MIDDLESBROUGH’S museums are celebrating after being awarded full Accreditation status by Arts Council England.
Both the Dorman and Captain Cook Birthplace Museums were judged to meet the nationally agreed criteria which aim to raise standards of museums across the country.
Accredited museums are recognised for demonstrating a commitment to managing collections effectively for the enjoyment and benefit of users, and the scheme helps to raise awareness and understanding of museums among the public.
The process of applying for accreditation also helps to identify areas requiring improvement, which further drives up standards and improves the museum experience for both visitors and staff.
The award is valid for around three years, and Middlesbrough’s two museums join nearly 1,800 other museums participating in the scheme. Of all Accredited museums in England, just 4.9% are in the North East.
Middlesbrough Museums Senior Curator Phil Philo said: “We are thrilled to maintain our Accredited status and it is a credit to our staff who work hard to try to maintain and develop the standards that our collections and visitors deserve.
“There are always areas for improvement and one of the aspects of our work that we shall be looking at this year is the documentation of collections.”