Cornwall’s Museum Development Officer (MDO) is hosted by Cornwall Council. The Museum Development Officer supports museums across Cornwall.
If you work or volunteer for a museum in Cornwall, the Museum Development Officer provides:
- Professional advice, guidance and signposting for any area of museum operations
- Support for the UK Museum Accreditation scheme
- Support for fundraising and grant applications
- Support for networks and groups
- Needs-led training and development opportunities
The support from the Museum Development Officer enables museums to achieve sustainable improvements. It also helps to maximise museum benefits to audiences and their communities.
The Museum Development Officer is part of Museum Development South West and Museum Development Network. More information is available below.
Contact the Museum Development Officer at cultureteam@cornwall.gov.uk.
Small Grants for Museum Development
Cornwall Council is offering grants of £500 to £1,000 to museums, galleries and heritage centres in Cornwall. This is for activity that:
- supports long-term sustainability
- working collaboratively
- trying something new
To be eligible an organisation must:
- Acquire and care for tangible collections of objects and/or works of art
- Make their collections accessible to the public
- Be a not-for-profit organisation
- Be located in Cornwall
Applications are now closed. Full details of the grant are in the application form, please read them carefully before applying.
Museum Development UK
Museum Development UK (MDUK) is a network of all national Museum Development providers and practitioners in:
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
- Northern Ireland
The following invest in Museum Development:
- Arts Council England
- Museums Galleries Scotland
- the Welsh Government (Museums, Libraries and Archives Division)
- Northern Ireland Museums Council
The provider for Cornwall is Museum Development South West.
Find out about national Museum Development projects, resources and news
Museum Development South West
Museum Development South West (MDSW) exists to support museums and heritage organisations to develop and improve across all areas of their operation.
MDSW invests in a network of:
- eight regional Museum Development Officers
- a central team of specialist officers
- a small grants scheme
- a training programme and
- a variety of projects
Find out more and access a range of resources
MDSW supports the UK Museum Accreditation Scheme. Contact the Museum Development Officer to access this support.
Arts Council England
Arts Council England (ACE) is the national development agency for the creative and cultural sector, including museums. It invests public money from the UK Government and The National Lottery into the sector through their 10 year strategy Let’s Create.
ACE administrates the UK Museum Accreditation Scheme and offers a range of funding opportunities for museums and galleries.
Find out about how ACE supports museums
Contact the Museum Development Officer for advice and support with ACE funding applications: cultureteam@cornwall.gov.uk.
UK Museum Accreditation Scheme
The Accreditation Scheme is the UK industry standard for museums and galleries.
It helps everyone involved with a museum to do the right things. Helping people to access and engage with collections and protect them for future generations.
Find out more about the scheme
Contact the Museum Development Officer for Accreditation support: cultureteam@cornwall.gov.uk.
South West Fed
South West Fed supports a flourishing and confident heritage community in the South West. It creates opportunities to connect and inspire for the benefit of organisations and their audiences.
Find out more and join for free
Strategic Historic Environment Service
Museums hold collections which contribute to our understanding of the historic environment.
The Strategic Historic Environment Service of Cornwall Council:
- identifies
- records
- enhances
- conserves
- presents and
- interprets
the historic environment of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.
It maintains the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Historic Environment Record (HER).
Find out more about the service
Kresen Kernow
Kresen Kernow ('Cornwall Centre') is home to the world's largest collection of documents, books, maps and photographs related to Cornwall's history.
Contact them for specific advice on archive collections: kresenkernow@cornwall.gov.uk.
If you have archives in your museum collection, you can also join Cornwall Archives Network (CAN) for support, guidance and training on archive collections.
Museums Association
The Museums Association (MA) advocates for and supports museums and everyone who works in and with them. This is so that the value and impact of museums and their collections is realised.
The MA publishes essential guidance for the sector and runs training and events.
Join as an organisation or as an individual
Association of Independent Museums
The Association of Independent Museum (AIM) represents, connects and strengthens the UK’s independent museums, galleries and heritage organisations.
AIM provides:
- regular sector updates
- useful grants and training programmes
- a range of expert advice and guidance
You can join as an organisation or individual.
Collections Trust
The Collections Trust helps museums work with the information that connects audiences and collections. Its standards and advice are used around the world to make museum collections accessible. The SPECTRUM standard of museum documentation is part of the UK Museum Accreditation standard.
Full guidance to the standard and links to useful resources
Group for Education in Museums
The Group for Education in Museums (GEM) is for everyone interested in learning through museums, heritage and cultural settings.
It delivers a range of services to support museum educators, including:
- professional membership
- training and development opportunities
- career mentoring
- regular publications