About us

The National Museum Directors' Conference represents the leaders of the UK's national collections and major regional museums. These comprise the national museums in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, four leading regional museums, the British Library, National Library of Scotland, and the National Archives. Our national museums, libraries and archives employ over 13,000 people across the UK.

About the NMDC

The NMDC was founded in 1929, in anticipation of a Royal Commission recommendation that the national collections should 'coordinate their work and discuss matters of mutual concern'. Today the NMDC provides its membership with a valuable forum for discussion and debate and an opportunity to share information and work collaboratively. The NMDC represents its members, the issues they care about and the museums sector to policy makers and opinion formers. We work to inform and shape the museums and cultural policy agendas across the UK.

The NMDC is funded by its membership institutions, the directors of which give their time voluntarily to the organisation. The current Chair is Dr. Michael Dixon, Director of the Natural History Museum.

For more information about the NMDC please see our website

Our members

There are 28 NMDC member organisations which operate 110 sites across the UK. For more information on our members and for links to all member organisations' own websites click here