Hedley Swain, formerly the head of museum policy at the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA), has taken on a new role at the council as director of programme delivery for the cultural olympiad.
Swain, who was appointed as head of museum policy last year, will retain his former responsibilities until the restructure of the MLA is decided.
It is expected that the head of museum policy post will not be retained in the new structure, but Swain said: "The policy team will be part of the restructure, but I expect to keep a 'champion of museums' role. It's absolutely understood that there should be individuals in MLA council that museum people know they can talk to. For the foreseeable future, that's me."
But Mark Taylor, director of the Museums Association, said he was concerned that museums would no longer have a direct point of contact.
"We've seen a great increase in liaison and working together since the MLA finally got a head of museum policy, and now it looks as if the post is going," he said. "The challenge will be to make sure there is still a flow of information to and from the MLA."
Swain drafted the national museums strategy, which went to the department for culture for approval at the end of last year and is expected to be published by April. Swain said the reorganisation of the MLA and the new job title would have no impact on the delivery of the strategy.
The restructure has been driven by a 25 per cent cut in the MLA's operating budget from 2008-09. Under the new structure, corporate services (finance and human resources) and posts managing specific programmes will move to Birmingham. No more than 25 staff will remain in London.
Swain, who was appointed as head of museum policy last year, will retain his former responsibilities until the restructure of the MLA is decided.
It is expected that the head of museum policy post will not be retained in the new structure, but Swain said: "The policy team will be part of the restructure, but I expect to keep a 'champion of museums' role. It's absolutely understood that there should be individuals in MLA council that museum people know they can talk to. For the foreseeable future, that's me."
But Mark Taylor, director of the Museums Association, said he was concerned that museums would no longer have a direct point of contact.
"We've seen a great increase in liaison and working together since the MLA finally got a head of museum policy, and now it looks as if the post is going," he said. "The challenge will be to make sure there is still a flow of information to and from the MLA."
Swain drafted the national museums strategy, which went to the department for culture for approval at the end of last year and is expected to be published by April. Swain said the reorganisation of the MLA and the new job title would have no impact on the delivery of the strategy.
The restructure has been driven by a 25 per cent cut in the MLA's operating budget from 2008-09. Under the new structure, corporate services (finance and human resources) and posts managing specific programmes will move to Birmingham. No more than 25 staff will remain in London.