86 World of Museums

Two New Journals

It is always encouraging to welcome new journals addressing specific require- ments of the museum and art gallery community, and in the wake of the recent economic recession their appearance comes as something of a reassurance. The first issue of the Museologicaf Revie.w published by the Department of Museum Studies at the University of Leicester appeared during the summer of I994 and the venture owes much to the energy of Maria Mouliou, a research student from Greece. To be published biannually, the aims of this journal have been defined as:

l to enable museums studies students and other interested parties to share and exchange information and knowledge;

l to provide an international medium for museums students and ex-students from around the world to keep in touch with a relevant centre of research; and

l to bring to the attention of the practising and academic museum world innovations and new thinking on museums and related matters.

The first issue includes a diverse range of subjects from information technology in muscums and popular collecting in Britain, to galleries featuring 19th century art and the Greek archaeological heritage presented through museum displays. Each issue costs 26.00 (including post & packing) and further information can be obtained from The Editors, The Muscological Review, Department of Museum Studies, 105 Princess Road East, Leicester LEl i’LG, UK (Tel: 0533-523972; Fax: 0533-523960).

The second journal, the Arts Research Digest, was launched in May 1994 as a practical response to the communications gap which has been a severe impediment to research in the sector. Over the years, all too much of the research undertaken by or for public funding bodies, trusts and foundations, institutions of higher education, central and local government, and many other organizations and individuals has remained seriously under-exploited because few beyond those directly involved in its origination even knew that it had been undertaken. This analysis has been confirmed by the solid response experienced recently during the collection of details concerning relevant research, completed and in hand, and a steady flow of valuable information is promised. Edited by Lynn Cain, the Arts Research Digest owes a great deal to the dynamism of Nancy Balfour, Chair of Arts Research Ltd., and the support of the University of Newcastle, and its policy has been determined:

Arts Research Digest seeks to collate and publish, at regular intervals, publicly available information on recent and current research in the arts and cultural industries, drawn from the broadest possible constituency, for the benefit of practitioners, policy makers, funders and sponsors, academics, researchers and other interested parties.

It is intended to publish three issues per year and as regards its definition of research-for the purposes of selecting material for inclusion in the Arts Research Digest-the following criteria have been devclopcd:

world of ~tmums 87

l original research or fresh analysis of existing material; l qualitative and/or quantitative research; l research completed within the last I8 months, currently in progress, or

planned research projects; l in report, study or directory format; l of interest to a broad constituency; l publicly available.

All the research listed in the first issue (spring 1994) was published during or since 1993, or is currently being conducted, but such a publication is dependent upon the active co-operation of those conducting and commissioning research in keeping the Arts Research Digest informed of their research projects. Conse- quentlv a ‘Research Details Form’ is included, and will be in future issues. The subscription rate is 527.00 (UK), !Z30.00 (Eire/Europe) and 245 (airmail elsewhere), and for subscriptions and further information contact Lynn Cain, Editor, Arts Research Digest, Research Services Unit, University of Newcastle, 6 Kensington Terrace, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 7RU (Tel: 091-222.6090; Fax: 091-222.6229).

PETER CANNON-BKCXIKES

The British Museum: Towards the 21st Century

In 2003 the British Museum will celebrate its 250th anniversary, and in July 1994 the Trustees unveiled their development plans for the 21st century and announced the appointment of Sir Norman Foster as their consultant architect. The long drawn out saga of the British Library and its move to the new building in St. Pancras is hopefully drawing to a close and its departure will release some 40 percent of the existing Museum building in Bloomsbury. At its heart, both

1. Interior of the Great Court of the British Museum, London, designed by Sir Robert Smirkc, seen after its completion and before the insertion of Sydney Smirkc’s

Reading Room (18.54-57).