The Greater London Authority (GLA) has taken over the funding and governance of the Museum of London (MoL) group from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
The group incorporates the Museum of London, Museum in Docklands and the Museum of London Archaeology Service. The switch is the first time the GLA has taken responsibility for funding and appointing the board of trustees at a museum.
A spokesman denied that this lack of experience would be a problem. "The GLA has a strong record on culture and heritage over eight years, and wide experience of sponsoring public bodies," he said. "The museum will continue to be run by its executive officers and its board." He confirmed that there were no plans to create a specific post to administer the handover.
The move coincides with the election for a new London mayor this month. Graham Fisher, chief executive of Museums, Libraries and Archives London, said: "We are supportive of the mayor having strong links to the governance of the Museum of London." Jack Lohman, director of the Museum of London, said the transfer will enable the institution to "reinvigorate its identity".
The DCMS consulted the Horniman Museum and Geffrye Museum in 2006 as to whether it would be beneficial for them to switch to the GLA.
Christine Lalumia, deputy director of the Geffrye Museum, said: "We argued there were more benefits in remaining with the DCMS."
The MoL received £8.8m from the DCMS in 2007-08, as well as £5.4m from the City of London Corporation. As there were 416,000 visitors to the Museum of London and Museum in Docklands last year, this worked out at a subsidy of £34.13 per visit.
The GLA will match the DCMS's funding for the group, pledging £9.3m in 2008-09, £9.5m in 2009-10 and £9.7m in 2010-11.
The City of London, which will share the governance of the MoL with the GLA, confirmed that it is to continue its sponsorship of the museum, but declined to reveal the amount.
The group incorporates the Museum of London, Museum in Docklands and the Museum of London Archaeology Service. The switch is the first time the GLA has taken responsibility for funding and appointing the board of trustees at a museum.
A spokesman denied that this lack of experience would be a problem. "The GLA has a strong record on culture and heritage over eight years, and wide experience of sponsoring public bodies," he said. "The museum will continue to be run by its executive officers and its board." He confirmed that there were no plans to create a specific post to administer the handover.
The move coincides with the election for a new London mayor this month. Graham Fisher, chief executive of Museums, Libraries and Archives London, said: "We are supportive of the mayor having strong links to the governance of the Museum of London." Jack Lohman, director of the Museum of London, said the transfer will enable the institution to "reinvigorate its identity".
The DCMS consulted the Horniman Museum and Geffrye Museum in 2006 as to whether it would be beneficial for them to switch to the GLA.
Christine Lalumia, deputy director of the Geffrye Museum, said: "We argued there were more benefits in remaining with the DCMS."
The MoL received £8.8m from the DCMS in 2007-08, as well as £5.4m from the City of London Corporation. As there were 416,000 visitors to the Museum of London and Museum in Docklands last year, this worked out at a subsidy of £34.13 per visit.
The GLA will match the DCMS's funding for the group, pledging £9.3m in 2008-09, £9.5m in 2009-10 and £9.7m in 2010-11.
The City of London, which will share the governance of the MoL with the GLA, confirmed that it is to continue its sponsorship of the museum, but declined to reveal the amount.
