The National Trust has published a report called Museums: Policy from Practice to advise museums on how best to address the challenges they face in today’s changing environment.

The publication identifies the role that museums play in promoting learning and education, inspiring an interest in different cultures, bringing history to life and contributing to urban and rural regeneration.

Sarah Staniforth, the National Trust’s historic properties director, said: “Museums are extraordinarily diverse and they have a unique role in forging powerful links with local communities and providing opportunities for learning and skills development for all ages.

“But across the sector, museums are facing growing challenges in the form of mounting costs, growing liabilities, increasingly high visitor expectations and threats to funding and resources.”

The report also highlights the increasing importance of long-term commitment and co-operation between national and local government, regional agencies and museum bodies if museums are to adapt and progress.

For example, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) is encouraged to develop a new museums strategy to recognise the numerous public benefits of the UK’s many museums. The trust also calls on the government to more fully implement the recommendations of the Goodison Review in order to provide tax incentives to retain collections and support the gifting of works of art and collections to the nation.

Museums are also asked to address the impacts of climate change and recognise the vulnerability of collections not owned by the museums that look after them.

The National Trust, which comprises 8.5 per cent of our registered museums, is the largest accredited museum authority in the country. Details: www.nationaltrust.org.uk