Pearls and wisdom Arts Council England’s vision for the Designation Scheme for collections of national significance 2 Contents Foreword 5 The development of the Scheme so far 7 Arts Council England’s vision for the future of Designation 10 Case studies Beamish, The Living Museum of the North 14 Library of Birmingham 16 Derby Museums Trust 18 Hull Museums 20 Norfolk Museums Services 22 Oxford University Museums 24 The Tank Museum 26 The Wellcome Library 28 The Wordsworth Trust 30 English Folk Dance and Song Society 32 Designated Collections by Area 34 3 Front cover: Astrolabe for Shah Abbas II, by Muhammad Muqim al-Yazdi, Persian, 1647/8. Credit: Museum of the History of Science, University of Oxford Inside cover: ‘The Co-op flag that covers the world’ Credit: National Co-operative Archive Below: Coronet worn by Princess Patricia to King Edward VII’s coronation in 1902 Credit: Historic Royal Palaces 4 Such collections, often shaped by Foreword strong characters and enduring enthusiasms, merge disciplines, crossing art and science in fascinating ways; they tell gripping stories, help us to understand our past, and suggest how our future might be different. These vital collections are located in rural and urban centres across the country, from Cornwall to Suffolk, from the South Coast to Cumbria. The Designation Scheme exists to recognise cultural collections of The Arts Council invests its funds and outstanding richness and resonance resources according to the objectives – collections that help deepen our set out in its 10-year strategy, Great art understanding of the world, and and culture for everyone. The recent what it means to be human. review of the Designation Scheme has been an opportunity to reflect on the Designation is a mark of distinction. purpose and principles that underpin It identifies pre-eminent collections the Scheme and its effectiveness in of national and international delivering against the needs of the importance held in non-national sector and the Arts Council’s strategic museums, libraries and archives aims. across England. During the course of the review We are extraordinarily fortunate to we have consulted extensively have such a rich material legacy of and are grateful for the informed our collecting culture, and this is opinion of our stakeholders, including reflected in the brilliant variety of The National Archives and English our Designated collections; covering Heritage. Such relationships are subjects as diverse as Churchill’s essential to the future of Designated archives, the Romantic movement, collections – and to the future of the history of London’s transport, England’s arts and culture. and the surgeon’s profession. 5 We have listened to the views of colleagues across the sector and thought carefully about the direction of the Designation Scheme. It is clear that the fundamental principles that underpin Designation continue to receive strong support and that it should continue to reward the quality and national significance of collections. We are also clear that the bar must remain high for attaining the award – there should be no lessening of the significance and quality of collections coming into the Scheme. It continues to be important that the best collections are identified and supported and most importantly – used and enjoyed. This publication sets out our vision for the future of Designation. We are sure that these plans will provide the basis for the Scheme to thrive, and will focus attention on the exceptional value and potential of these outstanding collections. Alan Davey Chief Executive Arts Council England 6 policy, Treasures in Trust (1996). Its The founding principles were to raise the development profile of these vital collections and of the Scheme encourage safeguarding of them. so far Following Treasures in Trust, we have seen the development of the Renaissance programme and Major Partner Museums in which Designated collections have a core role. In 2005 the Scheme expanded its remit to include collections in non- The Designation Scheme has national archives and libraries in developed over seventeen years since order to champion and celebrate it was initiated to identify pre-eminent these collections alongside those held collections held in England’s non- in museums. This was a welcome national museums. Over this time we development which helped overcome have seen awards made to 140 distinct the sometimes false distinctions collections and around £32 million of between collection domains; Designated funding has been invested towards collections, by their nature, are extensive fulfilling our objectives, and those of and often multi-dimensional, as will our predecessor bodies, to help ensure be seen in the full list of the recipients that Designated collections are well provided at the back of this publication. looked after and that they are widely accessible – both for wide enjoyment Although there have been a number and focussed research. of discrete reviews since the Scheme was established, this has been the The Scheme was set up with the belief first detailed review focusing on the that these collections, which lacked the fundamental purpose and principles. resources and protection afforded to collections in national institutions, were As we further integrate museums and nonetheless of national importance. libraries within Arts Council England The establishment of the Designation and strengthen our commitment to Scheme was a commitment set out in supporting and measuring excellence, the government review of museum the time feels right to ensure that 7 Designation continues to deliver clear a view on organisational structures, benefits and value to the sector and policies and performance. remains fit for purpose. Over the years Designation A key consideration has been looking had expanded from being solely at the alignment of Designation a judgement of quality and alongside other schemes that exist significance of the collection to to protect cultural property and acting like a quasi-standard with a heritage, as well as those that focus view being taken on the performance on organisational development. This of the holding organisation. As well review complements the in-depth as being structurally difficult, it review of Accreditation for Museums understandably caused confusion which took place between 2009 with Designation being perceived and 2011, as well as the recent as the next natural developmental introduction of Accreditation for progression after Accreditation. Archive Services by The National Archives, which is closely guided We also knew that, because of the by and aligned with the Scheme upfront commitment that applying for for museums. Designation required, we needed to do more to filter the serious contenders Although we knew the award earlier in the process. of Designation was valued and coveted, we were also aware of some We have consulted widely during the inherent tensions in the Scheme, both review. We wrote to key stakeholders strategically and structurally, that and held a round table discussion, needed to be addressed. The second had many face-to-face conversations, assessment bar – looking at collections conducted an extensive online survey management and services to the public and asked for email responses to our – could be problematic in practice. It proposal paper. The message that was introduced in 2005, when the we heard, loud and clear, was that Scheme broadened its remit to include Designation should be refocused archives and libraries, because at that back on its founding principles of stage there was not an equivalent of identifying and celebrating the very Accreditation for Museums for either best collections and that is the key archives or libraries which provided principle that we are carrying forward. 8 An enbalmed serpent sent by the Venetians to King Francis, 1560. From “Histoires prodigieuses” by Pierre Boaistuau. Credit: Wellcome Library, London 9 in the field and awards will be made Arts Council by an independent panel of senior England’s heritage professionals. vision for the future of In the revised criteria there will no longer be an assessment of Designation the performance of the holding organisation. We absolutely believe that healthy organisations should continue to maintain and build upon the Accreditation standard and we will continue to advocate for the value Designation will continue to identify of Accreditation for museums and nationally significant collections in for archives, however, it will not form museums, libraries and archives. part of the assessment process for the award of Designation. We are reasserting the founding principles of the Scheme – celebrating Designation is an enduring award. and helping to safeguard vital Where there are changes of collections for present and future governance or questions about generations. The consultation with collections development, this may key stakeholders told us that it is necessitate a review of the original neither desirable nor realistic to seek award. We will, where relevant, legislative protection for Designated review awards of ‘all holdings’ to collections, but we will actively clarify the extent of the Designated articulate the value of these collection. We think that this approach collections for the very long-term. complements our desire to clarify the core purpose of the Scheme and we We feel there is scope to make will explore this further in consultation more awards; Designation will with current award holders and continue to be an application-based sector bodies. scheme. We are redeveloping the relevant processes in support of The Scheme for collections sits the refocused requirements and alongside a range of other cultural will continue to work with experts protection mechanisms. Some of 10 these are managed within Arts academic, independent and specialist Council England, like the Acceptance library networks. in Lieu Scheme or the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works We will develop our advocacy of Art and Objects of Cultural for the Designation Scheme with a Interest, which are a means to bring view to leveraging in more support pre-eminent objects into the public for the collections it recognises.