The Scottish museums thinktank, set up by former culture minister Mike Russell, will be unaffected by his departure, claimed a government spokesman.
Fiona Hyslop replaced Russell last month in a swap for her post as education secretary, raising fears for the direction of the thinktank.
Joanne Orr, chief executive of Museums Galleries Scotland, said: “It is too early to tell how the ministerial change will affect the thinktank. The new minister will need to be briefed on progress to date, which may delay the original timelines.”
Jim Tildesley, director of the Scottish Maritime Museum and a member of the thinktank, said: “I am not aware of any change [of direction]. It is still a bit early for the minister to have a full briefing, but the thinktank is some way down the line.
“The minister has been chairing it up to now, so the expectation is that the new minister will be chairing the next meeting.”
A spokesman for the Scottish department of Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution, said: “The museums thinktank remains in place – no changes.”
Statistics released by the Scottish government will give the thinktank and minister food for thought. The People and Culture in Scotland 2008 survey of 6,800 adults found that 38 per cent visited a museum or gallery last year.
