The majority of national museum directors now support the creation of a single funding body for museums, according to Mark Wood, the
chairman of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.
Wood told Museums Journal that creating a national strategic body with overall funding responsibility should be one of the government's top priorities. His remarks followed the publication of the MLA's response to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) Understanding the Future consultation paper.
The MLA response - Towards a National Museum Strategy - talks about an overarching body based on the Arts Council England model. Wood said there had been recognition that the arts are better served by one body responsible for representing and funding the whole sector. The document also says that 'MLA is best equipped to assume that role'.
National museum directors have traditionally cherished their direct funding agreements with DCMS. But Wood said there had been a vigorous debate about the idea of a single body and it was not a question of 'them and us'.
'There has been an intelligent and sensible conversation between the national directors, DCMS and us about the best way to manage the sector,' he said. He added that it was now a question of convincing the directors who had doubts, and their trustees.
Opinion is still divided about the need for a funding body. Charles Saumarez Smith, the director of the National Gallery, said: 'As an institution, we have grave reservations about creating a three-tier bureaucracy - it would mean adding another layer of cost.'
The National Gallery's written response goes further. 'It would be likely to end up expensive, unwieldy, and less effective than DCMS.'
David Fleming, the director of National Museums Liverpool (NML), said a national strategy for heritage was imperative, but stopped short of backing a funding body. 'A national strategy is a prerequisite for making a coherent case to the treasury,' he said.
NML's response to the consultation questions whether the creation of the MLA has done enough to advance the cause of a national strategy and highlights the risk that the MLA 'spreads itself too widely over a sector which is not properly coherent'.
The National Museum Directors' Conference (NMDC) response to the DCMS says the NMDC is not convinced that an appropriate model for a funding council exists, but it would be responsive to further discussions.
The document goes on to say: 'NMDC believes the issue is not about funding mechanisms, but about strategy and getting the sector working together coherently for the benefit of our users.'
Other bodies have expressed support for a single funding body, but there is no consensus that the MLA should assume that role. Judy Aitken, the Museums Association's policy officer, said a national strategy for museums should be a priority and it made sense for a single funding body to work within that framework, but she added that it couldn't be the MLA in its present form.
'The new body would need to be strong, confident and consistent enough to handle £400m a year in funding,' she said.
Aitken said the MA also wanted to see the DCMS taking action on workforce issues such as diversity, continuing to fund Renaissance and backing the retention of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
A DCMS spokeswoman said there had been more than 80 responses to the consultation. A summary of the responses will be compiled over the next few months with a final report from the DCMS expected before the end of the year.
Sharon Heal
chairman of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council.
Wood told Museums Journal that creating a national strategic body with overall funding responsibility should be one of the government's top priorities. His remarks followed the publication of the MLA's response to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport's (DCMS) Understanding the Future consultation paper.
The MLA response - Towards a National Museum Strategy - talks about an overarching body based on the Arts Council England model. Wood said there had been recognition that the arts are better served by one body responsible for representing and funding the whole sector. The document also says that 'MLA is best equipped to assume that role'.
National museum directors have traditionally cherished their direct funding agreements with DCMS. But Wood said there had been a vigorous debate about the idea of a single body and it was not a question of 'them and us'.
'There has been an intelligent and sensible conversation between the national directors, DCMS and us about the best way to manage the sector,' he said. He added that it was now a question of convincing the directors who had doubts, and their trustees.
Opinion is still divided about the need for a funding body. Charles Saumarez Smith, the director of the National Gallery, said: 'As an institution, we have grave reservations about creating a three-tier bureaucracy - it would mean adding another layer of cost.'
The National Gallery's written response goes further. 'It would be likely to end up expensive, unwieldy, and less effective than DCMS.'
David Fleming, the director of National Museums Liverpool (NML), said a national strategy for heritage was imperative, but stopped short of backing a funding body. 'A national strategy is a prerequisite for making a coherent case to the treasury,' he said.
NML's response to the consultation questions whether the creation of the MLA has done enough to advance the cause of a national strategy and highlights the risk that the MLA 'spreads itself too widely over a sector which is not properly coherent'.
The National Museum Directors' Conference (NMDC) response to the DCMS says the NMDC is not convinced that an appropriate model for a funding council exists, but it would be responsive to further discussions.
The document goes on to say: 'NMDC believes the issue is not about funding mechanisms, but about strategy and getting the sector working together coherently for the benefit of our users.'
Other bodies have expressed support for a single funding body, but there is no consensus that the MLA should assume that role. Judy Aitken, the Museums Association's policy officer, said a national strategy for museums should be a priority and it made sense for a single funding body to work within that framework, but she added that it couldn't be the MLA in its present form.
'The new body would need to be strong, confident and consistent enough to handle £400m a year in funding,' she said.
Aitken said the MA also wanted to see the DCMS taking action on workforce issues such as diversity, continuing to fund Renaissance and backing the retention of the Heritage Lottery Fund.
A DCMS spokeswoman said there had been more than 80 responses to the consultation. A summary of the responses will be compiled over the next few months with a final report from the DCMS expected before the end of the year.
Sharon Heal