The Accreditation Scheme sets nationally agreed standards for museums in the UK. There are currently just under 1,800 museums participating in the scheme, demonstrating their commitment to managing collections effectively for the enjoyment and benefit of users.

Accreditation enables museums and governing bodies to assess their current performance, and it supports them in planning and developing their services.

The scheme is administered by Arts Council England in partnership with CyMAL: Museum, Archives, Libraries Wales; Museums Galleries Scotland and the Northern Ireland Museum Council.

This is the Welsh language version of the Accreditation standard, published 3 October 2011 (web version, suitable for printing).

Bibliography

This Guidance Sheet supports museums working towards Accreditation 2011. It explains the Collections Management Framework approach to managing collections as set out in the PAS197:2009 Code of Practice for Cultural Collections Management, and explains the link with the Accreditation Standard.

This guidance sheet is number one in a series of three. The other two are titled:
Collections Management : Policies
Collections Management : Planning and Procedures

This link takes you to the Bsi Group webpage describing the PAS197 and allowing you to buy a copy.

Read more about the resource on this website (external link)

This Guidance Sheet supports museums working towards Accreditation 2011. It gives an overview of the role of policies within the PAS197:2009 Code of Practice for Cultural Collections Management, and explains the link with the Accreditation Standard.

This guidance sheet is number two in a series of three. The other two are titled:
Collections Management Framework
Collections Management: Planning and Procedures

This Guidance Sheet supports museums working towards Accreditation 2011. It gives an overview of the role of planning and procedures within the PAS197:2009 Code of Practice for Cultural Collections Management, and the links with Accreditation Standard.

This guidance sheet is number three in a series of three. The other two are titled:
Collections Management Framework
Collections Management: Policies

A document providing on the requirements of the Accreditation Standard (2011 edition):

1.2 Acceptable Constitution for the Governing Body: Accredited museums are long-term organisations which exist to benefit the public and safeguard relevant collections. They have an appropriate and acceptable constitution for the governing body.

Bibliography

Investing in Volunteers is the UK quality standard for all organisations which involve volunteers in their work.

This standard may be useful if you are applying for Accreditation and wish to review your volunteer management

Answers basic questions about the documentation elements of the Museum Accreditation scheme and offers guidance about resources needed to bring collection documentation up to standard. It should be used in conjunction with Accreditation resources. Outlines the five-step process and makes ample reference to SPECTRUM.

Bibliography

Published by the Collections Australia Network, this simple PDF book gives an excellent overview on Disaster Preparedness and Disaster Planning for smaller museums and cultural organisations.

This guidance may be useful if you are preparing for Accreditation.

A checklist for Good Practice in Volunteer Management by Museums. Produced as part of the Volunteers for Museums project.

This checklist may be helpful if you are applying for Accreditation and need to review your volunteer management

A template for a museum Acquisition and Disposal Policy, published in 2008 and revised in 2010

Bibliography

Produced for the International Council of Museums by Patrick Boylan, this short guide provides a simple tool for identifying and assessing risks from natural disasters or civil and/or armed conflict.

This guidance may be useful if you are preparing an Emergency Plan for Accreditation.

SPECTRUM Local is an initiative from the Collections Trust to support the translation and localisation of the SPECTRUM standard, under licence, by museum communities outside the UK.

SPECTRUM Local pages are in production for:

• Norway 
• Sweden 
• Germany 
• Portugal 
• Netherlands 
• Belgium 
• Finland 
• South Africa

A template Documentation Procedural Manual which can be used simply as a guide as to what to include, or can be copied and used as a template.

This template may be useful if you are preparing a documentation procedural manual for Accreditation.