Arts Council England (ACE) has been urged to promote "community engagement" as part of its aims for museums, following a consultation of Museums Association (MA) members.

It follows a "brief" consultation undertaken by the MA last month to gather feedback from its members on how ACE's long-term framework for the sector should be developed.

Earlier this month, ACE confirmed further details about how the Renaissance in the Regions programme will be delivered from 1 October.

ACE has announced that the National Programmes strand will continue as it is currently run under the Museums, Libraries and Archives (MLA) Council.

However, ACE will take a new approach in three other strands - a major grants programme; a strategic support fund; and museum development.

The major grants programme will offer an open bidding process similar to ACE's National Portfolio, which marks a change from the MLA's core museums concept.

ACE will operate a funding programme similar to MLA's proposed challenge fund as part of the strategic support fund, although further details are yet to be confirmed.

The agency will invest £3m in museum development, with full details of its ambitions for the sector to be released in September to accompany Achieving Great Art for Everyone.

ACE chief executive Alan Davey said: "Our new approach to Renaissance will strike a balance between continuity and change, building on the considerable achievements of the past."

"We recognise there is still work to do in taking on these functions and we'll continue to talk to the museums and libraries sector as we look to adjust the Arts Council's goals to reflect their needs and priorities."

Following the consultation, MA head of policy Maurice Davies said: "What [the respondents] are really saying is that ACE has to recognise the importance of museums' work with communities.

"Participation is not optional, it should be a compulsory goal that museums have to reach."

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