Designation Scheme

Short description: System for recognising library and museum collections in England

The Designation Scheme is an English system that awards "Designated status" to museum, library and archive collections of national and international importance. The Scheme is administered by Arts Council England (ACE).[1] As of 2023, 163 collections are officially designated.[2] National museums are not eligible for Designated status.

The Scheme was first launched in 1997 under the auspices of what eventually became the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and originally covered only museum collections. Harewood House became the first stately home to be awarded Designated status in 1998.[3] The scheme was expanded to cover libraries and archives in 2005. Responsibility was transferred to the Arts Council in October 2011 following the closure of the MLA.[4]

## Designated collections

Holding Organisation  | Collection Name  | Arts Council England (ACE) Area  | Year Granted

|
|
|

Ashmolean Museum (Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM) - University of Oxford), Oxford  | Ashmolean Museum Collections  | South East  | 1997
The Barber Institute of Fine Arts (University of Birmingham), Birmingham  | The Barber Institute of Fine Arts Collection  | Midlands  | 1998
The Baring Archive, City of London | The Baring Archive | London | 2009
Bath and North East Somerset Council - Heritage Services, Bath  | Bath Fashion Museum Collection  | South West  | 1999
Bath and North East Somerset Council - Heritage Services, Bath  | Roman Baths Museum Collection  | South West  | 1999
Bath Record Office, Bath  | Bath Record Office Archive Collection  | South West  | 2005
Beamish, the Living Museum of the North, Beamish  | Beamish, the Living Museum of the North Collection  | North  | 1997
Birmingham Libraries, Birmingham  | Photography Collection Held by Birmingham Libraries  | Midlands  | 2005
Birmingham Libraries, Birmingham  | Archive Held by Birmingham Libraries  | Midlands  | 2005
Birmingham Libraries, Birmingham  | Early and Fine Printing Held by Birmingham Libraries  | Midlands  | 2005
Birmingham Libraries, Birmingham  | Literature Collections Held by Birmingham Libraries  | Midlands  | 2005
Birmingham Libraries, Birmingham  | Music Collections Held by Birmingham Libraries  | Midlands  | 2005
Birmingham Libraries, Birmingham  | The Birmingham Collection  | Midlands  | 2005
Birmingham Museums Trust, Birmingham  | Fine & Decorative Arts Collections Held by Birmingham Museums Trust  | Midlands  | 1997
Birmingham Museums Trust, Birmingham  | Science Collections Held by Birmingham Museums Trust  | Midlands  | 1997
Birmingham Museums Trust, Birmingham  | Birmingham History and Numismatics Collections Held by Birmingham Museums Trust  | Midlands  | 1998
Birmingham Museums Trust, Birmingham  | The Pinto Collection Held by Birmingham Museums Trust  | Midlands  | 1998
Black Country Living Museum, Dudley  | Black Country Living Museum Collections  | Midlands  | 2012
Bodleian Libraries (Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM) - University of Oxford), Oxford  | Special Collections at the Bodleian Library  | South East  | 2006
The Bowes Museum, Durham  | The Bowes Museum Collection, Barnard Castle  | North  | 1997
Bradford Industrial Museum (Bradford Museums and Galleries), Bradford  | Worsted Collection  | North  | 2009
Bristol City Museums, Bristol  | Bristol City Museums Collection of Applied Art  | South West  | 1998
Bristol City Museums, Bristol  | Bristol City Museums Far East Collection  | South West  | 1998
Bristol City Museums, Bristol  | Bristol City Museums Geology Collection  | South West  | 1998
Bristol City Museums, Bristol  | City of Bristol Collections  | South West  | 1998
Bristol City Record Office and Bristol Central Library's Local Studies Service, Bristol  | The Archive, History and Literacy Collection Relating to the History and Development of the City of Bristol  | South West  | 2005
British Motor Museum, Gaydon  | British Motor Museum Collection  | Midlands  | 2014
Britten-Pears Foundation, Aldeburgh  | The Britten-Pears Library  | South East  | 2005
BT Archives, London  | BT Archives  | London  | 2012
Cambridge University Herbarium, Cambridge  | Cambridge University Herbarium[5][6] | South East  | 2022
Cambridge University Library, Cambridge  | Special Collections at Cambridge University Library  | South East  | 2019
Canal Museum, Stoke Bruerne  | The Collections at Canal Museum Stoke Bruerne  | Midlands  | 1999
Chesterholm Museum (Vindolanda), Bardon Mill  | The Vindolanda Trust Collection  | North  | 2016
Chetham's Library, Manchester  | Chetham's Library Collection  | North  | 2011
Churchill College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge  | Churchill Archives Centre  | South East  | 2005
City of London Corporation, City of London  | History of London Collection  | London  | 2005
Colchester and Ipswich Museums, Colchester | Colechester Castle Museum's Archaeology Collection  | South East  | 1998
Compton Verney, Compton Verney  | Archaic Chinese Bronzes  | Midlands  | 2008
Co-operative Archive Trust, Manchester  | Co-operative Archive Trust Collections  | North  | 2007
Cornwall Record Office, Redruth  | Archives Relating to Cornwall's Hard-Rock Mining Industry  | South West  | 2005
Courtauld Institute of Art, City of Westminster  | The Courtauld Collection  | London  | 1997
Culture Coventry, Coventry  | Coventry Transport Museum Collection  | Midlands  | 1998
Derby Museums, Derby  | Joseph Wright of Derby Collection  | Midlands  | 2011
Dulwich Picture Gallery, London  | Dulwich Picture Gallery Collection  | London  | 1997
Durham University Library, Durham  | The Bishop Cosin's Library  | North  | 2005
Durham University Library, Durham  | The Sudan Archive  | North  | 2005
Durham University Oriental Museum, Durham  | Chinese Collections  | North  | 2008
Durham University Oriental Museum, Durham  | Ancient Egyptian Collections  | North  | 2008
English Folk Dance and Song Society, London  | Vaughan Williams Memorial Library  | London  | 2011
Hampshire Record Office, Winchester | The Records Held by the Hampshire Record Office  | South East  | 2006
Harewood House Trust, Harewood, Leeds  | Harewood House Trust Collection  | North  | 1998
Historic Royal Palaces, London  | Hampton Court Palace  | London  | 2009
Horniman Museum and Gardens, London  | Ethnographic Collections at the Horniman Museum  | London  | 1997
Institution of Civil Engineers, City of Westminster  | Library, Archive and Works of Art  | London  | 2009
Institution of Engineering and Technology, City of Westminster  | Collections of the Institute of Electrical Engineers, that is the Rare Books, the Archives and the Library | London  | 2006
Ipswich Museum, Ipswich Borough Council, Ipswich  | Post-Cretaceous Geology Collection  | South East  | 2023
Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, Coalbrookdale | The Ironbridge Gorge Trust Collections  | Midlands  | 1997
Jewish Museum London, London  | Religious Life (Judaica) Collection at the Jewish Museum London  | London  | 1997
John Rylands University Library (University of Manchester), Manchester  | Special Collections at John Rylands University Library  | North  | 2005
John Rylands University Library (University of Manchester), Manchester  | Manchester Medical Society Library  | North  | 2005
King's College London, City of Westminster  | Liddell Hart Military Archives  | London  | 2005
Kingston upon Hull City Museums and Art Galleries, Kingston upon Hull  | Hull Museums Collections Relating to the City and Region  | North  | 1999
Lambeth Palace Library, London  | The Manuscripts, Archives and Printed Books Collection  | London  | 2005
Lancashire County Museum Service, Preston  | Textile Industry Collection  | North  | 1999
Lapworth Museum of Geology (University of Birmingham), Birmingham  | Lapworth Museum of Geology Collections  | Midlands  | 2008
Leeds Museums and Galleries, Leeds  | Leeds Museums and Galleries Fine and Decorative Arts Collection  | North  | 1997
Leeds Museums and Galleries, Leeds  | Leeds Museums and Galleries Natural Sciences Collection  | North  | 1998
Leeds Museums and Galleries, Leeds  | Leeds Museums and Galleries Industrial Collections  | North  | 1999
Leeds University Special Collections Centre, Leeds  | The English Literature Collection | North  | 2005
Leeds University Special Collections Centre, Leeds  | Gypsy, Traveller and Roma Collections  | North  | 2005
Leeds University Special Collections Centre, Leeds  | The Cookery Collection  | North  | 2005
Leeds University Special Collections Centre, Leeds  | The Leeds Russian Archive | North  | 2005
Leeds University Special Collections Centre, Leeds  | The Liddle Collection | North  | 2005
Library and Museum of Freemasonry, Freemasons Hall, London  | Library and Museum of Freemasonry Collections  | London  | 2007
Lincolnshire Archives, Lincoln  | Lincoln Episcopal Rolls and Registers  | Midlands  | 2005
Linnean Society of London, City of Westminster  | Library, Archive and Biological Specimen Collections | London  | 2014
Liverpool and Merseyside Record Offices Liverpool  | Photographic Image Collection  | North  | 2006
London School of Economics and Political Science, London  | British Library of Political and Economic Science  | London  | 2005
London School of Economics and Political Science (Applied as London Metropolitan University), London  | The Women's Library  | London  | 2006
London Transport Museum, City of Westminster  | London Transport Museum Collection  | London  | 1997
Manchester City Galleries, Manchester  | Manchester City Galleries Fine and Decorative Art Collections  | North  | 1997
Manchester City Galleries, Manchester  | Manchester City Galleries Costume and Textile Collections  | North  | 1997
Manchester Museum, University of Manchester, Manchester  | Manchester Museum Collection | North  | 1997
Mary Rose Trust, Portsmouth  | Mary Rose Museum Collection  | South West  | 1997
Middlesex University, Museum of Design and Domestic Architecture, London  | Silver Studio Collection  | London  | 2008
Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry  | Modern Records Centre Collections  | Midlands  | 2006
Museum of Design in Plastics, Arts University Bournemouth, Bournemouth  | Museum of Design in Plastics Collection  | South West  | 2021
Museum of London, City of London  | Museum of London Collection  | London  | 1997
Museum of Natural History (Gardens, Libraries and Museums (GLAM) - University of Oxford), Oxford  | Museum of Natural History Collections  | South East  | 1997
Museum of the History of Science (Gardens, Libraries & Museums (GLAM) - University of Oxford), Oxford  | History of Science Museum Collections  | South East  | 1997
Museums Sheffield, Sheffield  | Sheffield Museums Metalwork Collections  | North  | 1999
National Football Museum, Manchester  | National Football Museum Collections  | North  | 2013
National Motor Museum, Beaulieu  | National Motor Museum Collection  | South West  | 1997
National Tramway Museum, Crich  | National Tramway Museum Collection  | Midlands  | 1997
Norfolk Museums Service, Norwich  | Norwich Castle Museum Collections  | South East  | 1998
Norfolk Record Office, Norwich  | History of Norfolk Archive  | South East  | 2005
Northampton Museum and Art Gallery  | Boot and Shoe Collection at Northampton Museum and Art Gallery  | Midlands  | 1998
Nottingham Museums (Heritage), Nottingham  | Lace and Lace Machinery Collections  | Midlands  | 2014
People's History Museum, Manchester  | People's History Museum Collection  | North  | 1998
Pitt Rivers Museum (Gardens, Libraries & Museums (GLAM) - University of Oxford), Oxford  | Pitt Rivers Collection  | South East  | 1997
Royal Academy of Arts, City of Westminster  | Royal Academy of Arts Collections, Library and Archives  | London  | 2011
Royal Academy of Music, City of Westminster  | Special Collections and Archives of the Royal Academy of Music Library  | London  | 2005
Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter  | World Cultures Collections at Royal Albert Memorial Museum  | South West  | 1998
Royal Albert Memorial Museum, Exeter  | George Montagu Collection  | South West  | 2019
Royal College of Music, London  | Royal College of Music, Museum and Library Collections | London  | 2020
Royal College of Surgeons of England, London  | Hunterian Museum Collection and the Archive and Library Collections  | London  | 2013
Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham  | Royal Engineers Museum | South East  | 1998
Royal Geographical Society (with Institute of British Geographers), City of Westminster  | Geographical Material Held by the Royal Geographical Society with the Institute of British Geographers  | London  | 2005
Royal Horticultural Society, City of Westminster  | Lindley Library Collection  | London  | 2011
Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), City of Westminster  | British Architecture Library  | London  | 2005
Royal Pavilion and Museums Brighton & Hove, Brighton and Hove  | Booth Museum Natural History Collection  | South East  | 1997
Royal Pavilion and Museums Brighton & Hove, Brighton and Hove  | Decorative Arts Collections Held by Royal Pavilion and Museums Brighton & Hove  | South East  | 1998
Royal Pavilion and Museums Brighton & Hove, Brighton and Hove  | World Art and Anthropology Collections Held by Royal Pavilion and Museums Brighton & Hove  | South East  | 1998
Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and the Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-upon-Avon  | The Shakespeare Collection  | Midlands  | 2005
Sir John Soane's Museum, London  | Sir John Soane's Museum Collection  | London  | 1999
Southampton City Council Arts & Heritage, Southampton  | Fine Art Collections Held by Southampton City Council Arts & Heritage  | South West  | 1998
Southampton City Council Arts & Heritage, Southampton  | Archaeology Collections Held by Southampton City Council Arts & Heritage  | South West  | 1998
SS Great Britain, Bristol  | The SS Great Britain Collection  | South West  | 2014
St John's College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge  | The Old Library Collection Cambridge  | South East  | 2005
Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service, Stafford  | Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Archive Service Collections  | Midlands  | 2011
Stoke-on-Trent Museums, Stoke-on-Trent  | The Stoke Museums Service Collections  | Midlands  | 1997
Telegraph Museum Porthcurno, Porthcurno  | Core Collection of Submarine Telegraphy Objects & the Historic Archive Collections of Key International Telegraph Cable Companies  | South West  | 2009
The Box (Plymouth Museums Galleries Archives), Plymouth | The Cottonian Collection  | South West  | 1998
The Brontë Society, Haworth, Bradford  | The Brontë Parsonage Museum Collection  | North  | 2023
The Canal and River Trust, Ellesmere Port  | Canal and River Trust Collections at National Waterways Museum - Ellesmere Port and National Waterways Museum Gloucester  | South West  | 1998
The Cheltenham Trust, Cheltenham  | Arts and Craft Collection at The Wilson  | South West  | 1998
The Kimmeridge Trust, Kimmeridge  | The Etches Collection Museum of Jurassic Marine Life  | South West  | 2020
The Mass Observation Archive, Brighton and Hove  | The Mass Observation Archive | South East  | 2005
The Postal Heritage Trust, London  | The Records Relating to the Operation, Policy, Development and Social Impact of the British Post Office from 1636 to the resent Day (Held By the Royal Mail Archive)  | London  | 2005
The Royal Artillery Museum, Salisbury  | The Royal Artillery Collection  | South West  | 1999
The Salisbury and South Wiltshire Museum Trust, Salisbury  | The Salisbury Museum Archaeology Collection | South West  | 1998
The Tank Museum, Bovington Camp  | The Tank Museum Collection  | South West  | 1998
The Weiner Holocaust Library, London  | The Weiner Holocaust Library Collection  | London  | 2017
The Wordsworth Trust, Grasmere  | The Wordsworth Trust Collection  | North  | 1997
Torbay Museums Trust, Torquay  | Quaternary Cave Collection & Archive  | South West  | 2016
Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle  | The Natural Science Collections at Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery  | North  | 2018
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums, Newcastle upon Tyne  | Shipbuilding, Maritime & Maritime Trade Archive Collections  | North  | 2006
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums and Sunderland Museums & Heritage Service, Newcastle and Sunderland  | Science and Technology Collections  | North  | 1997
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums and Sunderland Museums & Heritage Service, Newcastle and Sunderland  | Fine and Decorative Art Collections  | North  | 1998
Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums and Sunderland Museums & Heritage Service, Newcastle and Sunderland  | Natural Sciences Collections  | North  | 1998
Unilever Art, Archives & Records Management, Port Sunlight  | The Archive of the United Africa Company  | North  | 2005
University College London Culture, Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology, London  | Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology Collection  | London  | 1998
University of Birmingham Libraries, Special Collection, Birmingham  | Mingana Collection of Middle Eastern Manuscripts  | Midlands  | 2005
University of Cambridge Museums & Botanic Garden, Cambridge  | Fitzwilliam Museum Collection  | South East  | 1997
University of Cambridge Museums & Botanic Garden, Cambridge  | Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Collections  | South East  | 1997
University of Cambridge Museums & Botanic Garden, Cambridge  | Whipple Museum of the History of Science Collections  | South East  | 1997
University of Cambridge Museums & Botanic Garden, Cambridge  | Cambridge University Museum of Zoology Collection  | South East  | 1998
University of Cambridge Museums & Botanic Garden, Cambridge  | Sedgwick Museum Collection  | South East  | 1998
University of Nottingham Libraries (Manuscripts & Special Collections), Nottingham  | The Portland (London) Collection; Portland of Welbeck Collection and Newcastle of Clumber Papers | Midlands  | 2005
University of Nottingham Libraries (Manuscripts & Special Collections), Nottingham  | DH Lawrence Collection | Midlands  | 2008
University of Reading (Special Collections), Reading  | The Beckett Collection | South East  | 2005
University of Reading (Special Collections), Reading  | Archive of British Publishing and Printing | South East  | 2006
University of Reading, Museum of English Rural Life, Reading  | The Museum of English Rural Life Archive, Library and Object Collections  | South East  | 1997
University of Bristol, Bristol  | University of Bristol Theatre Collection  | South West  | 2019
Weald and Downland Living Museum, Singleton, Chichester  | Weald and Downland Living Museum Collection  | South East  | 1998
Wellcome Trust, London  | The Wellcome Library | London  | 2005
Westminster City Archives, City of Westminster  | Art and Design Collection  | London  | 2005
Whitworth Art Gallery, University of Manchester, Manchester  | Whitworth Art Gallery Collection of Textiles and Wallpaper  | North  | 1997
Whitworth Art Gallery, University of Manchester, Manchester  | Whitworth Art Gallery Collection of Fine Art  | North  | 1998
William Morris Gallery, London  | William Morris and Morris & Co. collection  | London  | 2017
Wiltshire Museum, Devizes  | Wiltshire Museum Collections | South West  | 1997
York Museums Trust, York  | York Museums Trust Collections  | North  | 1997

## See also

* Designated landmark (US)
* Designated place (Canada)

## References

1. ↑ "Arts Council - Designation Scheme". http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/what-we-do/raising-standards/designation-scheme/..
2. ↑ "Designated Collections | Arts Council England" (in en). https://www.artscouncil.org.uk/publication/designated-outstanding-collections.
3. ↑ The first stately museum of England, The Independent.
4. ↑ "Arts Council - Museums and libraries formally transfer to Arts Council England". http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/news/arts-council-news/museums-and-libraries-formally-transfer-arts-counc/..
5. ↑ "Cambridge University plant collection awarded Designated status" (in en-GB). BBC News - Cambridgeshire. 1 June 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-61653919.
6. ↑ Garget, Jacqueline (31 May 2022). "Cambridge University Herbarium gains national significance accolade" (in en). https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/cambridge-herbarium-awarded-designated-status.

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