The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) has issued hubs with a document detailing 12 scenarios to help them plan for the coming comprehensive spending review (CSR), all of which are based on a freeze or drop in funding for the Renaissance in the Regions programme.
The scenarios, described by one hub leader as being "plucked from the air", are: no equalisation between phase one and two hubs; an immediate equalisation; a midpoint equalisation; and a midpoint equalisation with national programme funding. Each of these scenarios is then considered with a frozen budget and cuts in funding of two and five per cent. The MLA has asked all hub leaders to give their comments on the document.
Asked why the scenarios are all negative, an MLA spokesman said: "These are internal working documents that have been shared with hub lead directors, at their request, to help them plan for various scenarios. Cash cuts are obviously harder to implement than cash increases. We do not have any inside knowledge of the government's spending plans and we will continue to put a strong case on behalf of museums and the increasing number of people who visit them."
Due to the lateness of the CSR announcement, the MLA, hub leaders and regional agencies have agreed internally that there will be a one-year funding rollover for 2008-09. A three-year plan will then be implemented from 2009-12. But this has not yet been agreed with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
There is a consensus among hub leaders that equalisation is inevitable in the next period, with most favouring a phased process, but there is some disagreement over how it should be implemented. The MLA is also reviewing the entire Renaissance programme in the new year, which could affect the allocation of funding.
Alec Coles, the director of Tyne and Wear Museums, the lead partner in the phase one North East Hub, said he recognised the need to prepare for a potential standstill in funding, but added: "Until someone says otherwise, we need to push for full funding. I'm not happy with the idea of losing funding, but I do fully recognise that there is frustration in regions that are not funded. We need to be sure that the money will be used effectively."
Jack Lohman, the director of the Museum of London, the lead partner in the phase two London Hub, said: "Given that Renaissance in the Regions has achieved so much, it is difficult to know how to divide a smaller cake with so many partners. The focus now is on lobbying the MLA."
The scenarios, described by one hub leader as being "plucked from the air", are: no equalisation between phase one and two hubs; an immediate equalisation; a midpoint equalisation; and a midpoint equalisation with national programme funding. Each of these scenarios is then considered with a frozen budget and cuts in funding of two and five per cent. The MLA has asked all hub leaders to give their comments on the document.
Asked why the scenarios are all negative, an MLA spokesman said: "These are internal working documents that have been shared with hub lead directors, at their request, to help them plan for various scenarios. Cash cuts are obviously harder to implement than cash increases. We do not have any inside knowledge of the government's spending plans and we will continue to put a strong case on behalf of museums and the increasing number of people who visit them."
Due to the lateness of the CSR announcement, the MLA, hub leaders and regional agencies have agreed internally that there will be a one-year funding rollover for 2008-09. A three-year plan will then be implemented from 2009-12. But this has not yet been agreed with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
There is a consensus among hub leaders that equalisation is inevitable in the next period, with most favouring a phased process, but there is some disagreement over how it should be implemented. The MLA is also reviewing the entire Renaissance programme in the new year, which could affect the allocation of funding.
Alec Coles, the director of Tyne and Wear Museums, the lead partner in the phase one North East Hub, said he recognised the need to prepare for a potential standstill in funding, but added: "Until someone says otherwise, we need to push for full funding. I'm not happy with the idea of losing funding, but I do fully recognise that there is frustration in regions that are not funded. We need to be sure that the money will be used effectively."
Jack Lohman, the director of the Museum of London, the lead partner in the phase two London Hub, said: "Given that Renaissance in the Regions has achieved so much, it is difficult to know how to divide a smaller cake with so many partners. The focus now is on lobbying the MLA."
