Brussels, 1 July 2010

Réf : Consultation to draft a list of recommendations followed by a White paper – European Policy Analysis Group “Museums and Municipalities”

Dear Colleagues,

E= MU2 is a policy analysis group created by members from the European Network of Cultural Administration Training Centres, ENCATC, and is financed by the European Union under the Culture Programme. This European consortium began its activities in May 2010 and aims to show how museums and galleries can contribute to local development, the benefits derived from relationships between museums and municipalities, and shed light on existing partnerships. Taking a closer look at the different ways in which museums contribute to the development of their territory, the policy analysis group’s approach will focus on the nature and implementation of the different institutional and financial mechanisms that could be achieved (contributions, partnerships, governance…).

Coordinated by the University of Paris I Panthéon-Sorbonne and the Louvre, E= MU2 is relying on the unique experiences of the Manchester Museum (the University of Manchester), the City of Split and the ENCATC network. In the long term, this policy analysis group aspires to become a meeting place for research and discussion between European museums and galleries, municipalities and regions.

Today we are launching a survey designed to reach as many European museums and municipalities as possible who are concerned by this issue. The results of this survey will be presented and discussed at the final conference to be held in Brussels on December 10, 2010.

Your contributions to the policy recommendations and to the White paper are crucial for establishing new European and local policies that encourage partnerships between museums and their local authorities. Accordingly, we would greatly appreciate your views on the current status and prospects of such relationships. With this in mind, the group has prepared two questionnaires. The first questionnaire is intended for municipalities to understand how they perceive the role of museums in their territory. The second questionnaire, intended for museums and galleries, strives to better understand their relationship with municipalities. It goes without saying that the responses provided by cultural facilities and municipalities are confidential. Your contribution ensures to enrich our analysis by gathering a maximum variety of situations encountered in Europe.

To thank you for your contribution to this research, all those who respond to our questionnaires will receive a copy of our conclusions and findings as well as the final White paper. In addition, four municipalities and four museums (including galleries) will be randomly selected and invited to participate in the final conference scheduled for December 2010, all expenses paid (travel, accommodation and registration).

We would like to thank you for your contribution to this European project and if you have any questions, comments or concerns about the questionnaire, please contact Faustine MORIN ( ). For all inquiries about the policy analysis group E= MU2, please address them to Anne KREBS ().

We look forward to your reading responses and contributions. In the meantime, please accept our kindest regards.

Giannalia Cogliandro Beyens
ENCATC Secretary General

Anne Krebs
Louvre Museum

Xavier Greffe
University Paris I Panthéon Sorbonne