news 1|2010

Newsletter of the Network of European Organisations in Photos © Kjellgren Kaminsky AB Architecture Ulricehamm Visitors Centre, Sweden. Heating is produced through people and equipment, energy by solar cells on the roof.

Interest and care for the environment other European museums each year it ecological system operates like a life is not a new phenomenon. In the early would, at least in the Netherlands, cycle. In an on marketing language 1970s Western Europe experienced a require the whole country to become a based concept of People, Planet, Profit, temporary oil shortage which caused museum depot by the middle of the institutions aim to balance these three ideas for energy saving and next century. elements in a sustainable way. And then sustainable energy to receive more In the past few years a number of there is ‘the natural step’, a system general attention. Then, in the early museums have become aware of the based on the principle of our planet 1980s, the United Nations established important and unavoidable issue of being a closed environmental system, the World Commission for Environment the earth’s natural resources slowly which will probably survive, but if and Development. In 1987 the report depleting. This year the Danish necessary, without us. for the first time clearly defined the Museums Association organised an Whatever our ideas on sustainability term ‘sustainability’ and ‘sustainable international conference in March to may be, the topic is here to stay. Our development’. In their widely adopted discuss sustainability in museums. very existence depends on it. Of course definition this means to develop the Some museums have become very we cannot precisely predict the impact planet in such way that future active in implementing sustainable of the current damaging developments to generations will not be harmed by our policies. Two years ago the UK the earth’s eco systems, but the truth is activities and moreover will be able to Museums Association organised that museums can no longer hide from fulfil their own needs. panels and debates on sustainability this fact either. In the light of economic What does sustainability mean to resulting in a report with recessions and more conservative museums? There are at least three recommendations and best practice governments in Europe, it is likely that ways of looking at it. One point of view examples. In that study, the notion of museums will have to prove in more regards a museum’s very existence as ‘social sustainability’ in relation to ways that their maintenance by public intrinsically sustainable. museums was also introduced. It funding is perfectly acceptable. The real means involving your local community challenge is for a shift in attitude to take into the core activities of your place whereby being a sustainable and Collecting and conserving museum. Finally one can define ‘green responsible organisation becomes “for future generations is sustainability’ by which museums act something self-evident. And the good in an ecologically conscious way, news? It does not necessarily cost more; after all core business for saving energy and other resources in in fact in the long run it is likely to save museums. their day-to-day operational and money as well as the environment. So management processes. don’t wait and start right away with the Though one could question the People working in museums find obvious: involve your local community, practice of their unbridled urge to their inspiration for sustainable print less, print paper on both sides, collect new and more of the same. If development from all kinds of sources. save energy and thus save money and we extrapolated the number of objects Some embrace the principle of our planet too. that find their way into Dutch and ‘cradle-to-cradle’ whereby the By | Margriet de Jong news 2 1|2010 News from Europe’s Museums

News from Page 2 LATVIA: Museum sector reacts to financial crisis Europe’s Museums In 2009, significant changes took place in the Latvian museum sector. The changes A Letter from the NEMO Page 3 resulted from a drop in public financing following the global economic crisis. Looking for Chairwoman a way forward, the Latvian government opted for structural reform and savings measures. NEMO Activities The structural reform of the Latvian museum sector was both an event of centralisa- tion as of decentralisation. A number of state museums were handed over to the juris- New Commissioner for Page 4 diction of local councils or independent institutions (e.g. universities or companies). In Androulla Vassiliou the process of centralising the museums, larger institutions were created in the hope on the of increasing financial resources through the unification of supporting functions, such sector as administration, accounting, housekeeping, public relations and others. The decen- Museums and Page 5 tralisation of state museums, by handing them over to the jurisdiction of other sectors, Sustainability: was warranted due to the lack of state finances, while it also provided an opportunity Practice Examples to draw museum activities closer to their direct target audiences. In this way museum resources could be used more effectively, as well as providing a greater opportunity to An Interview with Page 6 secure the maintenance of museums by attracting new sources of funding. Jan Truszczy´nski Up until now structural reforms have allowed museums to maintain their range of ABOUT: Spain Page 8 visitor services and the number of permanent and temporary exhibitions. It is too early to comment whether reforms have given other awaited results such as improv- NEMO – The Network of European ing museum management and the quality of services. Only after analysing the results Museum Organisations is an independent a year on will we be able to tell if Latvia’s museums will be capable of sustaining network representing the European museum their activities within the available budget. State subsidies for museums in 2010 community. For more information about were reduced by an average of 50 percent. Museums drastically reduced staff NEMO, visit: www.ne-mo.org wages and reduced basic functions to a minimum. However, expenses concerning

news infrastructure and maintenance have not changed. Paid museum services are expected to provide a significant amount of finance for securing museum activities. is produced by the German Museums Association The spending capacity of the local community has also been reduced, and the inten- sity of foreign tourism dropped in comparison to earlier years. The structural changes combined with the financial conditions presented a Editor: Anna Bas Backer Co-editor: Julia Pagel challenge to Latvia’s museums that drove them to reassess activities up until now Contributors: Anna Bas Backer, Maurice and look for new approaches. Thus the sector is using the crisis as an opportunity Davies, Leticia de Frutos, Janis Garjans, to develop qualitative museum activities. Margriet de Jong, Julia Pagel, Elizabeta Change has also affected the management of the Latvian museum sector. Petruša-Strukelj, Catherine Sustek, Jan According to what is set out in the Law on Museums, the management of the Truszczy´nski Design: Hannu Rinne museum sector is to be undertaken by the State Authority on Museums. In order to economise resources, the government made the decision to abolish the State Printing: MK Druck, Berlin, Germany Authority on Museums from January 1 2010, and its duties to be taken over by the Ministry of Culture. A Museums and Visual Art Section now functions in the Cultural NEMO News is also available in pdf format at Policy Department of the Ministry of Culture, with the task of continuing the role of the www.ne-mo.org State Authority of Museums. By | Janis Garjans

Looking for MUSEUMpartners ICELAND: Cleaning up the volcanic ashes in EU-projects? The Skógar Museum, one of the largest municipal museums in Iceland, was Go to our website: considerably affected by the volcanic eruption of Mt Eyjafjallajökull. The ash permeated www.ne-mo.org sealed windows and doors and produced a thin layer of dust on the artefacts. In the open air areas of the museum mounds of ash had formed. With the support of the European As the volcanic ash is considered harmful a large clean-up operation has been Community budget line ‘Support for incited. Draped in masks and goggles, Margrét Hallgrímsdóttir, general director of bodies active at European level in the field of culture’ the National Museum of Iceland, and Nathalie Jaqueminet, head of conservation at the National Museum, received help from ICOM Iceland and around 40 volunteers from different museums along with friends of the Skógar Museum. In the areas most affected the artefacts were covered with protective sheeting and “This project has been funded with measures were taken to prevent further support from the European Commission. dust to enter the buildings. The This publication reflects the views only of museum was closed during 17 days the author, and the Commission and has since been reopened. cannot be held responsible for any use Photo © Hans-Martin Moser which may be made of the information Cleaning ashes in the Skógar-Museum in Iceland By | Anna Bas Backer contained therein.” news 1|2010 3 A Letter from the NEMO Chairwoman

The first part of 2010 is already fully Society Platform on Access to Culture in underway and a lot of activities on Brussels for which NEMO has been European policy level have been handled working since 2008. Within the precept by NEMO. of the ‘structured dialogue’, a process to During the network’s executive board’s allow civil society to provide effective meeting in June 2010 in Brussels, we input to the policy-making process and had the chance to talk to various take an active part in the implementation representatives of the European of the European Agenda for Culture, the Commission, the Parliament and the platform contributions will feed into the Executive Agency. NEMO brought political decision making of the forward various issues that concern Comission and the Member States.

European museums such as the Mobility During the meeting the platform put a-Strukelj of Museum Collections, Digitisation forward its recommendations that shall Initiatives, Learning and Intercultural reinforce the overall Access to Culture Dialogue and explained how museums and requested strong support from the are active in these fields and contribute European Commission to work in

to European cohesion. On another note, partnership with civil society actors. Photo © Elizabeta Petru š concerns and challenges for museums Shifting from Europe over to NEMO’s were discussed. NEMO was invited annual meeting, the preparations are which will be in charge of NEMO's by the and Culture Committee already advancing. On September 25, activities from 2011 onwards. As has of the European Parliament to give a right after the MumAE-meeting, NEMO’s become tradition, all participants will presentation and to exchange views with members and partners are invited to have the opportunity to visit the the committee members on the various meet in Copenhagen’s Glyptotek. The museums of Copenhagen on Sunday, topics and make the policy makers one-day meeting will focus mainly on September 26. We hope many of you aware of key points that are important NEMO issues, including discussions can come to contribute to our event. for the museum landscape. about a new membership structure for A week later, NEMO took part in the network. We will also have elections By | Elizabeta Petruša Strukelj the plenary meeting of the Civil for a new chair and board for NEMO, NEMO Activities

NEMO Executive Meeting in Brussels

During their executive meeting in Brussels on June 1 and 2 this year, the NEMO board met with various EU representatives to discuss issues and activities in and around EU cultural policy and the role of European museums in the European culture. Views on topics such as collection mobility and professionals, digitisation, and activities of museums in the learning field were exchanged. NEMO also expressed its interest in the Commission’s future strategies in the cultural heritage field. Among NEMO's discussion partners were the new Director General Jan Truszczynski´ and José Amaral Lopes, from the Cultural Policy and Intercultural Dialogue Unit, DG Education and Culture; Catherine Sustek, responsible for the Culture programme and Actions, Intercultural Dialogue and UNESCO in the Cabinet of Commissioner for Education and Culture Androulla Vassiliou; and Corinne Mimran, Head of the Culture Unit, EACEA. During this same visit, NEMO presented its views and standpoints on various topics to the Education and Culture Committee of the European Parliament. The presentation can be downloaded at www.ne-mo.org/index.php?id=85

International Conference in Copenhagen, September 23 – 24, 2010

The conference this year will take place in Copenhagen, Denmark and is the closing event of the Grundtvig project MumAE (Museums meet Adult Educators), in which NEMO acts as associate partner. The conference aims at supporting the encounter and transfer of knowledge between museum and adult educators at European level. It is addressed to professionals working in umbrella organisations both in the museum and lifelong learning field and to museum and adult educators. Practical information and registration for the conference: www.dkmuseer.dk/arrangementer/museumsmeetadulteducators-mumae Further information about the project: www.mumae.eu news 4 1|2010 New Commissioner for Culture Androulla Vassiliou on the cultural heritage sector

As of February 2010, Androulla Vassiliou has officially taken over office as the new EU Commissioner for Education, Culture, Multilingualism and Youth. Up to her current appointment Vassiliou was Commissioner for Health.

All Europeans who value cultural work on issues as indemnity schemes, Europe. On copyright, she predicts that heritage have a responsibility to ensure long-term loans, illicit trafficking of Europe's new digital agenda will aim to that the entire cultural heritage is cultural goods, insurance schemes and achieve a balance between culture respected and preserved for the sake of mobility of museum professionals. accessibility and fair remuneration for future generations. Caring for cultural artists. heritage and its conservation and restoration is primarily a national Otherwise, the European Commission responsibility, but the Union can lend a Androulla Vassiliou has set up a Reflection Group on helping hand by funding restoration as “believes that cultural digitisation. The Group will advise to part of regional development, as well as Commissioner Vassiliou and research and cultural cooperation heritage is about more Commissioner for the Digital Agenda, projects with a heritage theme. Androulla than the past: it is about Neelie Kroes, on the topics of Vassiliou is directly responsible for the how to move towards the digitisation, online accessibility and EU's Culture Programme, which helps to future. preservation of Europe's cultural build a European dimension into the heritage. Furthermore, it will examine citizens' cultural lives. ongoing initiatives involving both public Opening up culture to people, and in and private partners (e.g. the Google With her recent initiative to transform particular to the young, is indispensable Books project), copyright issues, look at the European Heritage Label from an for its long-term future, but today's how to fund digitisation and address intergovernmental scheme into a formal creators also need to be properly copyright issues as well as licensing EU action, she underlines her intention to rewarded for their creativity. Last April, practices to facilitate the digitisation of “give visibility to sites that epitomise Commissioner Vassiliou published a copyrighted material. European ideals to foster a sense of Green Paper on unlocking the potential shared European identity and belonging”. of Europe's cultural and creative By | Catherine Sustek The new European Heritage Label will be industries, launching a wide consultation. Catherine Sustek is responsible for the Culture awarded to sites that have a symbolic The objective of this consultation is to programme and Actions, Intercultural Dialogue value for the European Union. These are gather views on various issues impacting and UNESCO in the Cabinet of Androulla sites that highlight and symbolise the cultural and creative industries in Vassiliou. European , the building of the European Union and European values and human rights that underpin the process of European integration. The involvement in ambitious cultural and educational programmes that uphold networking between sites, sharing best practice and launch joint projects is a further factor.

Commissioner Vassiliou also believes that museums are not just the repository of the great achievements of the past: they are crucial actors in keeping cultural heritage alive for all to learn and take inspiration from. In the framework of the Open Method of Coordination (OMC) in culture, Member States and the Commission have formed a working group on museum activities and mobility

of collections. The group has focused its Photo: © European Union 2010 / Androulla Vassiliou news 1|2010 5 Museums and Sustainability: Practice Examples

United Kingdom: Mapping Sustainability and Museums

In 2008-9 the UK Museums and quantity and more about quality Association (MA) ran a consultation and depth of relationships. about sustainability and museums. The consultation period also The consultation showed “that if museums are to be Around 20 discussion workshops coincided with a significant rise in fuel throughout the UK were held, a costs and the banking crisis. It genuinely sustainable, discussion paper was published on therefore proved timely and relevant they need to think more the MA website and a printed to museums at a number of levels. long-term. summary leaflet was disseminated The key aim of the consultation and among its members. workshops was to get people in Even though museums aim to keep museums thinking and talking about their collections ‘in perpetuity’, they It was observed that because of sustainability. The initiative was rarely think more than a few years their work transmitting collections and successful as ‘sustainability’ is now ahead, but sustainability needs knowledge from the past to the future, regularly talked about in UK museums to think at least 20-30 and their social purpose, museums museums. A memorable comment years ahead. are deeply involved in sustainability from the consultation was, “It’s and yet rarely think about their overall pointless showcasing history to the For more information visit contribution to sustainability. world if it costs the earth”. www.museumsassociation.org/ The main conclusion from the sustainability The Museums Association consultation was that UK museums By | Maurice Davies encouraged museums to take a ‘triple are excellent at social sustainability bottom line’ approach that considers and constantly think about economic the three areas of economic, social sustainability (even more so now, as and environmental sustainability. the UK faces significant cuts in Practicalities of individual aspects of funding for museums). However, sustainability (such as energy use and museums need to think more about relationships to local communities) their environmental sustainability. were explored. The MA also Workshop participants had many discussed the deeper longer-term ideas for improving museums’ implications of sustainability for environmental performance; the museums. Museums might be measures identified most often were: consuming more resources than is justified and UK museums’ recent • Use better lighting highly successful growth in buildings, • Change staff behaviour expenditure and audiences might not • Encourage greener travel be the most sustainable path to follow • Have more flexible collections-care in the next decade, especially in view requirements and use air conditioning

of the pressure to reduce energy less David Grandorge consumption and the likely reduction

in funding. But sustainability is about much more Photo © The interior of the Garden Museum in London, UK, It was suggested museums might than becoming greener. is made with farmed European timber from want to think less about growth, size sustainably managed forests.

The Netherlands: Further reading: Some years ago a group of museum operating quite successfully. From the "The Green Museum: A Primer professionals noticed many materials start The Netherlands Museums on Environmental Practice” by were being used only once and Association has been recommending Sarah S. Brophy and Elizabeth decided to act. Up until then, display the online platform to its members. Wylie, 2008. cabinets and exhibition frames were Recently they received a grant to www.mcdonough.com/ thrown away after exhibitions. In further develop Museumplaats. The cradle_to_cradle.htm reaction to this they created a website initiative aims to improve and extend where museums in the Netherlands its services and renew the website. www.johnelkington.com/ index.asp can log on and present surplus For more information visit materials and objects. The website www.museumplaats.nl www.naturalstep.org functions similarly to Ebay and is By | Margriet de Jong www.icse.nl news 6 1|2010 An Interview with Jan Truszczynski´

Jan Truszczynski´ was appointed by the European Commission as Director-General for Education, Training, Culture and Youth in October 2009, taking office in May 2010. Jan Truszczynski,´ born in Poland, joined the European Commission in January 2007 when he was appointed Deputy Director-General for Enlargement. Prior to that, he was Ambassador of Poland to the EU in Brussels from 1996 to 2001.

activities, to help make them attractive Will the financial crisis have an and to improve their accessibility for impact on the future strategy action various audiences. The Commission can of the DG Culture and Education? act as a facilitator of good practices between museums, in particular in The European Commission has been Jan Truszczy´nski regard to increasing collections' mobility clear about where it stands on the crisis

Photo © across Europe. and the ways to deal with it. The EU budget for the period until 2013 has The cultural sector in Europe is been determined, so for the time being What is the Commission’s view on significantly affected by the financial our programmes can continue to work museums? crisis. as set out in 2006. How do you see their role as places What approach can be undergone in As mentioned above, we believe that that attract tourists and generate the sector in order to reach long- culture and its surrounding industries can income and interest; how do you see term goals in regard to be powerful motors for growth, their potential to function as places environmental, economic and social generating revenue, developing skills and that offer a sense of place, providing sustainability? promoting social inclusion. creativity and learning for those who engage with them? The current crisis is affecting all areas of In the digital age, museums regularly society. It urges decision makers to take compete with other forms of Europe has some of the world's richest measures aiming to streamline and entertainment and attraction. and most diverse cultural heritage that reduce public budgets. But caution is In your opinion, can digital images draws millions of people every year from needed in the cultural sector. Several be as useful as real objects? all over the planet, wishing to visit the independent studies and reports point monuments, historical city centres, out that culture reinforces social and Digital content in cultural heritage archaeological sites and – of course – territorial cohesion, drives creativity and institutions is becoming more and more the museums. innovation and produces a positive spill- central. The digitalisation of museum over effect on a wide range of collections is extremely important not businesses and society at large. Thus only for their preservation, but also to Museums are spaces for an culture and its surrounding industries are make exhibitions more attractive. “intensive intercultural powerful drivers of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, which can be used dialogue where new forms as a resource to exit from the crisis. Digitisation can help of cultural expression are “visitors to better born. At the Commission level, we are now looking at ways to better embed culture understand exhibition They are also privileged places for in other sectors, for example through a contents and can even lifelong learning in an informal better use of the European structural create new channels of environment. Museums have gained funds for culture-led projects. Our goal communication. exceptional importance for local and has always been to promote European regional economies, in particular for the culture and we will continue to do this tourism industry, and contribute to cities' not only through the Culture Programme Digitisation also offers tremendous regeneration and rebranding. It is but also through other European financial potential in increasing people's access therefore important to promote their instruments. to culture. The Europeana website t news 1|2010 7

already allows Internet users direct cooperation between culture and local offer up-to-date ways of giving access to access to 7 million digitised books, and regional development is required for collections, but of course come with a maps, paintings, newspapers, film successful sustainable rehabilitation or cost - both in terms of digitising fragments and photographs from cultural valorisation of heritage sites. It is collections and paying commercial rights institutions all across Europe. The important to foster the contribution of for exhibiting online. This is something opportunity to encounter both digital culture to sustainable tourism, which is the Commission's Digital Agenda images and real objects is at the heart of a main factor for local and regional addresses. our efforts to promote access to culture. attractiveness and economic Our Culture Programme supports development, but also for highlighting actions that are aimed at raising Museums are committed to cultural heritage in Europe. The awareness and involving people in sustainability in their work development of cultural tourism, a key culture. To give an example, our annual maintaining collections and element of sustainable tourism, is to be European Union Prize for Cultural knowledge of the past and making encouraged with a strong focus on the Heritage at the Europa Nostra Awards them available to present and future protection of cultural and natural spotlights excellent examples of heritage public. heritage. Sustainable management of care. During this year's award ceremony How can their overall contribution to cultural tourism should be embedded in in Istanbul Mrs Vassiliou, European sustainability be brought to the an integrated local and regional Commissioner responsible for Culture, attention of EU citizens? development strategy. underlined the importance of a balanced approach towards heritage care, on the Cultural heritage is a fundamental What EU programs or actions one hand giving greater access to component of both European identity support museums in their objective heritage and on the other hand seeing to and economic growth. Social and to create environments beneficial to it that new developments are economic development can be pursued sustainability? sustainable. in an integral and long-term perspective Another example is the European if it is combined with effective cultural The Culture and Research programmes Capitals of Culture. Many events taking development. In recent years, new policy are the main tools to support museums place within a European Capital of approaches have been applied in in this objective. Culture are linked to museums in the regional development programmes: with city. The lesson we've learnt from this an increasing awareness that museums action is that it strongly contributes to are an important factor to attract visitors, sustainable development in these cities, improving access to museum collections Museums contribute to the be it cultural, urban or social. is one way to promote sustainable local “development of regions in The Commission disseminates such and regional development. positive results as widely as possible. which the establishment of Hereby illustrating to regions and cities sustainable tourism is across Europe the benefits of investment combined with cultural in culture - including in museums, as Museums are essential heritage protection. part of an integrated local and regional “for accessing knowledge. development strategy. Such projects can take place in the By | Anna Bas Backer and Julia Pagel They create bridges between Europe’s framework of the European Cohesion common heritage and the diversity of its Policy. cultural expressions. What is more, in Finally, we should perhaps be inspired our digital age, museums could become by the ‘green museums’ concept, which leaders in creating digital resources that is flourishing in the United States. are accessible and useful for the benefit of all. How does the Commission encourage museums in their What, in the eyes of the Commission, function of fostering new are currently the main challenges for relationships between visitors and sustainability in the cultural sector, local communities to promote especially in terms of cultural sustainable development and heritage? encourage awareness about the role of museums in the development of As I already mentioned, the cultural society? sector has a rich potential to contribute to the sustainable social and economic I think there is a great variety of ways of development of the EU. A coordinated doing this and across Europe museums and coherent approach is essential to are looking at new and innovative ways unlock this potential, particularly in the of opening up their collections to the field of cultural heritage. Close general public. Digital developments news 8 1|2010 About: SPAIN Most Spanish museums grew out of private collections, usually belonging to royalty, aristocracy and the ecclesiastical authorities. In the last two centuries, modern museums have developed as public institutions, committed to house, safeguard and spread knowledge on Spanish Heritage. Today, the museums dedicate themselves to the service they provide to the public.

Although often housing national beautiful examples of Spanish architecture collections belonging to the State, the from the 15th Century – was totally majority of the museums are administered refurbished and awarded the Architectural by regional governments. Currently 84 Restoration National Award. museums are attached to the Spanish Ministry of Culture of which 17 depend A number of important renovations are SPAIN directly on the General Directorate of Fine currently in process of which the most

Arts and Cultural Goods. A few museums, significant is the extension of ‘Museo Madrid such as the ‘Museo Nacional del Prado’ Arqueológico Nacional’ in Madrid. Others and ‘Centro de Arte Reina Sofía’, have a are already waiting in line, such as a particular status: they are assigned their project involving the ‘Museo Nacional de own budget and given greater autonomy Etnografía’ in Teruel. in their management. Striving to achieve universal access to In the course of the last 10 years most culture and to provide digital contents to The Permanent Laboratory of Public of these museums have embarked on all citizens, the Spanish Ministry of Culture Museums is a project the Ministry of projects and reforms extending their recently launched CERES, an online Culture launched in 2008. The intention buildings and exhibition spaces. The catalogue of the collections of Spanish was to establish an ongoing investigation museums increased collections and museums (http://ceres.mcu.es). into visitors’ needs and trends in order to upgraded their resources, meeting the The site offers a central access portal to all improve the quality of museums and demands and trends of a changing cultural goods found in Spanish museums increase efficiency in their management. society. regardless of their thematic scope or of the One notable fact stands out from these institution they are run by. The Digital studies: a visit to the museum is seen as network of Collections of Spanish an enriching social activity by the majority Museums groups several museums that of the public (over 85 percent) since it is share a specific and unified documentation done in company and transmits a high system called DOMUS and currently level of satisfaction. incorporates approximately 100,000 By | Leticia de Frutos records and 130,000 pictures. All the information available in CERES will shortly be published in HISPANA which will be linked to Europeana, the European Digital Photo © Paola di Meglio Arteaga Library. Spain Museo Nacional del Romanticismo in Madrid is a constitutional monarchy The ‘Museo Nacional del Romanticismo’ Another project is the Museum Libraries located in southwestern Europe in Madrid has been closed to the public Network BIMUS (http://bimus.mcu.es). The on the Iberian Peninsula. Its for the past nine years undergoing project will digitise the collections of the three biggest cities are Madrid, renovations to the building and its spaces. libraries housed in the 17 museums Barcelona and Valencia. The Museum was initially set up with the managed by the Ministry of Culture. BIMUS Nearing 47 million people, Marquis’ extensive collection of paintings offers the possibility to search compre- native Spaniards make up 88 and furniture and set itself the goal to hensive library catalogues through a single percent of the total population. become one of Europe’s reference centres interface, thus facilitating access to the The rest of the population in showcasing and researching the numerous collections. Besides the originate mainly from Latin Romantic Movement. catalogue, BIMUS will feature a “digital America, followed by North library”, providing access to collections Africa, Eastern Europe and Sub- Saharan Africa. Spanish is the Considered a place of research and from the various institutions as well as second most spoken first education, the ‘Museo Nacional Colegio electronic resources of common interest, language in the world. de San Gregorio’ is situated in the such as databases, electronic journals, ‘Colegio de San Gregorio’ in Valladolid. institutional repositories and other The historical building – one of the most resources.