For the first time, the state museumsoperated or established by Ministry of Culture acquire a pattern of structure internal regulation. The operating regulation, which received the unanimous positive opinion of the competent Council of Museums, was drawn up by the Directorate of Archaeological Museums, Exhibitions and Educational Programs of the Ministry of Education and Culture. The internal regulation constitutes condition for Certification of museums.

Certification is a mandatory process for approx 200 museums which belong to the Ministry of Health. It is a holistic effort to upgrade these museums, with the aim of their reciprocity towards the visitor but also their empowerment as carriers of culture, lifelong learning and social cohesion.

The Minister of Culture, Lina Mendoni, stated: “The drafting and implementation of the internal operating regulations of the museums, which operate or are established by the Ministry of Culture, is a prerequisite for their Certification, based on the current institutional framework. The process of certification of state museums is mandatory and adopts three axes: The utilization of the National Monuments Archive in the recording and registration of all the movable monuments belonging to the museums of the Ministry of Education, the upgrading of the services provided by the museums to the public , in order for the visitor to feel that he is at the center of the care of the professionals of the state museums, the strengthening of the extroversion of the museums of the YP.PO, with the aim of dynamically claiming part of the free time of the citizens, but also to shape a distinct public image in a international environment. The financial, functional and operational viability of museums and their impact on society depends on the adoption of a new organizational structure and management philosophy, as well as new practices of approach and communication with the public, with the aim of the overall upgrade of the country’s museum structures and services they provide. The adoption of the internal regulation facilitates the operation and targeting of each museum, so that they apply innovative solutions in all aspects of their operation, have access to modern scientific fields and good practices, cultivate relationships and join networks”.

How is the Certification done?

The Certification process takes into account the scale and special characteristics of each museum of the Ministry of Education and Culture. A basic tool of the Certification process is the self-evaluation of each museum organization, by filling in a form that constitutes an x-ray of all its functions. Each museum is asked to describe its organizational structure, its staffing and financial management, its building infrastructure, the way of organization, the documentation tools and the means of management and maintenance of its collections, its interpretation policy, its outreach actions as well as services to the public.

The procedure is completed by autopsies carried out by the co-competent Departments of the Ministry of Health. The purpose of the autopsies is to assist the Museum Certification Services in order to clearly capture its current situation and then to propose targeted upgrading interventions. These tools give each museum the opportunity to compare the functions and its infrastructures with the applied good practices, by sector. Depending on the identified needs, the museum is part of a specially designed upgrade program. After the successful completion of the program, it is awarded the title of “Certified Museum”.

The standard structure of the internal operating regulations for state museums includes 25 articles, which, among other things, define the organizational chart of the museum, protocols of actions related to its operation, such as storage and maintenance laboratory management, issues of environmental responsibility, safety and emergencies, regulation of visits, operation of sales and refreshments.

Attached is the letter of approval of the outline structure of the standard internal operating regulations of the museums of the YPPO in accordance with article 45 of Law 4858/2021.