LONDON, ENGLAND.- A report published today, Museums and Galleries in Britain: Economic, Social and Creative Impacts, by Tony Travers of the London School of Economics, finds that “the UK’s museums and galleries could, with greater capacity to expand and improve, allow this country to be a world leader in creativity and scholarship.”

The report, jointly commissioned by the National Museum Directors’ Conference (NMDC) and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), analyses a number of Britain’s leading museums and galleries in terms of visitor numbers, economic impacts, civic functions, and contributions to the country?s creativity and educational performance.

Mark Wood, Chair of the MLA Board, said: “The MLA welcomes this research as a robust and academic assessment of the economic and social value of museums and galleries in Britain. Although it is clear that there is much to be proud of, particularly the impact of the Renaissance programme and other initiatives designed to develop wider audiences, the report does include some pertinent insights into the continuing need for long term investment in museums and galleries to ensure that the high quality services offered to all persist.”

The report’s positive findings include:

Britain’s museums and galleries are among the very best in the world. There is no other country in the world with such a powerful museum and gallery grouping within such a relatively small space.

There are 1,848 museums in the UK.

The economic benefits of the UK?s major museums and galleries are estimated to be 1.5 billion per annum taking into account turnover and visitor expenditure. Wider economic impacts would be still greater.

The annual turnover of Britain?s major museums and galleries exceeds 900 million. Broadly 1 in every 1,000 in the UK economy can be directly related to the museum and gallery sector. The major museums and galleries spend over ?650 million a year.

New museums and galleries have contributed to the economic and social regeneration of industrial cities.

There are 3,000 volunteers and over 140,000 “friends” linked to museums in the study - a major contribution to civic engagement.

There are over 42 million visits each year to major museums and galleries. It is more than attendance at the Premiership League plus the whole of the rest of league football for 2004-05. It is 50% more than the number of people who annually visit the West End and Broadway theatres combined.

43% of the population visited a museum or gallery at least once over the past last year.

Seven of the top ten visitor attractions in the UK are museums. Museums and galleries are a significant factor in attracting visitors to the UK but they need to develop if they are to continue to complete against institutions that are developing in other countries.

The kinds of people visiting museums are changing. Regional museum visits by people from lower socio-economic groups and by black and minority ethnic groups increased by 15.2% and 60% respectively in 2002-04.

In 2005-06 there were over 100 million website visits for the major museums and galleries covered by the report.

At least 180,000 exhibits were loaned by museums and galleries to other institutions within the UK. National and regional museums are increasingly working together in strong partnerships, which go beyond the traditional approach of loans, including innovative exhibitions, learning and out-reach programmes and workforce development.

Museums and galleries have expanded their activities as partners with universities, as well as extending their access to schools and increasing the numbers of visits by young people.

More than 1,400 academic or similar publications were recorded during 2004-05.

Museums and galleries are therefore fulfilling their original functions, while also acting as institutions of learning, mass tourist attractions and civic partners.

Self-generated income to museums and galleries ranges as high as ?200 million a year, including over ?200 million in donations and sponsorship, over ?100 million in trading income and ?20 million in ticket sales.

Grants, either from DCMS or local authorities constitute slightly over half of museum and gallery income.

The report also warns that:

Up to a third of museums displays and facilities are in need of significant renovation.

The amount spent on museum acquisitions is very small - in some years less than 20 million.

Income has not been rising as fast as staff and other inflationary costs in the economy.

Additional income will be required to enable museums to continue to deliver and not to fall back compared with heavily funded international competitors.

Capital expenditure has dropped sharply since 2001-02 as a percentage of total expenditure. National Museums show a falling total of capital expenditure and an increased reliance on government support. Earlier sources such as lottery have declined and consequently capital grant-in-aid has increased as a share of the total.

The availability of resources for investment in museums and galleries appears to be unrelated to the needs of the sector. There has been little available for improvement of existing assets.