The Contribution of Museums

This article was written in response to Why museums matter: The creative industries’ untapped resource- Art Fund.

The government has made it clear that economic growth is a major priority in its upcoming Spending Review, Industrial Strategy and Creative Industries Growth Plan, with the creative industries identified as one of the eight growth-driving sectors.

The Association of Independent Museums (AIM), the National Museum Directors’ Council (NMDC) and Art Fund commissioned a report delivered by City Global Futures on the role of museums in the creative industries.

The research highlights four cross-cutting themes which illustrate the range of museums’ contributions:

  • Innovation, R&D, and Digital Production
  • Skills and Talent Development
  • Placemaking and Reimagining
  • Creative and Regenerative Ecosystems

To unlock their full potential, museums must be recognised as long-term collaborators in innovation, skills development and industrial strategy.