11th July 2012
MSPI - 3 Additional Museums Receive Full Acreditation
Congratulations to the Old Library in Trinity College Dublin; Pearse Museum OPW in St. Enda’s Park Rathfarnham; and Castletown House OPW in Co. Kildare who were today awarded full accreditation by the Heritage Council under the Museum Standards Programme for Ireland (MSPI). These museums will now join 15 other museums nationwide that have been recognised for high standards under the Programme.
The Foynes Flying Boat Museum in Limerick also received interim accreditation while Monaghan County Museum and the Butler Gallery Kilkenny were awarded maintenance of full accreditation at a ceremony which took place in Dublin on Wednesday 11th July.
Minister of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Jimmy Deenihan, T.D. commented:
“The Museum Standards Programme for Ireland recognises the high standards and level of professionalism which exists within the museum sector. Our cultural heritage is a key factor to attracting tourists and generating economic growth. The museums achieving the various stages of accreditation today are to be commended for their commitment, hard work and vision”.
The Museum Standards Programme, the first of its kind in Ireland is an important initiative which sets out to improve all aspects of Ireland’s museum practice and in particular raise the standards of care for collections across Irish museums and galleries. A voluntary programme, it has attracted involvement from across the cultural spectrum from national institutions to small, volunteer led organisations. To date of the 52 participants in the programme, 15 museums have achieved full accreditation and 10 have been awarded interim accreditation.
Download the full press release here [pdf 97kb].
June 2011
Nine Museum’s recognised for high standards they have achieved – Museum Standards Programme for Ireland
Visitors to Irish museums assured of first class experience.
Congratulations to Donegal County Museum, Farmleigh and the GAA Museum who have been awarded full accreditation by the Heritage Council under the Museum Standards Programme for Ireland. Click here to read full press release.
June 2010
MSPI Interim Accreditation
On June 8, 2010, at an event in the Coach House, Dublin Castle, five museums were awarded Interim Accreditation in the Heritage Council's Museum Standards Programme for Ireland. The GAA Museum, Cavan County Museum, County Museum Dundalk, Limerick City Gallery of Art and South Tipperary County Museum were presented with their certificates by the Chief Executive of the Heritage Council, Michael Starrett, and the Director of Strategic Direction, Failte Ireland, Aidan Pender.
Speaking about the Programme, Mr Starrett said, “this is an important initiative, which sets out to improve all aspects of Ireland’s museum practice and in particular raise the standards of care for collections across Irish museums and galleries. The value of the museum sector to the Irish economy cannot be underestimated. In 2009, over three million overseas visitors engaged in cultural/historical visits while in Ireland. Of these visitors, 1.7 million overseas visitors visited museums/art galleries across Ireland.”
“Accreditation under this Programme offers quality assurance to visitors that the museums they are visiting are adhering to a high set of standards in the management of the museum, care of collections and visitor services. In tough economic times, where visitor numbers are crucial to the viability of many attractions, the value to the museum and local area of this Programme cannot be underestimated”, added Mr. Starrett.
Seven museums have now achieved Full Accreditation in the Programme, with these five museums bringing the number at Interim Accreditation also to seven.
Photographs:
[1.] The GAA Museum: Mark Reynolds, archivist, Mark Dorman, Director, Michael Starrett, Heritage Council Chief Executive, Joanne Clarke, Curator, Aidan Pender, Director of Strategic Director, Failte Ireland, Dermot Gallagher, GAA Board Member.
[2] Cavan County Museum
[3.] County Museum Dundalk: Aidan Pender, Director Strategic Direction, Failte Ireland, Brian Walsh, Curator, David Storey, Executive Director, Dundalk Town Council, Michael Starrett, Chief Executive, Heritage Council.
[4.] Limerick City Gallery of Art
[5.] South Tipperary Museum: Photos from left to right front: Marie McMahon, Curator, Damian Lizun, Michael Grace, Julia Walsh, Alice Tobin, Bernadette Corr, behind: Michael Starrett, Aidan Pender.
November 2009
Six more museums invited to join the Museum Standards Programme for Ireland
The Heritage Council has invited six more museums to join the Museums Standards Programme for Ireland:
- Allihies Copper Mine Museum, Cork
- Athy Heritage Centre and Museum, Kildare
- Dublin City Gallery
- The Hugh Lane Irish Jewish Museum, Dublin
- Kilmainham Gaol, Dublin
- The Zoological Museum, Trinity College Dublin
There are now forty-seven museums participating in the Programme.
November 2009
Upcoming workshops: Autumn-Winter 2009
Click here for information on upcoming workshops on 'Writing an Education Policy'.
Click here for information on upcoming workshop on 'Heritage Interpretation: Enhancing the visitor experience through innovative interpretation'.
May 2009
Full Accreditation Congratulations to Knock Museum, The National Print Museum and Waterford Museum of Treasures
At an awards ceremony in Newman House on 18 May 2009 Knock Museum, The National Print Museum and Waterford Museum of Treasures were awarded Full Accreditation in the Museum Standards Programme for Ireland. All these museums participated in the pilot study for the Programme. This achievement reflects both their hard work and continued dedication to the Programme. They join the National Gallery, Muckross House, Traditional Farms and Research Library, The Butler Gallery and Monaghan County Museum at Full Accreditation Status."
December 2008
Eight more museums invited to join the Museum Standards Programme for Ireland
The Heritage Council is happy to announce the inclusion of eight further collections-based institutions in its successful Museum Standards Programme. At the most recent meeting of the Council it was agreed that the following museums and galleries would be added to those already participating.
- Cork: Crawford Art Gallery
- Dublin: The Old Library, Trinity College
- Dublin: The Pearse Museum
- Dublin: No 29 the Georgian House (ESB)
- Galway: Galway City Museum
- Kildare: Castletown House
- Kilkenny: Kilkenny
- Limerick: Flying Boat Museum Foynes
- Mayo: Michael Davitt Museum
A full agenda of training workshops and assessments is being planned for 2009 and the initial workshop for new participants is scheduled for 22nd and 23rd January 2009.
