MLA London is to become part of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) in April 2010. The independently run regional agency will be wound up and a London team will be led by a director of engagement, who will be part of the MLA's management team.
Details of the new structure are being kept under wraps while staff, who were told of the switch on 9 June, are being consulted about the changes.
Andrew Holden, MLA London's interim director, said the new regional team would do much of the work that MLA London does, with some elements of its work transferred to other organisations. Although he admitted redundancies were likely, his aim was to keep them to a minimum.
MLA London is in talks with the London Museums Hub over the management of London's museum development officers, which it hopes will transfer to the hub.
Jack Lohman, director of the Museum of London, which is the lead partner in the London Museums Hub, said: "The London hub is committed to supporting sustainable museum development in the capital, and we look forward to working with the MLA to ensure that we set in place effective mechanisms for building on the progress that has been made."
Museums Journal understands that the decision on MLA London was postponed because of the change in administration at City Hall last year. While ex-mayor Ken Livingstone is said to have believed cultural bodies should be under the mayor's administration, Boris Johnson has welcomed MLA London's move to the MLA.
An MLA spokesman said: "It is the outcome we wanted - the MLA as a single body with services in each region, and London as a part of that."
Details of the new structure are being kept under wraps while staff, who were told of the switch on 9 June, are being consulted about the changes.
Andrew Holden, MLA London's interim director, said the new regional team would do much of the work that MLA London does, with some elements of its work transferred to other organisations. Although he admitted redundancies were likely, his aim was to keep them to a minimum.
MLA London is in talks with the London Museums Hub over the management of London's museum development officers, which it hopes will transfer to the hub.
Jack Lohman, director of the Museum of London, which is the lead partner in the London Museums Hub, said: "The London hub is committed to supporting sustainable museum development in the capital, and we look forward to working with the MLA to ensure that we set in place effective mechanisms for building on the progress that has been made."
Museums Journal understands that the decision on MLA London was postponed because of the change in administration at City Hall last year. While ex-mayor Ken Livingstone is said to have believed cultural bodies should be under the mayor's administration, Boris Johnson has welcomed MLA London's move to the MLA.
An MLA spokesman said: "It is the outcome we wanted - the MLA as a single body with services in each region, and London as a part of that."
