M·E·L Research to Deliver Exploratory Research In to Museum Use and Management of Land & Outdoor Spaces
M·E·L Research Ltd is delighted to announce our recent success in being selected to lead a pioneering research project for the Association of Independent Museums (AIM) and a consortium of partners, including the National Museum Directors’ Council, Welsh Government and Arts Council England.
This initiative is set to explore the multifaceted roles of land ownership, stewardship and management within museums and heritage organisations across the UK, highlighting their impact on community engagement, environmental sustainability, and cultural heritage stewardship.
If you would like to keep up to date on project progress, you can sign-up below.
If you would like to take part in our survey and online community, you can do so here.
Project Background
In a world increasingly attuned to the importance of cultural heritage and environmental sustainability, museums and heritage organisations find themselves at the intersection of education, community involvement, and ecological stewardship. These institutions are unique in that they not only safeguard cultural and historical assets but also manage extensive natural resources, positioning them as potentially key players in promoting biodiversity, climate resilience, and societal well-being.
Despite the vital role of land management in these organisations, there is a noticeable lack of comprehensive sector-wide research addressing the challenges and opportunities presented by their landscapes. This project aims to bridge this gap by conducting an in-depth analysis of land use within the sector, exploring how these assets can support the institutions’ missions and contribute to broader societal goals.
Research Aims and Methodology
Our research will provide a detailed snapshot of current practices in 2024, focusing on how land serves as a component of business models, a medium for community support, and a tool for climate adaptation among other outcomes.
The methodology includes a thorough literature review, in-depth interviews with museum and heritage sector organisations across the UK, an sector-wide online survey, a collaborative online community, and multiple site visits with professional ‘case study’ video documentation. This comprehensive approach will help identify best practices and areas needing support, ultimately guiding future strategies for effective land utilisation, policy direction and areas which could be supported by future funding streams.
‘Complex role that land and outdoor spaces play within the sector’
“This project represents a significant step forward in understanding the complex role that land and outdoor spaces play within the museum and heritage sector. By examining practices, challenges and opportunities across a variety of institutions across the UK, we aim to uncover insights that will not only enhance our appreciation of these organisations’ contributions to society but also inform sustainable practices that align with contemporary environmental and cultural objectives. We are excited to embark on this journey with AIM and the wider stakeholder group and advisory panel. and contribute to a sustainable future for the heritage sector.”
It is anticipated that the research will focus on museums but that the study will be ‘softly inclusive’ – avoiding drawing hard lines between what constitutes a museum and what constitutes other heritage assets and instead focussing on what is likely to be interesting and could be applied or learned from across the sector. We are also keen to explore the experience of different sizes and types of museums, facing a range of challenges, with different experiences of utilising land or outdoor spaces for public engagement, income generation, or to support environmental goals, as well as other beneficial outcomes. Organisations with different amounts of land and outdoor spaces – from small gardens or visitor trails, to larger pieces of land or parts of a landscape – will be included in the study.
How to take part or keep up to date
If you would like to take part or keep up to date on project progress, you can sign-up using the link below.
The timeline for the project is fluid as this is an iterative study, but it is anticipated to be taking place in several phases between May 2024 and early 2025. M·E·L Research will provide updates on project progress at key points and will share a sector survey will all of those who sign-up via this route, as well as more widely via partners.
M·E·L Research may also provide invitations to other elements of the research as the project progresses. By signing up at the link below you are in no way committing to take part in any research.
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