DfC Publishes Heritage, Culture and Creativity Programme Framework
July 31, 2025A new strategic framework to shape future policy for Northern Ireland’s heritage, culture and creativity sectors, including museums.
The Department for Communities (DfC) has published a new Heritage, Culture and Creativity (HCC) Programme Framework, setting the direction for future policy development across the arts, museums, historic environment and public libraries in Northern Ireland.
Launched by Minister Lyons in July 2024, the HCC Programme aims to create a comprehensive suite of policies supporting the Department’s responsibilities for culture and heritage. This initial phase focuses on four key policy areas—Arts, Museums, Historic Environment and Public Libraries—laying the foundation for sustaining and strengthening these sectors, and enhancing their contribution to Executive priorities and community wellbeing.
The newly published Framework outlines the purpose and structure of the Programme, summarises progress to date, and presents high-level draft policy aims developed through extensive stakeholder engagement, including input from the Culture, Arts and Heritage Taskforce. It also identifies cross-cutting themes such as funding, skills development, research and collaboration—signalling emerging areas of action for the Programme.
Key Developments for the Museum Sector:
New sector-level priorities for museums. The Framework builds on the NI Executive’s Programme for Government 2024–27, identifying the important role museums play in delivering across four key missions—People, Planet, Prosperity and Peace. This includes supporting community resilience, social inclusion, cultural identity, and environmental education.
Towards a new museums policy:
For the first time since 2011, DfC is developing a new museums policy as part of Phase 1 of the HCC Programme. The policy, shaped by stakeholder input and sector engagement, is expected to enter public consultation later in 2025. It will set coordinated goals for audience development, lifelong learning, collections care, infrastructure and future investment.
Next steps and ongoing consultation: The Framework serves as a precursor to full public consultations on each of the four policy areas, anticipated to begin in Autumn 2025. NI Museums Council encourages local museums and cultural organisations to review the document and prepare to participate in shaping the future of the sector. Indeed, if you have museum based case studies that exemplify the draft policy aims get in touch and we will share them with DfC.
Download the framework here.