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The Jury of the Austrian Museums’ Seal of Approval, made up of experts from ICOM Österreich and the Museum Association under the chairmanship of PD Dr. Wolfgang Meighörner fromTirol, decided in September 2015 to renew the Museums’ Seal of Approval for the Museum of Musical Instruments in Kremsegg Castle until 2020. The museum thus fulfils international criteria for museum work; it is at the same time a great responsibility and a great challenge to fulfil and uphold these standards for a long period. The Museum of Musical Instruments in Kremsegg Castle not only has a collection corresponding to the theme of the museum but also a clear guiding principle orientated to the specific target groups and educational methods involved.
The collection of the museum has been continuously extended and restructured since the celebration “15 years of Kremsegg Castle” in 2011: the Brass instrument exhibition has been completely refurbished, the Clavierland (Piano Land) has been expanded and the special exhibition on the Vienna Horn has even stimulated young researchers in their choice of themes for diplomas and dissertations. Young visitors to Kremsegg Castle can immerse themselves interactively in the world of music. The latest exhibition, Johann Nepomuk David David – in the context of his timet opened in October 2014.
The museum is of equal interest for amateurs and professionals both in theory and in practice, and has proved to be a place of lively discourse and the exchange of ideas. In this context the close connections to and co-operation with the Anton Bruckner Private University, the Upper Austrian Vocal Academy, the Music Collection of Upper Austria and the provincial cultural management are a major priority. Exhibitions and concerts on special themes are clear evidence of this fruitful interaction.
A Museums' Seal of Approval was introduced in Austria, and first awarded in 2002, in order to differentiate qualitatively those museums which fulfil minimum standards of presentation and documentation from those who, since the word museum itself does not guarantee these standards, are permitted to designate themselves as such on the basis of public access to an exhibition.
The two umbrella organisations of the museum world in Austria, ICOM-Österreich (International Council of Museums, National Committee Austria) and the Museumsbund Österreich (Museum Association of Austria) devised an evaluation procedure for museums, the aim of which is a customisation and a general improvement in the standard of Austrian museums. The guidelines are based on the „Code of Ethics – the codex of professional ethics of museums” and were adjusted to the realities of the Austrian situation.
The award of the „Museums' Seal of Approval“ certifies publicly that:
• the museum accepts its responsibility for the preservation of cultural heritage
• visitors can expect a high quality of presentation and a minimum standard of service
• the museum, its funding agencies and its staff accept the „Ethical Guidelines for Museums“
