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08/06/2006
Audit Office criticises museum body
Northern Ireland's museums and galleries have today been criticised for failing to meet required standards for adequately storing artefacts and documents of national significance.
In a new report by the Audit Office, which is responsible for keeping parliament bodies informed of the running of Government departments, highlighted the fact that the preservation of the national collection was not meeting the necessary standards.
The report also stated that around half of the 50 stores used for the housing of Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland (MAGNI) collections were "poor or unacceptable."
MAGNI is responsible for 1.5 million artefacts of significant historical, cultural or scientific value at its four museums - Ulster Museum, Armagh County Museum, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum and Ulster-American Folk Park, however only 10% of the collection is ever on show at one time.
This means that the quality of storage facilities for the remaining 90% of the items is extremely important and the Audit Office said the problem of the poor storage needed "to be addressed urgently."
The report also criticised the standard of record-keeping, especially in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum where less than 10% of the collection was logged on computer.
This was despite a commitment given in 1989 to install a computerised system by 1991-92 and again after a recommendation by the Audit Office who said that such a system should be in operation by 1998.
However, the main stores at Ulster Museum and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum were found to be "good" and "excellent" respectively.
MAGNI has responded by saying that it has now employed someone to tackle "those sorts of issues."
The body will be questioned on the criticisms by the Public Accounts Committee in Westminster on June 21.
(EF/SP)
In a new report by the Audit Office, which is responsible for keeping parliament bodies informed of the running of Government departments, highlighted the fact that the preservation of the national collection was not meeting the necessary standards.
The report also stated that around half of the 50 stores used for the housing of Museums and Galleries of Northern Ireland (MAGNI) collections were "poor or unacceptable."
MAGNI is responsible for 1.5 million artefacts of significant historical, cultural or scientific value at its four museums - Ulster Museum, Armagh County Museum, Ulster Folk and Transport Museum and Ulster-American Folk Park, however only 10% of the collection is ever on show at one time.
This means that the quality of storage facilities for the remaining 90% of the items is extremely important and the Audit Office said the problem of the poor storage needed "to be addressed urgently."
The report also criticised the standard of record-keeping, especially in the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum where less than 10% of the collection was logged on computer.
This was despite a commitment given in 1989 to install a computerised system by 1991-92 and again after a recommendation by the Audit Office who said that such a system should be in operation by 1998.
However, the main stores at Ulster Museum and the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum were found to be "good" and "excellent" respectively.
MAGNI has responded by saying that it has now employed someone to tackle "those sorts of issues."
The body will be questioned on the criticisms by the Public Accounts Committee in Westminster on June 21.
(EF/SP)
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