Eurostat

The European Group on Museum Statistics (EGMUS) works to improve the quality, availability, and comparability of museum statistics across Europe. While EGMUS originated as an expert-driven initiative, its work has always been closely connected with Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union. This partnership reflects a shared ambition: to establish a reliable statistical basis for understanding the role of museums in European societies — in terms of participation, funding, employment, and digital transformation.

Shared Goals, Complementary Perspectives

Eurostat began addressing the lack of cultural statistics in the 1990s, setting up the Leadership Group (LEG) on Cultural Statistics and, later, dedicated Working Groups and Task Forces on cultural participation, expenditure, and employment. Within this context, a group of experts initiated focused work on museum statistics, aligning their approach with Eurostat’s priorities. Although the museum group was not a formal Eurostat Task Force, it was closely linked: its coordinators attended Eurostat Working Group meetings and contributed progress reports and indicator frameworks.

The cooperation ensured that museum-specific expertise could inform broader cultural statistics — and vice versa.

EGMUS continues to contribute to EU-wide statistical efforts by:

• Developing and maintaining a standard questionnaire for national museum statistics, aligned with Eurostat definitions
• Supporting projects such as MINERVA, NUMERIC, and ENUMERATE, which address digital heritage and data infrastructure
• Participating in the ESSnet-Culture network to refine methods and indicators for European cultural statistics

This collaboration strengthens the relevance of museum statistics in policymaking, cultural planning, and research — across both EU Member States and associated countries.