Salisbury's Young Gallery accredited by Arts Council England

The Young Gallery, overseen by the Young & Creasey Gallery Trust, has been awarded Accreditation by Arts Council England.

The Young Gallery is a free art museum located upstairs on the first floor of Wiltshire Council’s Salisbury Library. It has a collection of over 4,000 artworks, prints, sculpture, books and photography.

Administered by Arts Council England on behalf of the UK Accreditation Partnership, Accreditation is the benchmark for well-run museums and galleries.

It means that the Young Gallery is properly managed and governed to the nationally agreed industry standard and shows the museum takes proper care of its collections, sharing them with visitors and keeping them safe for future generations.

Accreditation opens up exciting funding opportunities and gives access to professional advice and support. It also gives confidence to donors and sponsors who may wish to support the museum in preserving heritage and inspiring future generations.

The Young Gallery has also been awarded a Small Open Grant of £2000 from Museum Development South West to support the museum’s messaging and ability to accept small donations. The grant will help the museum to communicate how donations support the work of the Young Gallery and enable visitors to give small donations through a contactless donation point and a digital platform. This grant was awarded by Museum Development South West, thanks to support from Arts Council England and the Art Fund.

Cllr Richard Clewer, Leader of Wiltshire Council said, “It is fantastic news that The Young Gallery has been recognised by the Arts Council England for its professionalism and sound management. This accreditation will make it possible for the gallery to develop and grow, opening the door to exciting new opportunities to bring art to Salisbury in the future.”

Dr Emily Dunbar, Curator and Gallery Manager said, “Securing Accreditation for the newly merged Trusts is a fantastic step forward for the Young Gallery and means we will be able to continue to provide vibrant, free exhibitions and engagement with our collection.

“We are also very grateful for the Small Open Grant as this will help us to communicate the charitable status of the Young Gallery, while also enabling an easy, modern way for people to support the museum and its free programming.”

Emmie Kell, Director Museums and Cultural Property at Arts Council England said, "We’re delighted that the Young & Creasey Gallery Trust has been successful in gaining their Accreditation status. This means that their Collections will be looked after and maintained offering inspiration, enjoyment and learning for the local community and visitors to enjoy now and in the future.”