385 27 2562 6 6906 document 2562 changes_2000-2025.xlsx application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet f098931fb0d7b5c91d412c1a727f179b MD5 31077 2025-10-13 08:43:57 https://researchdata.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/385/1/changes_2000-2025.xlsx 385 1 5 application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.spreadsheetml.sheet spreadsheet Data underpinning Mapping Museums Lab report Collections From Closed Museums: Change in museum numbers between 2000 and 2025, broken down by museum attributes. Used for report figures: 3, 4, 6-15. en public odc_by

changes_2000-2025.xlsx

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closures_2000-2025.xlsx

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museums-over-time.xlsx

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transactions.xlsx

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indexcodes.txt

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full_archive 496 255 archive 208 disk0/00/00/03/85 2025-11-04 17:44:21 2026-04-14 11:12:25 2025-11-04 17:44:21 data_collection show Candlin Fiona Birkbeck 0000-0002-6495-4618 Wright George Ballatore Andrea Poulovassilis Alex Wood Peter Liebenrood Mark Golovteeva Maria Bonnet Helena HS hafvm public museum closure; collections disposal; museum governance; museum size; museum change; scrap; transfer; accreditation The Mapping Museums Lab is a multidisciplinary research team based at Birkbeck, University of London. We combine computer and data science, and museum studies to document and analyse the history, geography, composition, and development of the UK museum sector since 1960. The data deposited here was collected as part of the AHRC funded project 'Museum Closure in the UK 2000-25', and underpins our project report Collections From Closed Museums, published in December 2025. The finalised Museum Closure dataset comprises a list of museums in existence in the UK during 1960-2025 and their characteristics, with detailed information on museum closure from 2000 and after. 2025-10-13 Birkbeck College, University of London https://doi.org/10.18743/zd5a-se41 ahrc Museum Closure in the UK 2000-25 Mapping Museums: the history and geography of the UK independent sector 1960-2020 yes 2035-11-05 metadata_and_data_files yes staff We collected data on which UK museums had closed since 2000, why, and on what had happened to their collections and other objects. Wherever possible we found out who had acquired the collection, under what circumstances, when, and the objects’ new locations, if relevant. Wherever possible we used Wikidata types to classify the objects itemised in the process of disposal, and drew on the CIDOC Conceptual Reference Model for key distinctions concerning changes in ownership (such as sales and gifts) and custody (such as when an object is loaned or moved). Using established categories links our research to other datasets and facilitates reuse and semantic alignment. As no prior categorisation existed we developed bespoke taxonomies for reasons for closure, closure events, and actors. This process involved compiling the terms and descriptions commonly found in our sources and grouping similar events together. For instance, sources might cite the recession, rising costs of insurance, and funding cuts as reasons for closure, which we grouped as ‘financial’, while sale of premises, lease expired, and redevelopment of site were grouped under loss of premises We collected data on why UK museums had closed and on what had happened to their collections and other objects. Wherever possible we found out who had acquired the collection, under what circumstances, when, and the objects’ new locations, if relevant. We obtained our information from the following sources: • Local and national newspapers • Subject-specialist journals, newsletters, and mailing lists • Charity Commission, Companies House, Scottish Regulator files • Liquidators’ reports • Closed museums’ websites (extant and via the Internet Archive Wayback Machine) • Defunct and current social media • Online reviews, blogs, and chat forums We followed leads by email and telephone, contacting former volunteers, members of staff, and family members as appropriate. We also put out calls for help via social media and contacted staff in: • Subject-specialist networks • Enthusiasts, preservation, and historical societies • Local councils and their museum services • Neighbouring museums • Neighbouring businesses • Tourist offices The material was cross-checked by the research team. Staff from each of the Museums Development Networks, Museums Galleries Scotland, and the Northern Ireland Museum Council reviewed and helped refine our lists of closed museums. We integrated the data on closure with our Mapping Museums dataset. This has information on all the museums open in the UK between 1960 and 2020, their address, governance, size, and subject matter, accreditation status, years of opening and, if relevant, closure. We have continued to check for new and closed museums and to update the Mapping Museums and Museum Closure databases accordingly. Updates come from four main sources: • Museums Journal news and announcements • Google alerts and online searches • Regular communication with the Museums Development Network • Direct contact with museum staff The finalised Museum Closure dataset comprises a list of museums in existence in the UK during 1960-2025 and their characteristics, with detailed information on museum closure from 2000 and after. United Kingdom Not applicable 2023-10-01 2025-08-01 2000-01-01 2025-08-01