What is Renaissance?

What is Renaissance in the Regions?

Renaissance in the Regions is the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council's (MLA) groundbreaking programme to transform England's regional museums and galleries.

Renaissance unites museums in a network of nine regional hubs. These were established to raise standards and promote good practice in the sector. The hubs will also deliver results in support of education, learning and community development.

What is the West Midlands Hub?

The West Midlands Hub is a partnership between five regional museum services: Birmingham, Coventry, Ironbridge, Stoke-on-Trent and Wolverhampton.

What is the vision of the West Midlands Hub?

The vision of the Hub is for an inspired and inspiring modern museum sector that has relevance and appeal for the majority of people; a museum sector that is known for excellence in the quality, care and immediacy of its collections; a sector that is vibrant, open, engaged and integrated with the life of the region and its communities.

Four strategic work programme areas are helping realise this vision:

1. Education and Learning

2. Audience Development

3. Organisational Development

4. Extending Access to Collections

What difference is Renaissance making in the West Midlands?

Renaissance West Midlands has had a major impact on the work we deliver in the region. Some key achievements to date include:

• the creation of more than 90 posts in 2004-06

• the delivery of benefits to 9,434 teachers and 175,364 children through the Education Programme Delivery Plan (EPDP)

• the allocation of £18,900 in small grants to 40 museums for a range of projects, from publicity to collections care

• since 2004, over 600 places have been taken up for training and professional development courses, with representation from over 60 organisations

• 17 museums have achieved Full Accreditation and another 21 are awaiting their assessments

A FREE Media Toolkit is available from Renaissance West Midlands and is also available from out website.