Museum Accreditation: how do you define a well-run museum?

Sarah Hartshorne, Senior Manager, Museums and Cultural Property, Arts Council England. Joined by a panel of those who deliver the scheme across the UK and museums involved in testing to date
Arts Council England discuss their redesign of the UK wide Museum Accreditation Scheme and how alongside their UK partners they’re using this opportunity to re-consider what it means to be a well-run museum with the right core elements in place for a sustainable, thriving future.

This session is BSL interpreted

Main image credit: Sheffield Museums – Weston Park Museum, Photo by Andy Brown

Speakers: Sarah Hartshorne, Senior Manager, Museums and Cultural Property, Arts Council England

Museum Accreditation is a UK-wide standard for museums of all shapes and sizes. It helps supports development by providing a framework for the foundations of a well-run museum. This session will explore how we have approached drafting the newest iteration of the Standard (due to be published in late 2026), putting users at its heart.

We will share the current understanding of what a well-run museum is and how we can use this definition to support the long term resilience and public value of museums.

Main image credit: Sheffield Museums – Weston Park Museum, Photo by Andy Brown

Sarah Hartshorne, Senior Manager