What can England learn from the devolved nations?
Geraldine Kendall, 03.02.2011
How Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are leading the way on strategy
As the only remaining nation in the UK yet to start development on a national strategy for museums, delegates at the Museums Association (MA) conference this October will hear what England can learn from the strategies of the devolved nations.
Over the past few years, Wales and Northern Ireland have published nationwide commitments for museums, while in Scotland a Museums Strategy Group has been established and consultation with the Scottish museum sector is underway.
In England, the arts council will assume responsibility for developing a national museums strategy when it takes over from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) by March 2012.
A draft strategy for England drawn up by the MLA in 2009 was criticised for being too broad and, according to Diane Gwilt of National Museum Wales, was overly focused on reaching political targets.
In a conference session chaired by David Fleming, the director of National Museums Liverpool, a panel of leading figures from the home nations will ask what lessons England could learn from the devolved nations.
Gwilt, who is coordinating the session, said: “The MLA’s museum strategy was very much an aspirational statement that fitted into the wider political agenda and did not translate into action.
“In Wales we developed a joined-up action plan, where museums have to demonstrate to CyMAL: Museums Libraries Archives Wales that their projects fit the strategy.”
She added: “If there was a more joined-up strategy [in England] then museums might be less likely to be cut in the way that they are currently.”
The speakers aim to provoke a lively discussion on the pros and cons of having a strategy, whether each region in England needs to develop one of its own, and whether England’s strategy should be based more on ideas or action.
Gwilt said: “We want to have a proper debate and we want to be controversial. What we’re doing is laying down the gauntlet and saying: come on England, where’s yours?”
The session, entitled Come on England!, takes place on Monday 3 October at the Museums Association conference in Brighton.
For more information and to book your place, click here
Over the past few years, Wales and Northern Ireland have published nationwide commitments for museums, while in Scotland a Museums Strategy Group has been established and consultation with the Scottish museum sector is underway.
In England, the arts council will assume responsibility for developing a national museums strategy when it takes over from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) by March 2012.
A draft strategy for England drawn up by the MLA in 2009 was criticised for being too broad and, according to Diane Gwilt of National Museum Wales, was overly focused on reaching political targets.
In a conference session chaired by David Fleming, the director of National Museums Liverpool, a panel of leading figures from the home nations will ask what lessons England could learn from the devolved nations.
Gwilt, who is coordinating the session, said: “The MLA’s museum strategy was very much an aspirational statement that fitted into the wider political agenda and did not translate into action.
“In Wales we developed a joined-up action plan, where museums have to demonstrate to CyMAL: Museums Libraries Archives Wales that their projects fit the strategy.”
She added: “If there was a more joined-up strategy [in England] then museums might be less likely to be cut in the way that they are currently.”
The speakers aim to provoke a lively discussion on the pros and cons of having a strategy, whether each region in England needs to develop one of its own, and whether England’s strategy should be based more on ideas or action.
Gwilt said: “We want to have a proper debate and we want to be controversial. What we’re doing is laying down the gauntlet and saying: come on England, where’s yours?”
The session, entitled Come on England!, takes place on Monday 3 October at the Museums Association conference in Brighton.
For more information and to book your place, click here
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