Fermanagh County Museum recognised at Museum Accreditation Awards

Fermanagh County Museum has been recognised at the Museum Accreditation Awards held on Tuesday 18th September 2018 at the Naughton Gallery at Queen’s University.

The Museum Accreditation Award is granted to museums whose return applications have been assessed in 2018 and have maintained their Full Accreditation status. The Scheme sets nationally agreed quality standards for museums in the UK. Museums are required to submit their Accreditation return applications every 3 years to ensure they are continuing to maintain the standard.

Commenting on the award, the Chairman of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, Councillor Howard Thornton said,

“As one of the district’s foremost tourist attractions, Fermanagh County Museum, located within the historic Enniskillen Castle site, houses collections and exhibitions which reflect Fermanagh’s rich and diverse history, its artistic and cultural heritage and the environment welcoming thousands of visitors each year. I am delighted that Fermanagh County Museum has maintained the national standard of Full Accredited Status which defines good practice and which demonstrates its commitment to providing a high quality museum visitor experience.”

Fermanagh County Museum was one of 17 museums across Northern Ireland to have been recognised at the Museum Accreditation Awards.

Tríona White Hamilton, Accreditation Adviser and Assessor at Northern Ireland Museums Council (NIMC) said,

“We are delighted that our local museums’ commitment to governance, collections care and visitor experience has ensured their maintenance of the Accreditation Standard.  We hope that this will enable the continued development of these museums as valued resources for both visitors and the local community. Accreditation is a national standard which gives confidence to all stakeholders.”

There are currently just under 1,800 museums participating in the scheme across the UK. In Northern Ireland there are 43 Accredited Museums; 20 Local Authority Museums; 13 Independent Museums; 7 National Trust museums; 3 National Museums.

The Awards ceremony was attended by the local museum sector and NIMC members. Allison Cosgrove, Head of Museums and Libraries at Department of Communities and Sinéad McCartan, Director of Northern Ireland Museums Council presented the museum representatives with their Accreditation certificates.

Fermanagh County Museum, as part of its extensive catalogue, houses one of the most significant public collections of works by the internationally renowned painter, William Scott (1913-1989); it owns one of the most important collections of Belleek Pottery and houses a significant collection of early Christian stone sculpture.

For further information or to plan your visit, please telephone 028 6632 5000 or visit www.enniskillencastle.co.uk.