Neil MacGregor has been appointed chairman of the World Collections Group, which aims to send artistic expertise abroad to raise the profile of Britain's museums and galleries, backed by a £3m budget from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Most institutions involved in the group were previously on the National Museum Directors' Conference International Affairs Committee, which was disbanded after the DCMS indicated that it wanted MacGregor to head a consortium of the British Museum, British Library, Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, Tate and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
According to a DCMS spokesman, the group will receive the money in £1m tranches over the next three years, starting in April. The countries that the group will address are thought to include those where political relations with the UK are difficult, such as Pakistan, Iraq and Iran.
The group will report to the culture secretary every six months, and will be observed by an independent overseer.
But Jack Lohman, director of the Museum of London and chairman of the International Council of Museums UK, queried the group's remit: "The job of cultural ambassador has always been a role taken by the British Council. It is unclear how this differs."
Venu Dhupa, director of arts at the British Council, said: "We want to get the best of Britain interacting with the rest of the world. We have to work together to make this happen more quickly."
Some observers have questioned whether the formation of the group might be a response to the council's restructure, which has led to accusations that it is diluting its expertise. But Dhupa said: "We will invest more in the arts and in expertise, so I don't know where that idea comes from."
Most institutions involved in the group were previously on the National Museum Directors' Conference International Affairs Committee, which was disbanded after the DCMS indicated that it wanted MacGregor to head a consortium of the British Museum, British Library, Victoria and Albert Museum, Natural History Museum, Tate and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
According to a DCMS spokesman, the group will receive the money in £1m tranches over the next three years, starting in April. The countries that the group will address are thought to include those where political relations with the UK are difficult, such as Pakistan, Iraq and Iran.
The group will report to the culture secretary every six months, and will be observed by an independent overseer.
But Jack Lohman, director of the Museum of London and chairman of the International Council of Museums UK, queried the group's remit: "The job of cultural ambassador has always been a role taken by the British Council. It is unclear how this differs."
Venu Dhupa, director of arts at the British Council, said: "We want to get the best of Britain interacting with the rest of the world. We have to work together to make this happen more quickly."
Some observers have questioned whether the formation of the group might be a response to the council's restructure, which has led to accusations that it is diluting its expertise. But Dhupa said: "We will invest more in the arts and in expertise, so I don't know where that idea comes from."
Industry comment
Alec Coles, Tyne and Wear Museums
"We would like to explore ways in which what Neil MacGregor is doing is reflective of the UK"
Maurice Davies, Museums Association
"It's great that the government is taking museum collections' potential for cultural diplomacy more seriously"
David Fleming, National Museums Liverpool
"Britain's approach to international relations is uncoordinated. It is
good the DCMS is developing an international policy"
Alec Coles, Tyne and Wear Museums
"We would like to explore ways in which what Neil MacGregor is doing is reflective of the UK"
Maurice Davies, Museums Association
"It's great that the government is taking museum collections' potential for cultural diplomacy more seriously"
David Fleming, National Museums Liverpool
"Britain's approach to international relations is uncoordinated. It is
good the DCMS is developing an international policy"
