The British Museum plan, 2006/07

The plan outlines principle objectives and strategic priorities for the Museum over the next year. These are summarised below. The plan also includes:

• Review of the last 12 months
• Comments on the effect of external factors on the Museum
• Areas of focus for the Museum
• Key priorities
• Public programme activity chart
• Museum in Britain activity chart
• Departmental research plans
• Departmental plans

(download document pdf 669Kb)

A summary of the Museum principle objects and strategic priorities listed below:

Principle objectives:

To extend engagement

The only way in which the Museum can seek to reach and touch a worldwide audience is by extending engagement with this audience.

This is engagement not only with the collections that the Museum has, but the cultures and territories that they represent, the stories that can be told through them, the diversity of truths that they can unlock and their meaning in the world today.

To build capacity

In order to succeed in extending engagement the Museum will have to strengthen its capacity and address weaknesses in delivery on a number of fronts.

Strategic priorities to extend engagement:

Museum in London

The Museum has a role to play in London, both in terms of its physical presence in the heart of London, attracting c. 5m visitors per annum, and in terms of its relationships with the communities of London.

Museum in Britain

The Museum has a further responsibility to work more widely across Britain; both with and through the museum community, but also through the education sector, broadcasting and new media to realise fully its national remit.

Museum in the World

Moving beyond the UK the Museum needs to engage in a worldwide programme of sustainable partnerships to be a museum of the world and for the world.

Strategic priorities to build capacity

Collections Management

The collections of the Museum need to be researched, housed and conserved for the benefit of all.

People

To ensure that we have the right people at every level doing the right jobs, with the right support and reward/development.

Money

The Museum has developed a core operating model to cover baseline activity. We need to increase revenue and fundraising to undertake additional activity.

Buildings

Our buildings and estate should be world class: space planning and facilities management strategies are underway.

Relationships

The Museum has strengthened its external relationships and has communications and advocacy strategies in place.

Technology

Ensuring the effective use of technology to extend our engagement, support and improve all of our activities, and exploit new opportunities.