TWM Facts
Tyne and Wear Museums:
- Is a federation of twelve museums and galleries on Tyneside and Wearside.
- Is governed by a joint committee of 23 elected members (six Newcastle, five Sunderland, four Gateshead, four North Tyneside and four South Tyneside).
- Is proud to lead the North East Regional Museums Hub (which includes Beamish: the North of England Open Air Museum, The Bowes Museum and Hartlepool Museums).
- Holds internationally important collections of art, science and technology, archaeology, military and social history, fashion and natural sciences.
- Has been awarded Designated status by the DCMS in recognition of the importance of these collections. Additionally, two of its sites: Arbeia and Segedunum, enjoy World Heritage Site status.
- Has been awarded Full Accreditation Status by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.
- Has achieved Investors in People and Investors in Volunteers Standards.
- Has achieved Quality Assured Visitor Attraction (VAQAS) Status.
- Had an annual revenue spend of £13.8m in 2007-2008.
- Attracted 2,650,917 users in 2007-2008, comprising 1,5501,767 in-person visitors and 1,149,150 visits made to the website, www.twmuseums.org.uk
- Has attracted capital investment of over £70 million in the last ten years.
- Is the most cost-effective large museum service in the UK.
- Delivers 25,000 public visitor hours per year.
- Is committed to free admission and encouraging the broadest possible access to its collections, exhibitions and programmes.
- Believes that museums and galleries play an important role in helping to bring about social and economic regeneration.
- Has developed a successful audience development programme and broken through old elitist barriers to reach all sectors of the community. It is regarded as the model of best practice for social inclusion work in UK museums.
- Has won 75 prestigious national and regional museums awards for excellence in the last 10 years.
- Has a national and international reputation, for promoting best practice in management, education, audience development, outreach, access, interpretation, design and programming.