Construction Background
In 2009, Hubei Provincial Museum was listed as one of the first national-level key museums jointly built by the central and local governments by the National Cultural Heritage Administration and the Ministry of Finance.In May 2024, it was once again selected as a national-level key museum jointly built by the central and local governments in a new round.In line with the spirit of the Notice of the Ministry of Finance of the National Cultural Heritage Administration on Carrying out a New Round of Central and Local co-construction of National-level Key Museums, and under the guidance of the Department of Culture and Tourism of Hubei Province (the Provincial Bureau of Cultural Heritage) and the Provincial Department of Finance, the General Plan for the New Round of Central-Local Joint Construction of National-level Key Museums for Hubei Provincial Museum (2024-2030)was prepared.
In light of the requirements for the new round of Central-Local joint construction of national-level key museums, Hubei Provincial Museum is currently facing eight profound transformations：
Work focus: Transitioning from an equal emphasis on both museum and archaeology to focusing more on the museum’s core responsibilities and primary mission.
Construction target: Transitioning from large-scale construction to optimizing small environments both indoor and outdoor.
Open layout: Transitioning from partial opening centered on the South Wing to full coverage across all four wings of the museum.
Collection system: Shifting from a focus on archaeological artifacts to Jing-Chu cultural heritage.
Exhibition task: Shifting from a focus on permanent exhibitions to a focus on temporary exhibitions.
Research scope: Shifting from a focus on objects (cultural relics) to a balanced focus on both people and objects (collections).
Opening goal: Shifting from an important free-access site to a world-renowned tourist destination.
Role positioning: Transitioning from central-local joint construction to a dual focus on both central-local joint construction and the goal of becoming a “world-class museum with Chinese characteristics.”
Guiding Ideology
We uphold the great banner of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, thoroughly implement the principles outlined in the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the Second and Third Plenary Sessions of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, thoroughly study General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important expositions on museum work and Jing-Chu culture, and implement the requirements of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage and the Ministry of Finance on the construction of national-level key museums co-established by the central and local governments.
We will comprehensively enhance the “Three Capabilities”: Inheritance, Influence, and Innovation
We will take the lead in demonstrating the “Three Orientations”: Professionalization, Specialization and internationalization
Four Cardinal Principles
Adhere to a systematic approach, embrace reform and innovation, uphold Jing-Chu characteristics, and maintain an international perspective
Four Major Goals on Construction
Guided by the operation evaluation index system for national first-class museums and the performance evaluation index system for national-level key museums co-built by the central and local governments, we will systematically advance the modernization of the governance system and governance capacity of Hubei Provincial Museum. By 2030, we aim to build the museum into a “Four-in-One Hub”: a model for modern museum governance, a new high ground for the inheritance and promotion of Jing-Chu culture, a frontier for international cultural exchanges, and a world-renowned tourist destination.
The museum’s overall strength will rank among the first tier of national-level key museums co-built by the central and local governments, with some key indicators ranking among the nation’s leading museums (Eight Key Indicators): The total number of visitors will increase from 4.36 million person-times in 2023 to 5.5 million person-times in 2030, representing a growth rate of 26.15%; the number of underage visitors will increase from 26,000 person-times in 2023 to 720,000 person-times in 2030, a growth rate of 2669%; the number of overseas visitors will climb from 17,000 person-times in 2023 to 150,000 person-times in 2030, a growth rate of 782%; sales revenue of cultural and creative products will rise from 75 million yuan in 2023 to 100 million yuan in 2030, a growth rate of 33%; the total number of collections will increase from 460,000 items/sets in 2023 to 500,000 items/sets in 2030, a growth rate of 8%; the total value of scientific research equipment will rise from 10 million yuan in 2023 to 50 million yuan in 2030, a growth rate of 400%; the number of basic display will grow from 13 in 2023 to 15 in 2030, a growth rate of 15%; the proportion of staff with master's degrees or above will increase from 35.66% in 2023 to 60% in 2030, a growth rate of 68.25%;
Three Construction Phases
Design and Preparation Phase (2024–2025)
Successfully complete Hubei Provincial Museum's 2023–2025 Three-Year Development Plan, Three-Year Exhibition Plan and the fourteenth Five-Year Plan; formulate and finalize a new round of the Overall Plan for the Construction of National-level Key Museums Co-built by the Central and Local Governments (2024–2030), the 2026–2028 Three-Year Development Plan, Three-Year Exhibition Plan as well as the Collection Acquisition Plan, etc; initiate the formulation of the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan for the Development of the Hubei Provincial Museum, while simultaneously launching a number of long-term key projects, including the procurement of cultural relics research equipment, academic research, collection acquisition, inbound and outbound exhibition cooperation, and the construction of the Smart Hubei Provincial Museum.
Full-Scale Implementation Phase (2026–2028)
Issue and implement the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan for the Development of Hubei Provincial Museum; execute and complete the 2026–2028 Three-Year Development Plan, Exhibition Plan and Collection Acquisition Plan, etc.; finish the implementation of several key projects; conduct a mid-term evaluation on the construction of national-level key museum jointly built by the central and local governments; strive to some of the expected indicator targets ahead of schedule.
Sustained Enhancement Phase (2029–2030)
Issue and implement the 2029–2031 Three-Year Development Plan, Exhibition Plan and Collection Acquisition Plan, etc.; complete the tasks specified in the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan; address and resolve issues and weaknesses identified in the mid-term evaluation; fully meet the expected indicator targets set.
Fifteen Tasks and Projects
Strengthen Modern Governance
Implement the “7531+N Top-Level Design Project”
Lead in Collection Acquisition
Implement the “Collection Acquisition Leadership Project”
Take the Lead in Scientific and Technological Conservation
Implement the “Scientific and Technological Conservation Leadership Project”
Cultivate a Research Highland
Implement the “Research Highland Cultivation Project”
Consolidate Exhibition Supply
Implement the “Exhibition Supply Consolidation Project”
Highlight the Value of Social Education
Implement the “Children’s Social Education Innovation Project”
Double Service Capacity
Implement the “Service Capacity Doubling Project”
Build a Cultural and Creative Industry Flagship
Implement the “Cultural and Creative Industry Flagship Development Project”
Demonstrate the Responsibility of a Great Museum
Implement the “Great Museum Assistance and Capacity-Building Project”
Intensify International Exchanges
Implement the “Global Promotion on Jing-Chu Culture Project”
Enhance the Jing-Chu Brand
Implement the “Jing-Chu Culture Brand Enhancement Project”
Construct the Smart Hubei Provincial Museum
Implement the “Smart Hubei Provincial Museum Construction Project”
Expand Public Engagement
Implement the “Hubei Provincial Museum Friends Partnership Project”
Optimize the Talent Structure
Implement the “High-Level Talent Development Project”
Safeguard the security baseline
Implement the “Safe Hubei Provincial Museum Safeguarding Project”
Five Major Funding Guarantees
Central government special funds, provincial government special funds, venue energy-saving and consumption-reduction funds, social donations and sponsorships, and operating income from the museum’s undertakings.
Five Major Organizational Guarantees
Support from National Cultural Heritage Administration (NCHA) and the Ministry of Finance; leadership by the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People’s Government; coordination by relevant departments directly under the provincial government; guidance by the Provincial Department of Culture and Tourism and the Provincial Department of Finance; implementation by the special work team of the Hubei Provincial Museum
