York Museums Trust

Annual Report 2011 - 12

Foreword by Chairman

It is with great pleasure that we present this report on the work of York Museums Trust over 2011-12.

I have been a Trustee of York Museums Trust since 2002 when the Trust was formed and for the last three years have had the pleasure of being the Chairman of the Board of Trustees. It has been a privilege to be part of the process of developing York Museums Trust into an innovative and energetic organisation. My role, in part, has been in making sure that we have the right skills and experience at Board level to support the ambitions of the Chief Executive and the senior team. We have made huge progress in realising our strategic objectives. We are living in a quickly changing world and it has been imperative that we responded in creative and positive ways to the external environment.

I am therefore very pleased to be able to report that, despite these difficult times, York Museums Trust has continued to grow and develop its activities and programmes as well as its influence as a major museum service in this country. The support of the City of York Council has been essential and our contribution to the city's economic and educational welfare is now recognised and respected. We look forward to working closely with the city to support their ambitions for York. We now have an equally important funding partner, the Arts Council of England, who is now responsible for the funding of regional museums. We were delighted to become one of only 16 museum services in England to receive Major Partner Museums funding through a competitive process. This will enable us to be in a stable and sustainable position with regard to public funding for the next few years.

Looking forward, we are planning to undertake two major capital projects over the next three years at the York Castle Museum and York Art Gallery. By 2015 we will be able to offer first rate museums and galleries after 13 years of consistent investment.

I would like to thank my fellow trustees for their support and advice over the last ten years and congratulate all the staff and volunteers at York Museums Trust for their hard work and commitment.

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 2011-12 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 21st 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