Minister extends Museums Policy consultation deadline

Culture Minister Nelson McCausland has extended the consultation period for the draft Museums Policy for Northern Ireland

To allow for the summer holidays, and to facilitate those who may wish to respond to the consultation, the Minister has decided to extend the consultation for a further five weeks to 30 September.

The Minister said: "By extending the consultation I want to encourage as many groups and individuals as possible to contribute to this important process that will put in place, for the first time, a museums policy for Northern Ireland. It is therefore of major importance that we get as many views and opinions as possible to inform the policy and to shape the framework that museums can work within.”

The consultation meets a commitment made by the Minister to the Culture, Arts and Leisure Committee’s Inquiry into the need to have a museums policy for Northern Ireland.

The draft policy document together with a list of common questions can be downloaded from the DCAL website  If you would like to obtain a hard copy of this document and the list of common questions, please contact Michelle McRoberts by:

email:michelle.mcroberts@dcalni.gov.uk

telephone: (028) 9051 5006;

fax: (028) 9083 3376

post:

Notes to editors:

1. Media enquires should be addressed to the Department of Culture, Arts and Leisure Communications Office. Tel (028) 9051 5047 or email press.office@dcalni.gov.uk. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.