in the best way. They produce annual corporate plans in accordance with the guidance issued by the Scottish Office Education Department and have adopted many of the performance indicators recommended by the Office of Arts and Libraries (Appendix 2). However they consider that the most valuable outcomes of their activities are not amenable to quantitative target setting as this would detract from their achievement of high quality exhibitions. In response to the Office of Arts and Libraries recommended use of critical response to exhibitions as a measure of the quality of presentation, the Galleries’ Corporate Plan includes a list of quotes from the press commenting favourably on a selection of exhibitions at each of the main Galleries. The Galleries also regard the quality of original research in their exhibitions, the quality of permanent collection publications and the quality and variety of their acquisitions to be indicators of performance, although these are not included in performance outturn tables as they are very difficult to quantify.
3.7 In 1993 and 1994, the Galleries carried out two small surveys to collect information on the profile of visitors to their main buildings and views on the exhibitions and facilities on offer. The results indicated that the permanent displays and, to a lesser extent, temporary exhibitions, were well received by visitors. Respondents were generally unaware of some of the Galleries’ other services,
27 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
4 zo z WAVERLEY ?2, a STATION TT c % '0 % % '0 % c@ apR@
EDINBURGHCASTLE
1 ,,:.‘::~:~.,;~;~i.-s~~ttishNa,ionalPortraitGaiierir: (~~rll~y,e”~lding: ~1 ” ~3.The;Natidnfd ~“:Y” ,’ ~‘IGall&of &&nd:‘(~h~ ii&d) ‘:: ~ ‘Ye’ Queen Street) Collection of paintings, drawings and prints by the Portraits in all mediaof peoplewho have playeda greatestartists from the Renaissanceto Post- significant role in Scottish history from the 16th century Impressionsm. to the present.Also includes the national photography collection. Highlights: Cezanne,Constable, El Greco,Monet, Raphael,Rembrandt, Turner, Velazquez Highlights: Mary. Queenof Scot%Robert Burns. and Van Gogh. Sir WalterScott, The QueenMother, SeanConnery and Jean Muir. Photography Temporaryexhibitions. exhibitions. 4. (Not Illustrated: me mile west of QueenStreet) Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art: (Belfard Road) Temporaryexhibitions. Collectionof 20th century painting, sculpture and graphic art 2. Royal Scottish Academy:(Princes Street. Adjacent to the National Gallery) Highlights: Baselitz,Bellany, Campbell,Conroy, Temporaryexhibitions Freud,Giacometti. Hepworth. Hackney, Magritte. Matisse,Moore, Paoloni and Picasso.
Temporaryexhibitions
28 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Figure3.2 (continued)
ScottishNational Gallery of ModernArt: DavidHackney (1937.) Roc!q Mountainsand TiredIndians, 1965 ScottishNational Portrait Gallery: Acrylic on canvas,170.4 cm x 252.8cm DanielMytens (c. 1590, before1648) James,ist Dukeof Hamilton,1629 Oil on canvas,221 cm x 139.7cm
Titian (c. 1487/90-1576) The ThreeAges of Man,c. 151O-1 5 Oil on canvas,90 cm x 150.7cm On loan from the Dukeof Sutherland.
29 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service .and Safeguarding the Collections
notably lectures, talks, tours and concerts although these services are so well attended that further demand could not be accommodated.
Exhibition development 3.8 The Galleries recognise that their strategic objectives for making the collections available for the enjoyment and education of the widest possible public is best achieved through continuing improvements to the number and quality of exhibitions. They consider, however, that constraints on the exhibition space available to them restricts the scope to display all the collections. Their corporate plan therefore commits them to increasing the exhibition space available, principally through a new National Gallery of Scotland, and to a continuing temporary exhibitions programme.
3.9 The Galleries have some 6,000 square metres of permanent exhibition space. They also maintain the Royal Scottish Academy building, adjacent to the National Gallery in Edinburgh but, because of statutory obligations to make space in the building permanently available to the Royal Scottish Academy, they are unable to use the building to mount permanent displays (Figure 3.3).
The RoyalScottish Academy building is locatedadjacent to the NationalGallery of Scotlandin centralEdinburgh. The building occupiesa primesite, fronting both PrincesStreet and The Mound,and is owned by the Secretaryof State.The occupationrights accordedto the Academyand the Galleriesare set out in the NationalGalleries of Scotland(Appropriation of Buildings)Order 1910. The Academyhave exclusive rights to the groundfloor. They are also entitledto usethe upperfloor exhibition spaceforan unspecifiedperiod each yearfor their annualexhibition, with the remainderof the yearthe galleryspace being controlled by the Galleries.
Followinga reviewin 1988,which concludedthat the building was underused,discussions beganbetween the Galleriesand the Academyon the future use of the building. In 1993the Secretaryof Stateestablished a joint consultativecommittee to resolvematters. Agreement is being reachedbetween the Academyand the Gallerieson the allocationof roomsin the building. The Gallerieshave responsibility for the upkeepofthe building.The needfor extensive restorationand repairwork has beenknown for sometime, hutwas deferred pending agreementbetween the Academyand the Gallerieson the building’sfuture use.The building is now in urgentneed of repair.Consultants were appointed in May 1994to assessthe extentof the remedialwork and to prepareproposals for the improveduse of space.The Galleries’ 1994Corporate Plan estimated that the refurbishmentof the building will cost f6.7 million.
30 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
3.10 The location of the buildings available for exhibitions has a major impact on potential visitors and the costs of exhibitions vary significantly in different buildings (Figure 3.4). The Galleries have not however produced an overall accommodation strategy identifying the most cost effective means of achieving their priorities of quality display, to as many people as possible, while making the greatest use of the collections. The Trustees have, however, decided to develop new exhibition space consequent upon the removal of the National Museum of Antiquities from the National Portrait Gallery building, the unexpected provision by Lothian Region of space in a new building, and by building a new National Gallery of Scotland in Glasgow.
(1) Cosl per square metre Site 1992-93 1993-94 Area m2 costf fm2 costf fm2 NationalGallery of Scotland 2,966 212,000 72 292,000 98 NationalPortrait Gallery(‘) 1,868 230,000 123 205,000 109 Galleryof ModernA#) 2,406 709,000 295 777,000 322 Notes (1) Costscover the half of the building occupiedby the NationalMuseums of Scotland. (2) Includesa large elementof rental costs.
(2) Visitors per warder Site 1993-94 1997-98 Visitors Warders Visitors per Visitors”) Wardersts’ Visitors par warder warder NationalGallery of Scotland 332,238 46.5 7.145 439,897 46.5 9,460 NationalPortrait Gallery 183,463 19.5 9,408 219,615 20.0 10,981 Galleryof ModernArt 160,203 29.5 5,431 179,432 30.5 5,883 Notes (1) Attendanceforecasts. (2) Staffingprojections.
(3) Wardersper square metre Site Area m2 Warders(‘) m2 par warder NationalGallery of Scotland 2,966 46.5 63.8 NationalPortrait Gallery 1,868 19.5 95.8 Galleryof ModernArt 2,406 29.5 81.6 Notes (1) 1993-94
Source:National Galleries of ScotlandCorporate P/an 1994-98
31 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
3.11 Temporary exhibitions are expensive, and the Galleries have attracted private sponsorship to offset the costs, though this is becoming increasingly difficult. The Galleries recognise the need for tight control of their exhibition programme including the re-introduction of an Exhibition Committee to consider the forward programme; target dates and critical paths for measuring progress; and close co-operation between curatorial and conservation staff to ensure objects are in a suitable condition for display when required.
3.12 The Galleries monitor the direct costs of each exhibition against budgets for income from entrance fees, catalogue sales etc and for the costs of transport, printing, design and display etc. Direct exhibition costs are routinely subjected to performance analysis at the close of each exhibition and the results are considered by the Board of Trustees. However indirect costs, such as staff time and the cost of floor space, are not included in exhibition costs.
Quality of presentation 3.13 In the light of the Galleries’ commitment to the quality of presentation as a prime measure of performance, the National Audit Offke commissioned a peer review of a selection of the Galleries’ exhibitions to assess the quality achieved; and obtained the views of important sectors of the Galleries’ potential visitors - local adults and primary schools.
3.14 The panel of consultants employed by the National Audit Office examined a sample of exhibitions at the Galleries’ main locations and at outstations using a standard checklist of the features they and the Galleries agreed comprised best practice (Appendix 3). Figure 3.5 provides a summary of the major findings on each exhibition. Generally the consultants considered that the Galleries’ exhibitionsmatched the highest standards for presentingcollections to a well-informed audience. They saw scope for some improvement in areas such as environmental controls and direction signs and noted the potential to broaden the attraction of exhibitions to a wider audience through means such as more informative labelling of exhibits, publications directed towards less-informed visitors and through encouraging remote access to the collections using information technology.
3.15 The National Audit Office survey of local adults (Appendix 4) produced visitor satisfaction results only marginally lower than those obtained in the Galleries’ own surveys. While tbe Galleries found that their permanent collection displays were well received by 96 per cent of National Gallery visitors, 88 per cent of Portrait Gallery visitors and 97 per cent of Gallery of Modern Art visitors, the
32 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
National Audit Office survey indicated that 48 per cent of visitors to any of the Galleries considered the collections to be very well presented with a further 40 per cent regarding them as well presented.
.:.;j,~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~:~~~~~~~~*;;:;-:%: :;:,,/,~~ ,,,,?, ;;;::+~~~, .;,;. I. .~.:i;,i=:~~,~,~~,- ,.?~aim 1;;.,~:,j::f:: :I;.‘::: j,:~;,‘~~~~f~:;~,: ‘q, :;::I:+;; ;;;c+::~ :$;:,:: :: ~:,’‘;;;!; :,,,,,:;ryl ,-‘:y,;:; 1;;qy ;‘:, <,,; I:;,;, ~;, i !,:,,-:~~i’~i:~ .~ ,, “.‘,‘~:~:::~:,;~~,;-:::,,“~Summdiy,of,findings’::“~,- ,,,_,:-~~,“,:,~,,~:. ~‘:~ ,; I:~,_~,,:: ._.,~~~ ~.,: ,;:: ,,‘: ,.~~;~~ :~;~..?::,::: ,:~,1~: ,L ,~.,~ .~ ~,, .,,,~. ,. ,~..2.,. .,,~,.,. ~~. ,.. .~ Site: NationalGallery of Scotland Exhibition: Monetto Matisse:Landscape Painting in France1874 - 1914 Dateof exhibition: 11.8.94- 23.10.94 Admission Fee:24.00 (f2.00concessions) National Audit Office evaluation GoodPoints: Quality and condition of items displayed.Orientation. Legibility and accuracyof text panels.Achieved visitor length of stay. Scopefor improvement:Density of display.Visitor circulationspace. Display conditions. Security.Textual information (Extent and levelsof interpretation). Dramathroughlighting. OVERALLASSESSMENT: Subject ensures its success.Impact marred by unsuitablelocation. Responsefrom Galleries: Avery populartemporary exhibition which exceededestimated ticket salesand resultedin a surplus of incomeover direct expenditure.The Gallerieslack adequate temporary exhibition space and areseeking to implementtheir proposalsto overcomethis.
Site: ScottishNational Portrait Gallery Exhibition: Dynasty:The RoyalHouse of Stewart Date 01exhibition: Semi-permanent(Originally intended to hetemporaly in 1990) Admission Fee:Free National Audit Office evaluation GoodPoints: Excellentsubject and collectionrepresentation. Quality and condition of artifacts.Exhibition design. Text panels(legibility, accuracy, adequacy). Drama createdby lighting. Catalogue. Scooefor imorovement:Securitv Subiectinteroretation for children.Visitor length of stay OVERALLASSFSSMENTI Beautiful exh\bition,,bct tnsecsitive to marketsegmezntjttoo,~ .,. Site: ScottishNational Gallery of ModernArt Exhibition: Early20th century Frenchand French-influencedart (Room4); cubismand abstractart (Room7); and the figure in post-war art(Room 8). Dateof exhibition: Permanent Admission Fee: Free National Audit Office evaluation GoodPoints: Conditionof displayeditems. Collectionrepresentation. Display conditions. Lighting (but somereflection on glazedworks). Exhibitiondesign. Accuracy of information.Contemplative exhibition mode. Scopefor improvement:Air quality.Security, Orientation. Text panels(length, scope of information,levels of interpretationand type size of text). Achieved visitor length of stay.Orientation. OVERALLASSESSMENT: Good displays. Scope to increasevisitors’ intellectualaccess. continued
33 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Siie: N&nil G&~~of,&bt[and. ‘,I~~;’ ~~‘~.,:“, : ‘,’ ‘, ‘: ,:~ ,L 1,’ ~:~~ ‘.~ ,, - ~“~,‘::i~., ‘f I:: ,i ~‘: ; Exhibition: Smaller18th -i9th century EoropeG~;including the FrenchImpressioni&’ (RoomsA2 - A6: Upperfloor) Date of exhibition: Permanent Admission Fee: Free National Audit Oflice evaluation Good Points: Qualityand condition of displayedworks. Displayconditions. Exhibition design.Subject and collectionrepresentation. Accuracy of text. Lighting. Scopefor improvement:Text panels (legibility and levelsof interpretation).Orientation. Links to temporaly Monetto Matisseexhibition in basement. OVERALLASSESSMENT: Very good. Impeccablehanging. A majorexhibition of first importance.
3.16 The National Audit Office’s survey of primary schools (Appendix 5) indicated that 73 per cent of schools which had visited the Galleries considered their needs had been exceeded (14 per cent) or met in full (59 per cent). A further 22 per cent considered their needs were mostly met. For the small number of schools whose objectives had not been met, the commonest perceived needs were for more/better supporting material for children, more exhibitions orientated to children, and more support during school visits.
Encouraging the widest range of users
3.317 The Galleries are eager to increase both the number of visitors and the frequency of return visits to their buildings. The Galleries monitor visitor numbers, including target numbers for visitors to each of the main locations. Over the three years to 1993-94 total attendance rose from 690,000 to 747,000 but outturn each year fell short of target. A wide variation was evident between the main locations, with a consistent failure to achieve targets at the National Gallery being offset to some extent by greater numbers than expected visiting the Portrait Gallery and the Gallery of Modern Art. The National Gallery figures were, however, always and significantly higher (Figure 3.6 on page 36).
3.18 No targets have been set for the various types of visitor, for example those groups identified in the Galleries’ visitor surveys, and the Galleries have not researched their potential audience. The National Audit Office surveys of local adults and primary schools therefore asked respondents to provide more information in these areas.
34 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
of The Three Graces by Antonio Canova (1757-1822) Savedfrom export overseasin 1994and now on displayat the NationalGallery of Scotlandin Edinburghwhere the Galleriesbelieve it to be drawing crowds unparalleledin their history.More generallythey predictrecord attendance figures for 1995. Photograph:Colin McPherson(The Scotsman)
Survey of local adults 3.19 The National Audit Office survey involved interviewing a sample of 1,011 adults in the Edinburgh area. Detailed results are at Appendix 4. The main results were:
a) Thirty-five per cent of the sample had visited a Galleries’ building in Edinburgh in the last three years with most visiting the National Gallery; 40 per cent of respondents expressed little or no interest in pictures and sculptures.
b) Reasons for visiting the Galleries varied between buildings. 6pecific exhibitions were generally the main reason, followed by general curiosity, general interest, visits with friends and, for the Gallery of Modern Art, to use catering facilities.
35 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Visitornumbers ‘000s 1,000
800 Estimate
600
196546 1986-87 1987-88 1988-89 1989-90 1990-91 1991-92 1992-93 1993-94 1994-95
n NationalGallery of Scotland q Scottish NationalPortrait Gallery
Scottish Gallery of Modern Art Royal Scottish Academy’
Note 1: Attendanceat National Galleriesof Scotlandexhibitions held at the Royal ScottishAcademy
cl Of those not visiting the Galleries’ buildings the most common reason was a general lack of interest in galleries or art, although a significant proportion of those who had not visited the Gallery of Modern Art had not heard of it or were not aware of its collection.
d) Respondentswere also asked what would encourage them to visit the Galleries more. While nearly half of those who had not visited said nothing would, others suggested they might be encouraged by more publicity about events, more activities for children, a greater focus on Scotland, a wider range of exhibitions, or more guided tours.
Survey of primary schools in Scotland 3.20 The National Audit Office survey involved a postal questionnaire to all 2,408 primary schools in Scotland. Details of the 1,438 replies are at Appendix 5. The main results were:
36 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
a) Few primary schools had taken pupils to the Galleries in the last two years, although the proportion varied significantly between regions - from 49 per cent of local, Lothian schools to less than seven per cent in more distant regions.
b) Most school visits were designed to complement a school project, although significant proportions of schools went either as a result of Galleries’ promotion material or as repeat visits made for other children in the school.
c) Reasons for not visiting the Galleries were most frequently related to distance, cost or time but 25 per cent of respondents were not fully aware of the scope of the collections.
Whether the collections are adequately stored and conserved
Computerisation 3.21 The Galleries have been developing a computerised inventory, including stock and provenance records, for their collection since 1991. The inventory is held on computer space rented from the National Museums of Scotland and uses their system software.
3.22 The plan for computerising the Galleries’ records originally provided for 50,000 objects to be added to the record each year so that the inventory would be complete by 1994. The Galleries were unable to maintain their input target so that by October 1994 computer records had been created for only 38,000 objects, including all paintings, sculptures, medals, and some prints and drawings. The Galleries attribute the delay to difficulties in developing inventory records to meet their needs and, more generally, to an underestimate of the effort required. They expect the records of the remaining 160,000 items to be on the computerised inventory by 1998.
Stocktaking 3.23 Since 1991 the Galleries have pursued a programme of stocktaking through existence and location checks for those objects on their computerised inventory. They have also undertaken annual physical inspections of all items on loan to other bodies. They consider the steps they have taken provide them with assurance on the most valuable objects in their collections.
37 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
3.24 From 1995 they intend to introduce regular checks on the most valuable objects and random sample checks on other objects on the computerised inventory. However, they have yet to identify the most valuable objects and they have no plans to introduce stocktaking for the majority of objects not on the computerised inventory.
Conservation and storage 3.25 It is important to the long-term preservation of artworks that they are displayed and stored in stable conditions appropriate to their composition. Although fluctuations in conditions may have little immediate impact, over a longer term cyclical drying and moistening can cause significant problems, particularly for paintings.
3.26 The conditions in which the Galleries display and store their collections vary significantly. The National Audit Office found that:
al While the National Gallery of Scotland is fully ah conditioned to provide ideal conditions all year round, humidity levels in the display areas of the Gallery of Modern Art and the National Portrait Gallery cannot be maintained during winter months to meet the standards recommended by the Museums and Galleries Commission.
bl Storage areas in the National Gallery of Scotland and the Gallery of Modern Art, both of which accommodate large valuable works, offer cramped conditions which can lead to inefficiencies and extra risk because some paintings have to be moved to gain access and others have to be temporarily stacked together for support rather than stored on appropriate racking.
cl The Galleries use storage space at their three Galleries and at off-sitelocations to storepaintings of lessersignikance and their reserve collection of sculptures. Conditions in these stores do not meet the Museums and Galleries Commission standards for temperature and humidity which may mean that some of the objects are at risk of longer-term deterioration.
3.2 The Galleries recognise the risks associated with their display and storage facilities. In 1993 they prepared an investment appraisal recommending that their off-site storage should be replaced by a purpose built storage facility at the Gallery of Modern Art. However, the Galleries were unable to implement their proposals because they could not secure the necessary planning consents. In February 1995, Lothian Regional Council offered the Galleries use of an old school (the Dean Building) at a peppercorn rent. The Secretary of State approved this addition to the Galleries estate and has agreed
38 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
to provide funds to build appropriate air-conditioning to part of the Dean building to relieve the Galleries’ storage difficulties. The new facilities are expected to be available in 1997.
3.28 The Galleries do much to maintain the highest standards in the conservation of their collections and actively conserve items by cleaning, restoration and appropriate mounting of the artworks to provide protection against future damage.
3.29 Subject to any urgent work which may arise, Keepers decide, in consultation with conservation staff, on priorities for conservation work. Surveys of the collection are undertaken periodically to identify needs and a ftdl survey of the paintings in the National Gallery and the Portrait Gallery was carried out in 1989 which informed conservation priorities and work on paintings. However, the National Audit Office noted that conservation work on new acquisitions, and for loans and exhibitions frequently took precedence over conservation priorities. In some instances paintings on priority lists since the 1970s were stii untreated in 1995, although the Galleries considered that these items were not deteriorating.
3.30 The Galleries have surveyed all graphics collections in the last five years and have a rolling conservation programme to improve the mounting and storage of the collections. They estimate that the full collections can be surveyed for conservation needs on a three year rolling programme.
39 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Appendix 1
Recommendations of the Committee of Public Accounts
In November 1988 the Committee of Public Accounts reported on the management of the collections of the English national museums and galleries (First Report: Session 1988-89). The Committee’s main conclusions and recommendations were as follows:
On financial arrangements and planning (i) The proper care and maintenance’ of the collections of the national museums and galleries is a matter of substantial public interest and we recommend that in their reports to Ministers and Parliament the trustees should fuliil the full requirements of stewardship and accountability for the collections placed in their trust by identifying key objectives in their plans, including targets and progress towards them. Major difficulties, and the short and long term consequences for the collections, should be reported clearly and frankly (paragraph 101.
(ii) We regard it as unsatisfactory that there should be a crucial lack of reliable quantified information on the full extent of the serious problems facing the national museums and galleries, and the resource consequences. We therefore welcome the introduction of corporate planning and the three year funding settlement.We expect these to providea clearframework for the identification of priorities, and thnescales for dealing with the main issues arising on management of the collections; and we see them as leading on to firm action plans for progressive improvement in both the short and longer term (paragraph 111.
(iii) We note both the Treasury’s cautiously expressed view that there was scope within the sums made available for the arts budget as a whole to meet the most urgent priorities, and the museums’ claims that they are seriously underfunded to meet their needs. We believe that it will be an important element within the institutions’ corporate plans to identify their reasonable total needs and set priorities and thnescales. In turn
40 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
these should further inform the level of allocations to the arts budget, and within those sums the allocations to the museums as a whole and to individual institutions (paragraph 12).
On acquisitions, disposals and display (iv) We note that improved procedures are being introduced to control the acquisition of museum objects, and this move towards greater selectivity must he right given the pressures on space and costs arising i?om the existing collections. We also note that some steps are now being taken to improve the information available on the consequential resource costs of new acquisitions, and we trust that such improvements will be pursued urgently (paragraph 14).
(“1 We recognise the importance of the collections, including the reserve collections, not only for display, but also for scholarship and research. We accept that in principle disposal or dispersal of objects raises issues which are central to the basic functions of museums and galleries and involve curatorial judgements and decisions which may he regretted by future generations. On the other hand we believe there is no escape from the view that an inexorable rise in the size of collections places serious demands on limited public funds. We note that disposals by sale have neither created much income nor significantly reduced storage and conservations costs. Nevertheless we endorse the OffIce of Arts and Libraries’ view that alI institutions should regularly and positively review their disposals policies, based on improved management information systems (paragraph 17).
On storage, conservation and security (vi) We are seriously concerned at the dangers presented to the national collections by poor storage conditions and backlog in conservation. In some respects the position was worsening all the time; in some cases there had been delays In dealing with conservation which we regarded as totally unacceptable, and the Victoria and Albert Museum accepted frankly that this “was a national disaster” and agreed that it represented “lasting and irreparable damage to some of the national heritage”. We note the action now being taken in a number of areas and the improvements being progressively, if gradually, introduced. We also recognise the concern expressed by the institutions and their evident determination to do all they can wIthin their available resources to tackle these issues. We note that the Office of Arts and Libraries also recognise the seriousness of
41 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
the situation and the need to give it appropriate priority in forward planning and in the allocation of resources (paragraphs 20 and 231.
(vii) Nevertheless, we regard the situation disclosed to us as a major breakdown over many years in the proper stewardship of major national assets. It must now be tackled urgently, on the basis of a clear and concerted national programme, planned over a number of years and targeted at priority areas, and supported by an appropriate allocation of resources. We expect the Office of Arts and Libraries to ensure that the necessary framework for coordinated action exists and to provide the oversight and monitoring needed to encourage continuing efforts and effective results. We expect from them a further report on progress in due course (paragraph 24).
On inventory control and stocktaking (viii) Both the British Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum have a very considerable way to go before they complete the computerisation of their inventory records, and until then stocktaking procedures must inevitably remain incomplete and unsatisfactory. We therefore believe that the safeguarding of museum objects is still at risk. We expect the institutions concerned, with the support and oversight of the Office of Arts and Libraries, to take all possible steps to complete their computerisation programmes and progressively to introduce satisfactory independent stocktaking of their collections (paragraph 28).
On application to other institutions (ix) Webelieve that in manyimportant respects the conservation, storage and other difficulties identified in the C&AC’s Report are likely to be shared by other national museums and galleries, including those in Scotland and Wales. We expect the Office of Arts and Libraries and the other sponsor departments involved to take steps to ensure that all institutions give priority to and allocate funds for a programme of progressive improvement of storage and conservation conditions. We also expect the departments concerned to give appropriate priority to such matters in the planning and allocation of funds. Primary responsibility in this area must however rest on the appointed trustees in the proper discharge of their responsibilities for the national assets placed in their care (paragraphs 29-391.
42 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Appendix 2
Office of Arts and Libraries: Performance indicators for national museums and galleries
In March 1991, the Office of Arts and Libraries commissioned consultants to produce a comprehensive list of performance indicators which would provide an assessment of the achievements of museums and galleries. The subsequent report identified two groups of indicator: those necessary to provide the sponsoring Department with an overview of performance (Group 11; and those required by museum and gallery managers (Group 2). The Scottish Office have encouraged the National Museums of Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland to adopt all the recommended indicators.
Number PerformanceComponent IndicatorArea 1 Accessand Use Movementin user numbersby category 2 Accessand Use Expenditureper user 3 Accessand Use Newloans made 4 Visitor Care/Display Visitor satisfaction 5 Visitor Care/Display Gallerydays: availability vs plan 6 Display Achievementof displayprogramme objective(institution specifies) 7 AccesslDisplayNisitorCare Visitor flow 6 CollectionManagement Achievementof specifiedcollection managementobjectives for Corporate Planningperiod 9 CollectionManagement/Scholarship View of assessors 10 Scholarship Scholarlyoutputs vs plan 11 Scholarship Citations/criticalreview/other impact assessment 12 Building Management Major projects:variance in actualtime and cost vs plan 13 Building Management Ratioof plannedto unplanned maintenance 14 Building Management Compliancewith fire standards 15 Building Management Accidentlevels continued
43 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Number PerformanceComponent IndicatorArea 16 IncomeGeneration and Financial Increasein self-generatedincome by Management type 17 IncomeGeneration and Financial Ratioof self-generatedincome to grant Management in aid 18 IncomeGeneration and Financial Salariesas % of running costs Management 19 HumanResource Management Achievementof training programme objectives ~. ..__-___ GrOUQ2 .,. ;:L:~:..:::.:.~~2: ~,:~.: :,:~~.;z;:.: :,c:, :::., :::.,,_P;:.~:.::;~ ,..::L”~: Number PerformanceComponent IndicatorArea 1 Visitor Care Numberof complaintsbytype/service areaper 1000visitor 2 Visitor Care Galleryequipment downtime vs standard 3 Visitor Care Otheramenities: downtime and quality standards 4 Visitor Care/Human Staff resourcesavailable vs plan ResourceManagement 5 Display Projects:variance in actualtime and cost vs plan 6 Display Individualexhibitions: visitor enjoymentand understanding 7 Display Increase/decreasein displayspace available 8 Display % availabledisplay space not usedfor displaypurposes 9 Scholarship Staff qualifications 10 Scholarship Researchgrant and other income 11 Scholarship Publicationsales volumes 12 Building Management Minor projects:variance in actualtime and cost vs plan 13 BuildingManagement Managementcosts as % oftotal building spend 14 Building Management Maintenancecost per squaremetre 15 IncomeGeneration and Admissionincome per visitor FinancialManagement 16 IncomeGeneration and Salesper squaremetre of trading FinancialManagement operations 17 HumanResource Management Turnoverby grade and function 18 HumanResource Management Movementin averageage by gradeand function 19 HumanResource Management Averagesickness days per staff memberby gradeand function 20 Movementof staff to external developmentalposts in other .institutions/ bodies
44 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safegtmding the Collections
Appendix 3:
Summary of the checklist of best practice used by the National Audit Office’s consultants to evaluate exhibitions
4. Area S:5.,. Numberofobjects~ ; :,,‘,,~,’ ~~ 6. Density(4 dividedby 5) 7. Age/dateof exhibition :~I~,; ~,,’ 8. cost $ ~YDbratjdn : ; ,’ ;,‘~.” ,~ ~:, 10. Material ,=‘ij,:,~, Temperature/reletivehumidi~/: “~
12. Lighting ~el$.:, Exhibition!?mde~ ” “‘,,~ ,: ,,. 14. Security 15.’ Interpretation Z:, ,. ~’ ~~ 16. Scope 17.~~Ori&tation~ ,‘~ ‘~” ~,,” 18. Qualityof artifacts/specimens/worksof alt 18. Cdndition
20. ObSSNSd visitor length of stay 21. Exhibitiondesign
45 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Appendix 4: Survey of Edinburgh adults
Background
The National Audit Office commissioned System Three Scotland, a specialist marketing and research company, to undertake a survey of adults residing in Edinburgh. The purpose of this survey was to establish the extent to which Edinburgh adults had used the services provided by the National Museums of Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland to find out how satisfied users were with the quality of service provided, and to seek suggestions for improvements to service which would encourage them to visit more frequently. 1
Methodology
The catchment area for this survey was identified as postcode sectors EHl - 22, 25 and 28 - 30. Within this area 84 census i enumeration districts were selected as sampling points, which were representative of the area in terms of population distribution and housing type. Within each sampling point, quotas were set in respect of sex, age and working status, based on census data, to reflect the demographic profde of the area, thus ensuring that the sample obtained was representative of the target population. Using this approach 1,011 adults (N) aged 18 and over were interviewed in their homes over the period 1 - 16 October 1994. Ninety-seven per cent of the sample had lived in Edinburgh for a year or more and 90 per cent for at least five years.
Survey findings
Ql Other attractions visited As a benchmark against which the levels of attendance at the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Museums of Scotland might be compared, respondents were shown a prompt card listing
46 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
20 other popular visitor attractions and asked which of them they had personally visited in the last three years. The majority of the attractions were in Edinburgh but the list also included the main museums and galleries in Glasgow and some other sites across central Scotland. Those which had been visited by 10 per cent or more were:
(%) (“4 RoyalBotanic Gardens 45 CityArt Centre 15 EdinburghZoo 41 Stirling Castle 11 EdinburghCastle 37 The People’sStory 10 Museumof Childhood 28 HopetounHouse 10 EdinburghButterfly & InsectWorld 21 Linlithgow Palace 10 DeepSea World 17 None 22 Palaceof HolyroodHouse 16
The comparable figures for their Edinburgh sites were 56 per cent for the Museums and 35 per cent for the Galleries.
Overall, 78 per cent had visited at least one of the other attractions. There were some differences in visiting patterns demographically: women (81 per cent) were more likely to have visited any of the attractions than were men (73 per cent) and those aged under 45 were also more active in this respect than were older generations. But socio-economic grade (SEG) was the main discriminator and the general pattern is of relevance to findings on the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Museums of Scotland.
N. 182 ,’ 240 238 351 (“h) (%) (%) (“4 Visitedany site 92 85 76 66
Q2 Interest in pictures and sculptures; and museums Forty-two per cent of respondents had at least a moderate interest in paintings and sculptures, and 55 per cent in museums. With a further eight per cent in each case who might attend special exhibitions, this represents a substantial target for both the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Museums of Scotland. With 56 per cent of respondents having visited any site, the Museums are already attracting the large majority of those within the target group.
47 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
A keeninterest generally 12 20 A moderateinterest generally 30 35 Only interestedin specialexhibitions 8 8 Little so far, but could be persuadedto takea 9 7 greaterinterest Little or no interestand not likelyto change 40 29
Interest in both topics was strongly related to SEG, especially so in the case of pictures and sculptures, and museums and galleries held more appeal generally to AFXls than to CZDEs:
N= 182 240 238 351 (%) (“4 (“4 (“4 Picturesand sculptures: A keeninterest 23 17 8 7 Little or no interest 18 29 47 54 Museums: A keeninterest 27 21 18 16 Little or no interest 13 20 37 38
National Museums Q3 Patterns of visiting of Scotland Fifty-six per cent of the sample had visited at least one of the National Museums of Scotland’s three Edinburgh sites in the last three years. The only demographic sub-groups in which a majority had not done so were, in terms of age, the over 65s (36 per cent) and, socio-economically, DES (47 per cent). Whilst there was some evidence of SEG as a factor in levels of visiting, in the decline from 68 per cent among AE%sto 47 per cent among DES, the latter figure still remained relatively high. As such the Museums are successful in attracting visitors from virtually all sectors of the population. They were especially likely to have been visited by respondents with children under 16 (70 per cent), compared to those without children (51 per cent). The pattern of visiting at each of the sites within the last three years was as follows:
48 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
N=iIlll WI W) (“4 At all 51 10 21
OM 15 5 16 2-3 times 19 3 4 4 times or more 17 2 1
Q4 Reasons for visiting the Royal Museum of Scotland Respondents who had visited the largest display site of the National Museums of Scotland, the Royal Museum of Scotland in Chambers Street, stated their main reasons for having visited it in the last three years as follows:
(“4 Wentwithltookfamily/children 43 To seespecific exhibition/gallery (any) 29 Generalinterest/see museum generally 16 Enjoyment/pleasure/greatplace to go 14 Good/educationfor children 13 Somethingto do (on wet day/passthe time) 12 Curiosity/seewhat’s there/browse 9 To do with work/studies/school 9
As far as the most recent visit to the Royal Museum of Scotland was concerned, the main factors prompting the decision to go there were:
To takechildren/grandchildren To seespecific exhibition/display (any) Somethingto do/passthe time Passing/inthe area/convenient Good/educationalfor children Generalinterest/interesting Enjoyment/pleasure/likegoing
49 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Q5 Displays Of those who had visited the Royal Museum of Scotland in the previous three years, 52 per cent had done so in the last six months. Its visitor base among local adults was currently active rather than dormant or lapsed altogether. Recent visitors were highly impressed by the standard of display and presentation of objects at this site. With 59 per cent opting for the extreme positive rating, this represents a very favourable response to the quality of displays and this undoubtedly contributed to its appearance and popularity. The rating of the Royal Museum of Scotland and its displays was:
yhj Very well presented 59 Well presented 32 Neitherimpressive nor disappointing 5 Poorly presented 2 Not possibleto generalise 2 Q6 Reasons for not visiting Respondents who had not visited each of the National Museums of Scotland’s three sites in the last three years were asked their reasons for this. The table below summarises the most common explanations given in each case.
N=
Notinterested in museums (general) No interestin anything military Any mention,lack of interest/motivation 26 Neverheard of it/didn’t knowwhere it was 17 Neverbeen/don’t know what it’s like 2 Any mention,lack of awareness 19 Not enoughtime/too busy 12 Inconvenientlocation (any mention) 12 Any mention,cost of access 3 Old age/ill health 8 Neverbeen to castle/notfor years 7 Beenbefore/when young/not recently 18 3 3 Beenand no desireto go back a 3 2 Neverthought aboutgoing 4 6 5
50 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Q7 Measures to encourage more frequent visiting Respondents were presented with a list of possible courses of action which might be taken by the National Museums of Scotland which might encourage them to visit more often. The findings are shown below for the main options selected, both overall and according to visitor status, in relation to the Royal Museum of Scotland in the last three years. As far as non-visitors were concerned, the lack of interest in museums generally among a sizeable proportion of these was apparent in 53 per cent rejecting any of the measures as an incentive to visit. If anything was to influence the remainder in this respect, it was likely to he wider publicity about what the National Museums of Scotland had to offer any any events taking place.
Total Yes No N. 1011 511 500 WI (“4 W) More publicity aboutwhat 25 29 20 available/happening More activitiesfor children 17 26 More hands-ondisplays/exhibitions 12 20 Morefrequently changing displays 11 17 Widerrange of exhibitions,covering a 11 16 morediverse range of subjectsand interest A greaterfocus on Scotland 12 More guidedtours 10 Expanded/Improvedcatering facilities 7 More lectures/talks/studydays/ 6 educationalactivities Nothing/wouldn’tvisit (moreoften) 37 20 53
National Galleries of QS Patterns of visiting Scotland Thirty-five per cent of the sample had visited at least one of the National Galleries of Scotland’s three Edinburgh sites in the last three years, with levels of visiting declining from 59 per cent among ABs to 19 per cent among DES. Visiting was more common among those without children aged 15 or under (38 per cent) than among those with (28 per cent). Patterns of visiting to each site in this period are set out below. In view of the higher levels of expressed interest in paintings and sculptures, there would seem to be potential to increase visitor numbers still further.
51 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the CoRections
N=lOll W) W) W) Atall 28 18 14 Once 11 9 5 2-3 times 9 6 4 4 times or more 7 4 4
Q9 Reasons for visiting Respondents who had visited any of the National Galleries of Scotland’s three Edinburgh sites in the last three years were asked their main reasons for doing so. The reasons were many and varied:
N= 281 185 142 W) W) W) To seeexhibitions (no details) 15 6 11 To seespecific exhibition (unnamed) 14 9 12 Exhibitionin the Festival(unnamed) 5 1 1 Monet-Matisseexhibition 11 Photographicexhibition 15 Gilliesexhibition 4 Scottishartists/ collection(general) 4 6 3 Any mention,to seespecified/ 35 38 29 specialexhibition Generalinterest/see gallery generally 17 13 14 Curiosity/seewhat’s there/ta browse 16 8 18 Wentwith/tookfriends/visitors 14 11 20 Somethingto do (on wet day)/pass 0 7 8 time Just passing/inthe area 7 8 6 Usecoffee shop/have lunch 12 19
QlO Displays Of those who had visited any of the National Galleries of Scotland’s Edinburgh display sites in the last three years, a majority (52 per cent) had done so in the last six months. Reactions to the display and presentation of objects at the display site visited most recently within this six month period were very positive:
52 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Very well presented 48 Well presented 40 Neitherimpressive nor disappointing 8 Poorlypresented 3
Qll Reasons for not visiting By far the most widespread reason for not having visited in each case was a lack of interest in art generally, confirming the findings to QZ which found that half of those interviewed professed to little or no interest in paintings or sculptures. The National Galleries of Scotland therefore had no appeal for a significant proportion of their non-visitors. With regard to the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, 30 per cent of its non-visitors knew little or nothing about it or its location but 17 per cent said they disliked modern art:
N= 730 825 869 W) (“4 W Not interestedin galleries/art 42 37 27 Don’t like particulartype of art there 1 6 17 Any mention,lack of interest/motivation 50 -47 47 Neverheard of it/didn’t know whereit was 2 7 26 Neverbeen/don’t know what it’s like 3 2 3 Any mention,lack of awareness 6 11 30 Not enoughtime/ 23 19 11 too,busy Inconvenientlocation (any mention) 4 6 7 Old age/ill health 12 9 6 Beenbefore, not recently 6 5 1 Beenand no desireto go back 3 1 * Neverthoughtabout going 6 4 2 (*= Lessthan l%, but notzero)
Q12 Measures to encourage more frequent visiting Respondents were shown a prompt card listing a number of possible courses of action which might be taken by the National Galleries of Scotland. The responses, summarised below, suggest that more publicity of what is on offer and more activities for children might
53 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
attract non-visitors for the first time and more regular attendance by active visitors. But 49 per cent of non-visitors stated that nothing would encourage them to visit.
Total Yes ‘No N= 1011 354 657 (%) W) (“4 More publicity aboutwhat available/ 26 40 21 happening Moreactivities for children 15 17 14 Agreaterfocus on Scotland 12 19 8 Widerrange of exhibitions,covering a 10 20 5 morediverse range of sculpturesand paintings More guidedtours 10 16 Morefrequently changing displays 9 19 A lessformal and morerelaxed 8 10 atmosphere Moreobjects of internationalstanding 13 Expanded/improvedcatering facilities 10 More lectures/talks/study 10 days/educationalactivities Nothing/wouldn’tvisit 35 8
54 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Appendix 5: Survey of primary schools in Scotland
Background
The National Audit Office commissioned System Three Scotland to undertake a survey of primary schools in Scotland, which the institutions see as an important user group. The purpose of this survey was to establish the extent to which these primary schools have used the services provided by the National Museums of Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland; to find out how satisfied users were with the quality of service provided; and to seek suggestions for improvements to service which would encourage them to visit more frequently.
Methodology
A postal survey was employed as the means of data collection. A letter of introduction and questionnaire were sent to the head teachers of all 2,408 primary schools in Scotland, both state and independent, over the period 4 - 6 October 1994. A reminder was later sent to non-respondents. A usable sample of 1,438 primary schools resulted. Not only did this represent a high response rate of 60 per cent but it also replicated the distribution of primary schools in Scotland, with no more than one per cent difference in any region of Scotland. In addition, the sample profile in terms of size of school showed a broad spread across the range of school sizes.
Survey findings
National Museums Ql Patterns of visiting of Scotland Twenty-six per cent of the total sample had taken pupils on a visit to the National Museums of Scotland, including their outstations, in the past two years. The corresponding figure for at least one of the
55 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Edinburgh sites was 20 per cent. Eight per cent claimed to have visited any of the outstation sites in the past two years. The pattern of visiting for each site is summarised as follows:
Scotland Services Museum Museum (On Tour) Museum
N = 1433 W) W) W) (“IQ) W) (“10) W) (%) At all 17 4 7 2 3 2 3 4 ON8 6 2 4 2 2 2 2 3 2-3 times 8 1 2 * 1 I) 1 1 4 or moretimes 3 * * * * * p Lessthan l%, but not zero)
Location and hence accessibility would appear to be significant factors in visiting the Museums as regional variations are significant. For example, the vast majority of the eight per cent of schools which had visited an outstation site in the last two years comprised schools in Lothian region and also Dumfries and Galloway region, where three of the outstations are located. For comparative purposes the table below highlights these variations, with Highland being one of the more distant regions and Shambellie House Museum of Costume being sited in Dumfries and Galloway region.
N= 1438 129 112
(“4 vd 0) Any museums 26 63 40 44 16 Royalmuseum 17 74 38 9 11 UnitedServices 7 26 4 9 6 ShambellieHouse 2 2 33
Q2 Factors prompting visits The schools which had visited any of the National Museums of Scotland display sites, including the Discovery Room on tour, in the last two years were asked to indicate which of a number of factors prompted their visits, with the following results:
56 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
64 visited were alreadyknown A searchfor museumsand exhibitionsto complementa 52 topic or a teaching/learningstrategy Repeatsof previousvisits madefor other children in the 43 school A leaflet 27 The teachertraining facilities providedby the National 10 Museums A poster 9 A magazineor newspaperadvertisement 5 Magazine/newspapercoverage 4 Anotherevent where the NationalMuseums were 2 describedor mentioned A televisionadvertisement 1 Televisioncoverage 1
Q3 Main purpose of school visits Schools which had visited the National Museums of Scotland in the past two years were asked their main reasons for visiting. The results, set out below, show that trips were mainly aimed at meeting a specific objective, although they tended not to form part of a regular programme of visits, with general interest and encouraging social development less likely to motivate schools into taking parties of children to the Museums.
To seeselected permanent exhibits 52 To use objectsin the Museumsas an integralpart of a 42 teachingscheme To seea specifictemporary exhibition 40 Generalinterest 24 Partof a programmeof socialisationfor the pupils 15 To heara talk by a memberof the Museums’staff or guest 12 speaker Partof a regularprogramme of visits 10
57 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Q4 Most recent visit Of those schools visiting the National Museums of Scotland in the past two years, just over half the sample visited the Royal Museum of Scotland most recently (see table below). When analysed by region, the small base sizes notwithstanding, this site again emerges as the lead attraction for the majority of regions. However, the Discovery Room was also mentioned in this context by significant numbers in Strathclyde (27 per cent), and Strathclyde West in particular (57 per cent). The importance of Shambellie House for schools in Dumfries and Galloway was also confirmed by these results, with 58 per cent of schools in this region which had visited at all citing this as the site visited most recently.
(“A) RoyalMuseum 53 ScottishUnited Services Museum 9 DiscoveryRoom 8 ShambellieHouse 6 Museumof Antiquities 4 ScottishAgricultural Museum 4 Museumof Flight 3 BiggarGasworks Museum 3 Don’t know/notstated 9
Q5 Extent to which objectives of visit were met In the context of the most recent, visit schools were asked to rate the extent to which the visit achieved its objectives. Experiences were positive,with nearly two-thirds stating that the visit fulfilled or exceeded its objectives:
W) Exceeded 6 Met in full 56 Mostly met 21 Only metin part 5 Not met * Don’t know/notstated 11
58 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Explanations as to the way in which the visit met its objectives included the following:
(“/I Complementedwork beingdone in school 20 Exhibition/displaysgood/well laid out and labelled 15 Staff good/helpfulgenerally 13 Motivatedgenerally/created awareness/interest 11 Particulartopic of interestwell covered/material relevant IO Pre-visitgood/teacher checked out in advance/prepared 7 Introducedchildren to museum/exhibits/newexperience 6 ‘Handson’experience 6 Fun/enjoyablefor pupils 5 Goodtalk/questions and answers/staffenthusiastic 4 Appropriateto agegroup/of general interest to class 3 visiting Don’t know/notstated 22
Among those who expressed the view that their visit did not entirely meet its objectives, the following were offered as suggestions which might have helped the Museums to meet these objectives more fully:
W) Any mentionof morestaff involvement 16 More staff availableto help/workwith children 10 Bettergeared/more appropriate to ageof children 6 More input from staff eg talks,answering questions 7 Morebetterworksheets 7 Informationpacks/notes for teachers 7 More ‘handson’ experience/involvement 6 Time loo limiled/nol enoughlime 5 Betterliaison with schools(in advance)/better pre-visit 4 Restrictnumber of groupsper day/time 1 Don’t know/notstated 54
59 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Q6 Support when planning a visit AU schools which had undertaken a visit to the National Museums of Scotland in the last two years were asked to rate the perceived usefulness of a variety of different types of support which might be offered by a museum to help them plan such visits. For each of the ten services listed, these schools were asked to rate whether they considered it an essential service, a useful service or not a key requirement. With the exception of information on stored exhibits, the list of services suggested for short term planning were welcomed by the vast majority. Three services were considered to be prerequisites for a successful trip by around 60 per cent of schools. With regard to long term planning, there was significantly less enthusiasm shown towards the two suggested services.
N.372
Short term planning Earlynotification of temporaryexhibits or exhibitionswhich 60 32 might be of interestto primaryschools Written informationabout the rangeof works on display 60 31 Informationpacks for teachersof primaryschool children 59 35 An informedcontact point for answeringtelephone enquiries 51 39 about primaryschool needs An informedcontact point for handlinggeneral enquiries made 49 41 by telephone Awarenessof the work of the Museums’education department 44 44 and the servicesthey provide Informedadvice about how the collections may be used to meet 43 45 the particulareducational requirement of your primaryschool children Writteninformation about the rangeof works in store 16 51
Long Term Planning Trainingcourses for teacherswhich explainhow the Museums’ 16 58 13 12 collectionsmay be used Localaccess to computerisedinformation about the Museums’ 9 52 26 13 collections
60 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Q7 Support during visits To measure ways in which the policy of the National Museums of Scotland to help teachers to teach, rather than to teach pupils directly, might be extended, respondents covered by Q6 were also asked to indicate the extent to which four further types of assistance during their visits would have been helpful. The results were:
significant contribution
N=372 (%I WI WI Guidesspecifically trained in the needsof primaryschool childrento 62 21 5 accompanyparties during visits A well informedand welcomingpresence on arrival,with practicaltips for a 58 23 4 successfulvisit Self completionpackages for children linkedto exhibits 51 32 4 Talkson the exhibitions or exhibits of specialinterest to your school 51 30 4 An introductorytalk abut the Museumupon arrival, dovetailedto the needsof 46 26 13 primaryschool children
QS Level of support provided Those schools which had visited the National Museums of Scotland in the past two years were asked to rate the support they had received from the Museums at the planning stage and during their last visit. The results were as follows:
N.372 (“4 WI Excellent (6) 7 7 Very good (5) 28 22 Good (4) 24 25 Adequate (3) 12 14 Inadequate (2) 2 3 Poor (1) 2 3 Don’t know 25 26 Meanscore 4.29 4.11
61 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Q9 Presentation of exhibits To measure views on the presentation of exhibits in the National Museums of Scotland, respondents who had visited any site in the past two years were asked to consider one gallery or display seen at the last visit and to rate four different aspects of the presentation using a five point scale. Stimulating the interest of the children emerges as the most widely praised element of the presentation. The less favourable ratings achieved by the aspect related to pupils with special needs is partly accounted for by the far greater proportion who failed to offer an opinion.
N=372 (5) (4) (3) (4 (1) (%) (“h) W) (“h) (Oh) Stimulatingthe interestof the childrenvisiting 31 39 6 1 1 22 4.27 Communicatinginformation to the childrenvisiting 17 36 20 3 1 22 3.61 Meetingthe educationalneeds of the childrenvisiting 16 38 20 2 L 24 3.87 Providingphysical and intellectualaccess for the pupils 6 14 11 8 2 59 3.35 with specialneeds (*=Lessthanl%,butnotzero)
QlO Reasons for not visiting AU schools were asked to indicate separately for each site of the National Museums of Scotland the reasons why they had either not visited in the past two years or not visited each more often during that time. Two reasons for not visiting the Museums are noticeably more widespread than the others - distance /travel problems and travel costs. These problems were not experienced equally across thesample. Generally, the significance ofthese issues increased as the distance between Edinburgh and the school’s region increased.
N=1438 W) (“h) WI WI W) (“h) (%) Expense/travellingcost 77 71 69 71 72 70 71 Distance/travelproblems 76 70 68 71 72 70 70 Timeconstraints 33 30 30 31 31 31 30 continued
62 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
‘~j: -: -;:.i: -: ,?--:-“:“:“‘; :;, ~-,~~~--‘~~~~--‘~~~:l, tji :~: ‘:~ B/!&i:,, : :tS@i& .’ Flight Gasworks ,Agricultur& Scotland Services Museum Museum
(“h) (%) W) WI (%) W) (“h) Not fully awareof the scopeof the 20 25 27 27 25 26 25 collections insufficientteachers/ assistants to 13 11 11 11 11 11 11 supervisethe children during visits and maintainschool cover The collectionswere not considered 5 7 9 7 7 9 7 relevantto our teachingneeds Collectionsrelevant but did not cover 6 5 6 6 6 6 5 school’seducational requirements Useother galleries/other 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 nearer/needsmet locally Don’t know/notstated 10 13 17 13 13 13 13
National Galleries of Qll Pattttrns of visiting Scotland Eight per cent of the sample had taken pupils on a visit to any of the National Galleries of Scotland’s three Edinburgh sites in the past two years. This low figure masks the significantly higher attendance among schools in Lothian region. Some 49 per cent within this region had taken pupils on such a visit, compared to 15 per cent in Borders, 12 per cent in Fife and between seven to nought per cent elsewhere. Patterns of visiting the individual sites in this period were: I-;:;~~~~~:--~~~~‘,,,>1;,,: ,?:~,!?P: ,.i,.:,. ,I ,.~,; 2 ,:,~ .,: ‘,:- ----‘-I:-.---IT:;-: ; :;;: ~,‘! :._ :-: ,:yy:;-i .~~i#~~dnel-:i;aiierv~-‘~~-;:;p$&itGg!~~~~i,~.i:‘~;,:,~GalielVof::i-.:, : ~~-,,,...,, ‘.,Z ~, ~~.~~~~ ‘, Mtidern,Art ,~Y (“4 WI (%I At all G 4 3 Once 3 3 1 2-3 times 2 1 1 4 or moretimes 1 * * r = Lessthan 1%. but not zero)
63 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Q12 Factors prompting visits The schools which had visited any of the National Galleries of Scotland’s Edinburgh sites in the last two years, thus predominantly those in Lothian, were asked to measure the importance of various factors in prompting their visits. The results were:
Work on a school projectwhich a visit to a 84 gallerywould complement Promotionalmaterial issued by the National 26 Galleries Repeatsof previousvisits madefor other 25 children in the school Discussions,formal or generalwith othersin 16 the teachingprofession The teachertraining facilities providedby the 7 NationalGalleries
Q13 Main purpose of school visits Schools which had visited any of the National Galleries of Scotland’s Edinburgh display sites in the past two years were asked their main reasons for visiting:
To seespecific permanent works To use items in the Galleriesas an integral part of a teachingscheme To heara talk by a memberof the Galleries 39 staff or guestspeaker To seespecific temporary works 32 Generalinterest 26 Partof a programmeof socialisationfor the 26 pupils Partof a regularprogramme of visits 14
Q14 Most recent visit Whereas the National Gallery of Scotland and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery have attracted a broadly similar proportion of schools in the past two years (37 and 33 per cent respectively), the former was much more likely to have been the venue for the most recent visit. Fifty-four per cent claimed they took pupils to the
64 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
National Gallery of Scotland most recently, compared to 28 per cent mentioning the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and 18 per cent the Gallery of Modern Art.
Q15 Extent to which objectives of visit were met In the context of the most recent, visit schools were asked to rate the extent to which the visit achieved its objectives. The results, as shown below, indicate that nearly three out of four schools found their last visit entirely satisfactory:
Exceeded Met in full Mostly met Only met in part Not met
Those who evaluated their visit as fully meeting or exceeding the objectives set, were asked to explain the ways in which this had occurred. A variety of comments were obtained and the key ones are outlined below:
Excellenttalk/discussion/staff enthusiastic Introducedchildren to gallery/paintings/new experience Staffgood/helpful generally 17 Particulartopic of interestwell covered/ 16 materialrelevant Complementedwork being donein school 16 Motivatedgenerally about aticreate interest 12 in paintings Teacherchecked out in advance/prepared 11 Talkgeared well to agegroup 8 Goodexplanation of pictures/content a 10
65 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Q16 Support when planning a visit All schools which had undertaken a visit to the National Galleries of Scotland in the last two years were asked to rate the per cent usefulness of a variety of different types of support which might be offered by a gallery to help them plan such visits.
N ~114 (%) W) Earlynotification of temporaryexhibits or exhibitionswhich 61 36 might be of interestto primaryschools An informedcontact point for answeringtelephone enquiries 60 31 about primaryschool needs An informedcontact point for handlinggeneral enquiries made 58 36 by telephone Awarenessof the work of the Galleries’education department 56 40 and the servicesthey provide Writteninformation about the rangeof works on display 52 38 Informationpacksforteachers of primaryschool children 46 48 Informedadvice about how the collectionsmay be usedto meet 46 46 the particulareducational requirement of your primaryschool children The opportunityfor your teachersto meetGallery education staff 19 61 13 7 on training courses Writteninformation about the rangeof works in store 12 56 21 9
Q17 Support during visits Following on from Q16, these schools were asked to rate in a similar way four suggested methods for ensuring that the educational objectives of the trip are met during the visit. The results were:
N=114 (“/I W) W) W) Gallerystaff trainedin the needsof primaryschool 59 36 3 3 childrento accompanyparties during visits Supportpackages for teachers 44 53 4 An introductorytalk aboutthe Galleryupon arrival, 37 52 9 3 dovetailedto the needsof primaly schoolchildren Self completionpackages for children 23 56 15 4
66 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
QlS Level of support provided Those schools which had visited the National Galleries of Scotland in the past two years were asked to rate the support they’had received from the Galleries at the planning stage and during their last visit. The results are very positive:
N=114 W Excellent 29 Very good 24 Good 17 14 Inadequate 4 Poor Don’t know 13 Meanscore 4.70
Q19 Presentation of exhibits Reactions to the presentation of the exhibits during the most recent visit to the National Galleries of Scotland were very positive, with respect to both the display and the way in which the exhibits were explored by the speaker:
N.114 (%) Excellent (6) 18 Very good (5) 51 Good (4) 20 Adequate (3) 3 Inadequate (2) Poor (1) 1 Don’t know 4 43 MeanScore 4.89 5.27
67 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
As only slightly over half of the schools responded to the second part of this question, the mean score value presents a more valid measure of the views expressed on the way the exhibits were explored by the speaker, as this is based solely on the response of those schools which gave an opinion. A mem score of 5.27 is exceptionally high and contllms the very positive contribution of Galleries staff to the visit of schools which received a talk in helping these schools to meet the& objectives.
Q20 Reasons for not visiting All schools were asked to indicate whether a list of reasons for not visiting apply. On the basis of the sample as a whole the results were:
N.1438 P) (“A) WI Expense/travellingcosts 84 70 70 Distance/travelproblems 79 65 65 Time constraints 33 29 29. Not fully awareof the scopeof the 25 25 25 collections Insufficientteachers/assistants to supervise 14 12 12 the children during visits and maintain school cover The collectionswere not consideredrelevant 10 IO 11 to our teachingneeds Collectionsrelevant but did not cover 7 7 7 school’seducational requirements Useother galleries/othernearer/needs met 2 2 2 locally Don’t know/notstated 4 18 17
Two reasons for not visiting the National Galleries of Scotland are particularly widespread: distance /travel problems and, concomitantly, travel costs. However, these problems are not experienced equally across the sample. As the distance between Edinburgh and the school’s region increases, so the signi6cance of these particular issues increases.
68 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Other matters Q21 Assistance with the implementation of the 5-14 National Guidelines AU primary schools were asked to indicate the extent to which they have been assisted with the implementation of the 5-14 National Guidelines by the National Museums of Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland. For the vast majority of the sample there has as yet been no input, particularly from the Galleries.
_ I...,~ .~. .A-; ~,‘;‘~.~.,~:~~~ii~~~~~~~~,;~~~~,~~; ~;,~~,.~‘:,~r:~~‘.~,~~~_.,,_:~:;~i:K~;.~~_i::~~~~:~~~ .,_, ~/, ~, ~~~~~~,!~~~~.‘~~‘~,~~~,~~,‘.” ;,:2“S ‘Z’ ,~,,.~‘.‘.”i 1.: ..,,,..:,;i-, (.~,. ii,.(. :/;,,i‘.~~’ _i_l, ,;, -,.,,~~~,~.~, i_ ,.,, ;.. /,_,,:“:T1 ~:, :~ ;y: I ::‘:?.~i:\s :r /,,, ,;il,,:-~., I .~ ,i:~:NBtiiiljat~,G~lleiies;-.jj; i:ii-,~NBtlonal,~Museums Li;:lr.T:.#:L:.:..:~;>;f;<>:, :--,:~,~~‘~~rl:~_i,i‘.~ .j;y:&J:? !i:~‘;,,~,~ :.:~ “,:,“:i: 3~:~ ~,‘- ,:: ;:.~:,.::.::h’~: ;.:,,‘;.:l::,~.:<.; 2;~.,:, ;~ _,! N-1438 (%) (“4 A materialinput * 2 A small but significant input 3 5 A minor input overall 7 10 No input 76 71 Don’t know/notstated 13 12 ~=Lessthanl%,butnotzero)
As a follow up, schools were asked to indicate whether or not they would welcome assistance with the implementation of the 5-14 National Guidelines from the Museums and Galleries. The results were as follows:
General In cross- General In cross- assistance curricular links assistance curricular links
N=1438 (%) (“4 (%) (“h) It would be most welcome 43 44 47 44 Usefulbut not essential 38 35 35 35 Weare unlikelyto needmaterial assistance 9 9 6 9 Don’t know/notstated 11 13 11 13
Overall, the results indicate that the majority of schools would welcome both general assistance and assistance with cross-curricular links from the Galleries and from the Museums. Moreover, among over half of those who have noted a positive interest in such assistance, the involvement of the Galleries and Museums would be strongly rather than just moderately welcomed. Few schools indicated that they are tiely to need material assistance.
69 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
There is no difference in attitude with respect to assistance from the Galleries as opposed to the Museums and similarly most schools would be equally positive towards both general assistance and specific assistance related to cross-curricular links.
Not surprisingly, perhaps, in those areas where assistance on the National Guidelines from the Galleries and the Museums is more likely to have already been received, schools tended to show a greater interest in obtaining further assistance. Haying benefited previously, a greater whllngness to receive assistance in the future is thus more evident among schools in Lothian, Fife, Central and Dumfries and Galloway.
Q22 Interest in outreach services from the Galleries In order to gauge the level of interest in potential outreach services from the National Galleries of Scotland, schools were asked to indicate how likely they would be to use three different types of outreach service if they were to be offered. There was marked interest. There was a sizeable degree of parity in the views expressed by schools in all regions, with touring exhibitions more likely to be used by schools iu Highland, Grampian, Strathclyde West and the Islands.
N = 1438 W/,) W) (“h) (%) The loan of itemswith 47 42 3 7 accompanyingteacher packs Talkat your school by 35 44 8 12 GallelySM Touring exhibitions 42 47 4 7
Q23 Use of outreach services from the Museums The National Museums of Scotland currently provide a number of outreach services. Schools were asked firstly to indicate how many times, in the last two years, if any, that they had used these services and, secondly, to indicate the quality of these services. The findings demonstrate that, whereas only a small minority have used each of the services listed, lack of usage is primarily a reflection of limited awareness of the services available. The findings also suggests that the services are regarded highly, but the findings need to be treated with some caution where the base sizes are small.
70 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Usage of outreach services provided by the Museums
.,:i::,,“;~.~;~~~.~‘--,~:,~~~~:..ij-,,,.?~,’ :-,;,,‘:~;:?$ ,_, ,;. i .~,::.:; .,:,,,::, ,, ~,:;, .~ :i:~/~~~~~~~.d,:~bi,-::.i ,:; .Not awar&r:~:;:) :~~:~~$i~~&jj.;~
;&&&f$ service not stated occasion other means
N = 1438 W) WI (“/I W) W) DiscoveryRoom on tour 2 3 13 73 10 Othertouring exhibitions 1 2 12 74 11 Publications 5 3 21 58 13 Talksto pupils 2 1 12 74 12 Trainingfor teachers 2 2 14 70 12 Otheradvice or informationto teachers 3 2 15 66 14
Quality of outreach services provided by the Museums
adequate
(5) (4) (3) (2) (1) (“A) WI W) W) W) W) DiscoveryRoom on tour (68) 65 21 6 9 4.65 Othertouring exhibitions (36) 50 25 6 3 17 4.47 Publications(112) 17 47 16 1 19 3.99 Talksto the pupils (36) 53 25 3 19 4.62 Trainingfor teachers(58) 31 38 10 2 19 4.21 Otheradvice or informationto teachers(66) 26 47 11 17 4.16 Note: Thebase of usersin eachcase is shown in bracketsbeside service
Q24 Visiting other museums and galleries Of the total sample, 76 per cent indicated that they ever visited other galleries. For the most part such visits are either rarely (29 per cent) or undertaken only once or twice a year (29 per cent). However, a sizeable number (18 per cent) are more frequent visitors, tending to visit other galleries more than twice a year. This figure rises significantly to 31 per cent in Strathclyde Central, whereas in Highland, Fife, Lothian, Borders and Dumfries and Galloway it is significantly lower than the average. Availability of such resources is a factor in this.
71 Scotland’s National Museums and Galleries: Quality of Service and Safeguarding the Collections
Visiting other museums is more widespread. Ninety-three per cent ever do so and only one per cent indicated that they never visited them. Frequency of visiting is also slightly higher than to galleries. Twenty-seven per cent usually visit other museums more than twice a year and a further 44 per cent do so once or twice annually. Those making such trips less often are, in this instance, in the minority (22 per cent).
Location of the schools is also an important innuence on usage of other museums and, again, it is the schools in Strathclyde Central which are most likely to have made such visits. Forty-two per cent in this area do so usually twice a year or more, compared to 30 per cent in Tayside and 26 per cent in Grampian, the other two regions where greater use appears to be made of other museums.
Q25 Reasons for visiting other museums and galleries When asked to indicate, from a list, reasons for visiting museums and galleries other than the National Museums of Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland, the results among those who ever did so were as fo!.lows:
N= 983 1278 (“h) WI Collectionsmore relevant to 20 31 teachingneeds Specialor temporary 40 46 exhibitionsof particular interest Closer/moreaccessible 85 86
72