Several museum development officers (MDO) have been served with at risk of redundancy notices as the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and Arts Council England (ACE) discuss funding for the network after the end of this financial year.
Museums Journal understands that funding for MDOs has been agreed at the current level up to the end of June and that the MLA has provisionally earmarked £2.7m for 2011-12. Discussions about funding beyond June are ongoing.
Glynis Powell, the MDO representative on the national council of the Association of Independent Museums, said: “Some MDOs employed and funded by Renaissance have [got risk of redundancy notices].
“The situation for many other MDOs is a lot less clear. Many are employed and paid for through a patchwork of funds, local councils and museum services. That has always been the tougher format to make work. The current situation with local government cuts makes the situation for these individual MDOs somewhat bleaker.”
One MDO, commenting on the Museums Association website’s Cuts Monitor, wrote: “I would like to know why the MLA isn’t working fast enough to secure the network. With rumours that organisations are being asked to tender for the network contract, why aren’t the MDOs being secured first?”
Sophie Ainsworth, museum development assistant at Renaissance South West, said: “The MLA is in urgent conversations with local authorities, trying to address the issue and to preserve match-funding wherever possible.”
Museums Association director Mark Taylor warned that unless the transfer of the MDO network from the MLA to ACE happened quickly and efficiently, the sector risked losing important knowledge and expertise as MDOs sought work elsewhere.
An ACE spokesman said: “We understand that this is a difficult time for those involved, and we appreciate their hard work, commitment and expertise.
“We will let them and the sector know more detail as soon as we can.”
Museums Journal is currently monitoring cuts to the sector across the UK. Share your stories on Cuts Monitor or on Twitter under the hashtag #museumcuts
Museums Journal understands that funding for MDOs has been agreed at the current level up to the end of June and that the MLA has provisionally earmarked £2.7m for 2011-12. Discussions about funding beyond June are ongoing.
Glynis Powell, the MDO representative on the national council of the Association of Independent Museums, said: “Some MDOs employed and funded by Renaissance have [got risk of redundancy notices].
“The situation for many other MDOs is a lot less clear. Many are employed and paid for through a patchwork of funds, local councils and museum services. That has always been the tougher format to make work. The current situation with local government cuts makes the situation for these individual MDOs somewhat bleaker.”
One MDO, commenting on the Museums Association website’s Cuts Monitor, wrote: “I would like to know why the MLA isn’t working fast enough to secure the network. With rumours that organisations are being asked to tender for the network contract, why aren’t the MDOs being secured first?”
Sophie Ainsworth, museum development assistant at Renaissance South West, said: “The MLA is in urgent conversations with local authorities, trying to address the issue and to preserve match-funding wherever possible.”
Museums Association director Mark Taylor warned that unless the transfer of the MDO network from the MLA to ACE happened quickly and efficiently, the sector risked losing important knowledge and expertise as MDOs sought work elsewhere.
An ACE spokesman said: “We understand that this is a difficult time for those involved, and we appreciate their hard work, commitment and expertise.
“We will let them and the sector know more detail as soon as we can.”
Museums Journal is currently monitoring cuts to the sector across the UK. Share your stories on Cuts Monitor or on Twitter under the hashtag #museumcuts
