University museum gains national standard

The MLA’s Museum Accreditation Scheme sets nationally agreed standards for all museums in the UK. This national acknowledgment will have a positive impact on the future fundraising opportunities for museum activities and research at the University.  The Bill Douglas Centre (BDC) holds one of the foremost collections of moving image related material in the UK and this new status assures donors, visitors, and funders alike that it is an innovative resource dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of its collections. 

It is a major achievement to gain Accreditation as it is a complex and rigorous process which has taken over two years to achieve.  This is cause for celebration according to the Phil Wickham the Curator for the BDC, he said: ‘Achieving Accreditation for our museum is something we are very proud of as it shows we are running the museum according to best practice.  It also recognises the work we do to care for our collections and in making them accessible to the public.’

Sir Andrew Motion, Chair of MLA, said ‘Being awarded Accreditation is an impressive achievement. It recognises the high standard and service that the BDC provides and acknowledges the hard work of the staff.’

The University is investing £2 million to refurbish the Old Library building, in which the museum is based. This will create a world-class research library facility, with new features benefiting all visitors. Those coming to the museum will enjoy new reception and exhibition spaces, with a cafe-style area breaking out on a large, light terrace. Students will be able to access the museum collections even more easily, with the benefit of a new dedicated special collections reading room and a multi-media seminar space designed to accommodate teaching, film screenings, cultural events and research seminars.  This new study room and teaching space will give students even better opportunities to engage with this world renowned collection. The Centre remains open throughout the work but in the New Year visitors will have better facilities and a new entrance area. The gallery displays will all have been refreshed, with many artefacts exhibited for the first time.
 
Additional investment of £100k from the University Foundation towards the BDC will also enable improvements in storage and collections care.  This funding may also be used for access and visitor requirements in the future.

Phil added, ‘It is an important step in our plans to establish the Centre as a major visitor attraction when the rebuild of its old library home is complete. With this investment, Exeter is building its research facilities and a public museum for the future.  The BDC is a resource that everyone can enjoy, connecting the University to the community and enabling its top ten research to be shared with the public.’