In changing times, museums matter

On our high streets and on our televisions, in Whitehall and across the country, there’s no mistaking it – change is in the air. A new government is looking at our country from every angle, and thinking about the changes they will make to deliver on its mission of national renewal.

As the incoming administration begins the work of looking to the future, I would like to invite them to consider how our nation’s museums – so often seen as focused solely on the past – can help us understand more about the world as it is today, and learn how to work with communities to build a better tomorrow.

At Arts Council England it is our job to champion, develop and invest public money in museums – and in this country, we are lucky enough to be home to some of the very finest museums in the world, with collections ranging from the prehistoric to the present day; from the commonplace to the history-making. I have thought long and hard about what it is that makes them so special – and the answer, I think, comes down to connection.

When we find ourselves face to face with the copper glint of the Seaton Down hoard in Exeter’s Royal Albert Memorial Museum, or the intricately decorated rickshaw that takes pride of place in Manchester Museum’s South Asia Gallery, something profound occurs.

As we marvel at coins buried by a nameless Roman almost two millennia ago, gaze upon the rickshaw that was designed and painted together by Bangladeshi and British Asian artists, or wonder at one of the countless other exhibits in museums across the country, we are joined to our history and our community in a manner that is unparalleled.

These objects bridge the gaps between us and the people who made, used, or even lost them, offering a tangible link to their stories, struggles, achievements. They are touchstones: carrying us through time and space.

As the country looks ahead to a new era, retaining these connections – and forging fresh ones – will be crucial to the renewal that our government is seeking to deliver.

Museums offer an ideal model for this work. They encourage us to reflect on the complexity of the past, help us understand and make better sense of our present, and allow us to dream about the possibilities of our future.

They sit at the heart of communities and tell compelling and unique stories – of pride, of work, of hope – about the villages, towns and cities we call home. They celebrate our diversity and bring us together.

They are places of learning, discovery and inspiration. They give our children and young people the space to explore, imagine and dream. They are innovative, creative and dynamic places that help us understand the stories we tell about ourselves.

But as we make the case to a new government of the central role museums play in our country’s cultural life, we must also acknowledge the profound challenges that they are facing. Many are struggling with funding cuts and the pressures of maintaining their buildings and preserving their collections.

The Museum Estate and Development fund has been a much-needed lifeline, providing support for the maintenance and development of museums.

This fund, in which Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and Historic England collaborate, has demonstrated the power of partnership in addressing the issues faced by museums.

We understand its critical value to the sector, and will advocate for new rounds of it. By working together, we can make sure that our museums continue to thrive and serve their communities.

As we face this period of change together, it is crucial that we continue to champion the role of museums in our society. The arts council will stand shoulder-to-shoulder with museums to do just that: continuing to work tirelessly on their behalf and advocating for their value to those in power.

As the development agency for museums in England, we know there is more we can do – from improving our systems and processes, to making sure that more museums benefit from schemes such as Acceptance in Lieu.

But above all else, we are committed to supporting you in your mission to educate, inspire, and connect people to the richness of our cultural heritage. Our museums offer a model to all leaders of how to better serve their communities: with vibrancy, versatility and vitality.

Darren Henley is the CEO of Arts Council England