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What should new ACE chairman Nicholas Serota’s priorities be?
Museums Association
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Mark Bills director, Gainsborough’s House, Sudbury, Suffolk

“The arts council has very strong aims in terms of audience, opportunity, diversity and resilience. The appointment of Nicholas Serota is to be welcomed, as he will help to develop and deliver these priorities. He has supported a real shift in appreciation of visual arts during his tenure at Tate and has done much to bring visual arts to broader audiences, with a unique understanding of arts and the role of museums and culture in contemporary Britain.”

Sheila McGregor, arts consultant

“His first priority must be to highlight the damaging impact of local authority funding cuts on the civic mission of museums and arts organisations. Much more advocacy is needed here. Second, we must use lottery funding to redress social and geographic imbalances in cultural provision. Third, the arts council must embrace a larger definition of “cultural education” – one that includes science and technology. Finally, the arts council must stop running its own initiatives. It has poured money into The Space, a joint digital venture with the BBC. But for what return?

Alistair Hudson, director, Middlesbrough Museum of Modern Art

“Decreasing the disproportionate resources expended by institutions on the administration of survival. Increasing the opportunities for institutions to have freedom to follow their instincts, programmes and publics. For the culture sector to take the lead on rebuilding the bridge between the UK and Europe, and between the divided populations in England. For ACE to have a stronger and more subjective voice. To be more internationalist. To put art back into schools. To advocate for the role of art and culture in broader society.”

Sharon Heal, director, Museums Association

“It’s great to have someone with a good understanding of museums as the ACE chair. The priorities are: being honest about the current crisis that some regional museums face and supporting them to become more sustainable; helping museums to collaborate and put themselves at the centre of their communities; making the case for the crucial role that museums play in society; and developing a truly diverse workforce capable of meeting the challenges ahead. Also, building understanding and partnerships between nationals and non-nationals.”

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