Museums to be represented on ACE council
National council members to be streamlined
Arts Council England (ACE) has announced that museums will be better represented on its national council under changes to be implemented in July.
There are currently 17 members on ACE's national council, which acts as a non-executive board, but these will be cut to 14 under a new structure that follows an independent review by David Norgrove.
Norgrove recommended a streamlined national council and also suggested that ACE review its existing membership and ask members to step down if they did not fit the required membership.
In ACE's response to the review, chairman Peter Bazalgette said: “It has been agreed that six members of national council will step down and four new members will be recruited to strengthen our expertise in museums, fundraising, digital media, and education (schools and colleges).”
But the arts council has decided not to implement Norgrove’s recommendations to pay national council members or to reserve a place for local government on the council.
Bazalgette said: “The case made by the report for modest remuneration for all council members is persuasive. However, the arts council has decided not to take this recommendation forward, given the tough economic climate and constraints in public spending.”
He added that ACE’s partnership with local government was best supported through the area councils.
The appointment of the new national council members will take place in the coming months. The changes will be implemented in time for the new organisation structure, which comes into operation in July.
ACE previously announced it would follow Norgrove’s recommendation to replace nine regional councils with five area councils.
The review was commissioned by ACE's former chairwoman, Liz Forgan, and published at the end of last year.
There are currently 17 members on ACE's national council, which acts as a non-executive board, but these will be cut to 14 under a new structure that follows an independent review by David Norgrove.
Norgrove recommended a streamlined national council and also suggested that ACE review its existing membership and ask members to step down if they did not fit the required membership.
In ACE's response to the review, chairman Peter Bazalgette said: “It has been agreed that six members of national council will step down and four new members will be recruited to strengthen our expertise in museums, fundraising, digital media, and education (schools and colleges).”
But the arts council has decided not to implement Norgrove’s recommendations to pay national council members or to reserve a place for local government on the council.
Bazalgette said: “The case made by the report for modest remuneration for all council members is persuasive. However, the arts council has decided not to take this recommendation forward, given the tough economic climate and constraints in public spending.”
He added that ACE’s partnership with local government was best supported through the area councils.
The appointment of the new national council members will take place in the coming months. The changes will be implemented in time for the new organisation structure, which comes into operation in July.
ACE previously announced it would follow Norgrove’s recommendation to replace nine regional councils with five area councils.
The review was commissioned by ACE's former chairwoman, Liz Forgan, and published at the end of last year.