VISION

Our Purpose

The Stained Glass Museum collects, preserves, displays and interprets examples of our stained glass heritage to share with diverse audiences, inspire visitors, and deepen our understanding and enjoyment of the art of stained glass.

Our Vision

Our vision builds on the Museum’s success over the last 40 years and sets out our ambition to become a nationally designated collection, with a dynamic learning programme and high-quality visitor experience.

The Stained Glass Museum plays a unique role in providing a bridge between existing artistic, heritage and research organisations and the public, and in preserving and advocating for our stained glass heritage. These three fundamental aspects; engaging diverse audiences, collaborating with creative communities, researchers and partnering organisations in the sector, collectively form the foundations of our vision to be:

An accessible visitor attraction with a nationally recognised collection that provides learning experiences for all and actively promotes the preservation, study and appreciation of stained glass.

Our developing vision for the future

The Stained Glass Museum: Developing a national centre for the discovery, appreciation and preservation of stained glass (view PDF) has been produced as part of the 'Windows onto the Future project'. It sets out the Stained Glass Museum’s journey so far, and our vision for the future.

We would love to hear your thoughts on this document, and our vision for the future.

'Windows onto the Future'

A two-year project funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, ‘Windows onto the Future: investigating options for an accessible and resilient Stained Glass Museum’, 2018-2020, enabled the museum to consider in detail its strategic options for future development with the aim of creating a vibrant, accessible and resilient museum fit for the 21st century. This funded project drew to a close in May 2020. A Strategic Options Appraisal for the museum was developed as part of this project and further implementation of recommendations were temporarily paused due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.

The key findings from the project have emphasised that The Stained Glass Museum is a treasured and much-loved museum that inspires audiences of all ages, with a highly lean operating model. In order for the museum to build on the last 40 years of success and growth, the project outlined several areas for the museum to explore further: how to maximise the existing partnership with Ely Cathedral, how the museum can fulfil its vision as a national centre for stained glass in the future (on site and/or in potential new locations), how to develop digital presence and expand partnerships with the creative sector. These recommendations will guide the future direction of The Stained Glass Museum.


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