This innovative project was the first Citizens’ Jury run by a museum. Reflecting Birmingham's diverse population, a range of people took part in decision-making about their heritage.
At the time Birmingham Museums Trust was in the midst of a transformation to make the organisation more resilient and financially sustainable, and ensure it had the skilled workforce and audience insights to be able to deliver its vision. The trust developed the Citizens’ Jury to test whether their vision and strategy was relevant to local people.
As a result of the process, we feel more pride in our museums and the city.
Citizens' Jury statement
After over 30 hours of discussion and deliberation, the jury gave 20 recommendations to guide Birmingham Museums’ future priorities, including:
- ensuring museums are accessible and welcoming to all residents, regardless of background
- improving promotion of the city’s museums and activities through social media and physical outreach
- encouraging museums to take creative risks and offer diverse, educational and entertaining experiences
In a statement about their work, the Citizens’ Jury said: “As a result of the process, we feel more pride in our museums and the city. We have enjoyed being a part of this decision-making process and it has made us advocate for and promote our museums in our own communities.”
Birmingham Museums Trust continued the conversation with the jurors after their recommendations were published. The project won the Museums Association’s Best Museums Change Lives Project Award in 2025 and the Sector Impact Award at the Museums + Heritage Awards 2026.
The Museums + Heritage Award judges said: “[The project] is a genuinely ground-breaking initiative that set a landmark precedent for the entire sector, already inspiring others to follow suit. This is what it looks like when a museum becomes a truly democratic civic institution.”
