Kirklees Museums have been awarded an accreditation award

We are pleased to announce that we have been awarded full museum accreditation.

What is the award for?

Administered by Arts Council England on behalf of the UK Accreditation Partnership, this accreditation is the benchmark that museums and galleries across the country strive to achieve.

Awarded to council museums, the Tolson Museum, the Bagshaw Museum and the Oakwell Hall, including the Kirklees Collections, have all been recognized under this distinction.

A scheme application for Huddersfield Art Gallery as part of a new museum and art gallery included in the Our Cultural Heart masterplan – the flagship development within the council’s wider Huddersfield Blueprint – will also be made for the whole facility once it opens.

Specifically, the award recognizes that the council’s museums are properly managed and governed to a nationally agreed museum industry standard. It also recognizes that proper care is given to its collections, which are shared with visitors and inspire future generations.

What are the benefits of the prize?

The importance of this five-year accreditation includes the number of funding opportunities it opens up, the ability to host high-profile tourism exhibitions and access to professional advice and support from within the cultural industry. It also gives confidence to donors and sponsors who want to support our museums in preserving, enhancing and celebrating Kirklees’ heritage and collections.

Leader of Kirklees Council, Councilor Carole Pattison said:

“This is excellent news for our museums and for Kirklees. It highlights the dedication and hard work of our Museums and Galleries team, who look after our sites and collections and deliver engaging exhibitions, events, learning and health programs and community activities for residents and visitors, as well as ensuring their preservation for generations future

“This award could not have been achieved without the support of the volunteers and Friends of Museums groups who work tirelessly with Kirklees museums and galleries.

“The status that accreditation provides will hopefully open up many opportunities for the arts and cultural offer in Kirklees.”

Emmie Kell, Director of Museums and Cultural Properties at Arts Council England said:

“We are delighted that Kirklees Museums and Galleries have been successful in achieving their accreditation status. This means their collections will be cared for and maintained, providing inspiration, fun and learning for the local community and visitors to enjoy now and into the future.”

This accreditation adds to Kirklees Museums and Galleries’ current prestigious status as a National Portfolio Organization (NPO), having been selected by Arts Council England to join their portfolio of partner cultural organizations in 2023.

It also provides actions prioritized by the Kirklees Heritage Strategy, published in April this year by the council, which, among a wide range of actions to enhance and support the district’s heritage, has set its sights on receiving Museums Accreditation in 2024.