York Museums Trust

Annual Report 2010 - 11

Foreword by Chair

It is with great pleasure that we present this report on the work of York Museums Trust over 2010-11.

Since York Museums Trust was established by the City of York Council in 2002, York Museums Trust has been working steadily to play a major part in positioning York as a world class cultural centre. We manage a significant part of the cultural infrastructure in the city including York Castle Museum, Yorkshire Museum, Museum Gardens, York Art Gallery and York St Mary's. We also care for the extensive and rich designated museum collections, making them accessible to a wide and diverse an audience as possible.

It has been a very busy year and I would like to thank my fellow Trustees who have supported the Chief Executive and the senior team with their advice and guidance. In particular my thanks go to Councillors Chris Hogg and Janet Looker who both stepped down as Trustees representing the City of York Council on the board. I would also like to thank the Enterprises Board whose members are drawn from the local business community and who help us develop our retail, catering and venue hire businesses that adds to our financial sustainability.

We can only do our work because of the financial support we receive from City of York Council, for which we are grateful and we seek to work collaboratively with them in support of their own ambitions for the city.

All of our success is due to the enthusiasm and expertise of our staff and over 200 regular volunteers, and I would like to thank all of them for their contribution.

This year we enjoyed particular success with the reopening of the Yorkshire Museum which has won much critical acclaim for its transformation, employing relatively modest funds but huge enthusiasm and creativity from the museum's staff; in doing so we were contenders for the coveted Art Fund Prize and have attracted a number of other prestigious award nominations.

The work of the Trust has continued against a backdrop of political change and continuing social and financial uncertainty. However our robust forward planning and ambitious development plans have ensured that we have an exciting and sustainable programme of events to enrich the cultural life of York residents, continue to attract visitors, and to make a valuable contribution to our local and regional economy.

Denise Jagger

Mission and Strategic Objectives

York Museums Trust's mission is to cherish the collections, buildings and gardens entrusted to us, presenting and interpreting them as a stimulus for learning, a provocation to curiosity and a source of inspiration and enjoyment for all. Our Vision is for York Museums Trust to play a major part in positioning York as a world class cultural centre.

This annual report details what we have achieved during 2010-11 in pursuit of our Strategic Objectives which are as follows:

• To protect and conserve the collections, gardens and buildings
• To promote access to the collections, gardens and buildings appropriate to the 21 st Century
• To create learning opportunities for all and develop innovative programmes springing from the collections, gardens and buildings
• To network and collaborate with partners and contribute to the development of the economic and cultural life of the city and the region
• To raise substantial funds to realise these aims