Shhh!, this blog is about, Museums we don’t speak of…

Keep this to yourself. Scattered across the country are museums that few people mention. When we discuss how museums are embracing new technologies, these places are often left out. When we talk about museums tackling social issues—knife crime, human rights, climate change, or breaking down barriers for race, gender, class, neurodiversity, and disability—these museums are rarely part of the conversation. Pick up a copy of Museums Journal and you’ll see stories about cutting-edge exhibition spaces, AI integration, and ethical debates over human remains, but seldom will you find mention of these hidden institutions.

Yet, these overlooked museums form the backbone of the sector. They are the small-town and village museums, often run by dedicated volunteers, many of which have remained unchanged for decades. Some exist to preserve continuity; others dream of transformation but lack the funding or expertise to make it happen. We all know these museums. Some of us have worked in them—I certainly have. But when the sector showcases its achievements, it is the national, metropolitan, independent, and university museums that take centre stage. Why do we so rarely discuss the institutions that make up the majority of our museum landscape?

Museums: A Sector of Contradictions

The term museum is a broad one, encompassing an extraordinary variety of institutions. Beyond the basic act of collecting and presenting historical material, many of these museums share little in common. It’s understandable, then, that the most prominent, well-funded, and innovative institutions dominate the conversation. Their success stories demonstrate that the sector is forward-thinking, socially engaged, and economically valuable. But they also present a misleading picture—one that ignores the reality for hundreds of smaller museums operating under entirely different conditions.

Image: Warley Museum (in a former phone box).

Small museums are everywhere, often representing local histories or specialist interests. They outnumber the well-known institutions but employ very few people. Many own their own buildings, meaning that if volunteers are abundant, they can survive with minimal visitor numbers. In fact, for many of these institutions, the moment they begin employing staff is when the pressure to adapt becomes unavoidable.

The Training Grounds of the Museum World

For many museum professionals, these smaller institutions provide their first opportunity to make an impact. In my early career, I served on the Steering Committee for the Derbyshire Museums and Heritage Forum, where the majority of sites were volunteer-run. What I found was a level of dedication and passion unlike anything I had encountered before. The ambition of these volunteers is boundless, and when paired with a young professional equipped with funding knowledge, audience development skills, and event expertise, the results can be transformational.

Some of these museums thrive by catering to niche interests, while others struggle to attract audiences beyond their immediate community. However, many have successfully positioned themselves as community hubs, hosting well-attended local events and serving as a source of civic pride. Whether it’s a historic pumping station, a heritage railway, or a local history site, these institutions play an integral role in the cultural landscape. Their exhibition approaches may sometimes be outdated, their cases may be the same wooden and glass structures they’ve had for decades, but the passion that drives them is undeniable.

Image: Pembroke Museum.

The Importance of Small Museums

Love them or not, small museums matter. They represent the majority of the sector, and ignoring them distorts the reality of the museum world. These institutions care for some of the most culturally significant objects in Britain’s collective history. While national museums house the iconic treasures, smaller museums preserve the narratives that define local identities—and they do it with a fraction of the resources.

One of the first museums I worked for was a small, volunteer-led institution, and I was only their second-ever employee. It was a fixed-term contract, but it exposed me to a variety of roles and responsibilities that shaped my career. I owe much of my professional development to that opportunity, and I’m not alone—many museum professionals have similar stories. With the decline of curatorial assistant and documentation roles in larger institutions, these small museums often serve as the only entry points for emerging talent.

The Future of Small Museums

Despite their importance, too many small museums are struggling. Many are failing to engage younger audiences, and their visitor numbers are in decline. This is not true across the board—some have embraced change with remarkable success—but it is a common pattern. Yet, as local authorities continue to cut museum funding and staff roles, it may well be these volunteer-led institutions that endure the longest. If they own their buildings and can generate income through rents or donations, they can weather financial storms that other museums cannot.

This raises an uncomfortable question: As large town museums close due to funding cuts, will local authorities view volunteer-run institutions as a cost-effective alternative? While volunteer-led museums are vital, they cannot replace professionally staffed institutions without a serious loss of expertise. The museum sector thrives on the balance between dedicated professionals and passionate amateurs. If we allow one to disappear, we diminish the value of the other.

The Call to Action

Small museums are essential to the future of the sector. They are training grounds for the next generation of museum professionals, they safeguard local heritage, and they foster community engagement. But they need support. We must acknowledge their challenges, celebrate their successes, and provide them with the resources they need to thrive.

Our sector will only remain strong if we recognise the value of both the largest institutions and the smallest, and ensure that they continue to complement and support one another. Small museums have shaped many of our careers—it’s time we gave them the recognition they deserve.

Paul Baker