AGENDA
FOR ACTION
For government
* Develop proposals
to coordinate existing sources of funding and designate appropriate sources
of new funding
* Develop a strategy
for a comprehensive national cultural network, including museums, galleries,
archives and libraries
* Set a target for
400 digital museums to be online by 2002
For the education sector
* Establish policies
to use the special contribution that museums can make to support the national
curriculum and the wider goals of lifelong learning
* Work with museums
to develop their potential to supply lifelong learning materials of all
kinds
For the museum sector
* Develop a deeper understanding
and appreciation of museums' role in learning and set appropriate policies
and strategies
* Develop coordinated
strategies for creating digital content, activities and authored resources,
and for training in both creating and using these materials. Seek
funding accordingly from appropriate sources
* Develop relationships
with each other and with related content providers - libraries, archives,
local databases such as sites and monuments records and species distribution
databases
For local authorities
* Encourage local libraries,
education establishments, museums and galleries to work together to develop
funding bids for the New Opportunities Fund and the National Grid for Learning
* Build local museums
and galleries into development plans for Community Grids for Learning
* Develop local strategies
to exploit the potential of digital museums as community and learning services
For the private sector
* Work with museums
to maximise the contribution that each can make to creating and distributing
museums' digital content
* Develop financial
agreements that ensure a fair return on both public and private investment
without compromising the principle that resources created with public funds
should be available free at the point of use |
CONCLUSIONS
This report has shown how, with appropriate
investment in information and communications technology, museums and galleries
can make a key contribution to:
* Supporting the learning society
* Access and social inclusion
* Excellence and support for the
creative industries.
The proposed funding of £55 million
over three years is a significant additional investment. It will, we estimate,
enable the creation of 400 digital museums by 2002. In the following five
years, we envisage every UK museum becoming connected to the Grid. The
outcome will be an enormous increase in the number of people who can use
the resources of our museums, and in the range and quality of services
and information provided for them for learning and for enjoyment.
2002: OUR FUTURE MUSEUMS
* People make as many virtual visits as
real visits to museums and galleries as real visits
* There has been a measurable increase
in the number of visitors to museums and galleries as a result of digital
museums
* 75% of all UK museums have some collections
information online, many through cooperation with connected museums
* Quality-assured gateways offer a variety
of access to all museum and gallery online resources
* All Registered museums have websites
linked to the National Grid for Learning
* One in three homes have accessed digital
museums
* The majority of school children has
used museum resources as an integral part of the curriculum in the last
12 months
* Museums and galleries of all sizes
are benefiting from additional revenue streams derived from digitised resources
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