The role of partnerships in the delivery of local government museum services: A case study from Northern Ireland

Abstract

Partnerships have become more prevalent in the delivery of public services, particularly in relation to non‐traditional sectors such as culture, arts and leisure. This paper presents a synthesis of research on partnerships and their relevance to local museums in the light of recent government policy. The relevance of partnerships to this sector is explored through a case study of four local authorities in Northern Ireland that partnered to form a regional museum service. Qualitative interviews revealed that despite the small scale of the partnership, a number of benefits have been delivered and that the partnership mechanism can work for organisations with little in the way of resources. Much of the success of the case study partnership can be attributed to the skills and leadership of the appointed member of staff. Further research is recommended to map the type, scope and purpose of museum partnerships in order to develop a typology for this sector and to evaluate current government policy.

Citation

Wilson, L. and Boyle, E. (2004), "The role of partnerships in the delivery of local government museum services: A case study from Northern Ireland", International Journal of Public Sector Management, Vol. 17 No. 6, pp. 513-533. https://doi.org/10.1108/09513550410554797