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The value of museum collections to the
community
“The way that collections are developed, used,
interpreted and documented all has a
bearing on their perceived relevance to
communities and individuals”
Understanding the Future: Museums and 21st Century Life - The value of Museums - DCMS 2005
Building Social Capital
People’s
interaction with
collections
stimulates the
development of
new skills, new
attitudes and new
awareness.
Civic Pride
“Museums and their
collections provide an
expression of a town or
city’s pride in itself and
standing in the nation.”
A Manifesto for Museums
Celebrating Local Identity
&
Sense of Place
The collections in Aberdeenshire’s Museums’ celebrate and preserve local
histories.
This imbues a sense of belonging, identity and kinship within communities.
Thus nurturing the reciprocal relationship between museum collections and the
community that inspires life and relevancy into them.
Democratic value
Democratic participation and involvement with the museum
and its collections by the local community is essential.
The Curatorial Officer can achieve this by working in partnership with:-
Local Heritage
Societies
Teachers
(ASG’s)
Arts Development
Teams
Special Interest
Groups
Friends
Groups
Social Workers
Internal staff/NEFA/
RDCF staff
Cultural Co-ordinators
Museum Fora
Community Councils
Museum
Bodies
(SMC, MLA, MA)
Youth
Groups
Cultural Diversity & Social Inclusion
 Museums as community spaces.
 The use of collections in finding relevancy with excluded
sectors of community.
 Collections contribute to the cultural mix of a location which
enhances its appeal to both existing residents and newcomers.
Community cohesion
Communities
coming together
to work with
collections
Sustainable communities
 Culture-led regeneration. - Delivering for
communities with communities.
 Community empowerment - Leading to
individual and group development and lifelong
learning, building social capital.
 USP - or museum as unique selling point, for
attracting economic regeneration through tourist
and business investments.
CONCLUSION
Collections are central to everything that museums do and all that
they might achieve.
• Wonder and Awe
• Exploration
• Learning
• Experiences
• Stimulation
• Community Identity
“Collections for the Future” - Museums Association
Therefore the value of museum collections to the
community is immeasurable