The Museums Association (MA) has called for a radical new approach to funding regional museums. In its response to Arts Council England’s consultation, the MA argued that the idea of core museums should be dropped, and funding should be distributed on the basis of delivering public benefit.
ACE has been consulting with various sector bodies over the past two months to inform how it will distribute funding to museums from 2012 onwards. ACE chief executive Alan Davey said the organisation was in the middle of a series of conversations with museums across the country.
“This is only the beginning of an ongoing conversation with the sector that will help us shape our thinking,” he said. “We understand that the sector is keen to know more about funding for 2012-13 as soon as possible.”
Davey added that ACE would announce its long-term plans for Renaissance in the autumn and that applications for Renaissance funding for 2012-15 would open in September, with decisions made by the end of the year.
The MA was among the organisations asked for its view. MA director Mark Taylor said the transfer of the responsibility for museums to ACE provided an opportunity for the sector to take stock.
“We’ve had 10 years of Renaissance funding and it’s now time for a new approach to how regional museums in England are funded,” he said.
Taylor added that the MA board wanted to see a radical new attitude to funding, based on delivering benefit to the public.
“The MA thinks we should move away from the idea of hubs or core museums, and distribute Renaissance funding more widely to organisations that can prove they are delivering an excellent service to their audiences,” he said.
Meanwhile Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) staff will find out in the coming weeks if their applications to transfer to ACE have been successful.
The MLA’s 104 staff members were eligible to apply for 53 posts at ACE.
See www.museumsassociation.org/ace for a full MA response to the ACE Consultation
ACE has been consulting with various sector bodies over the past two months to inform how it will distribute funding to museums from 2012 onwards. ACE chief executive Alan Davey said the organisation was in the middle of a series of conversations with museums across the country.
“This is only the beginning of an ongoing conversation with the sector that will help us shape our thinking,” he said. “We understand that the sector is keen to know more about funding for 2012-13 as soon as possible.”
Davey added that ACE would announce its long-term plans for Renaissance in the autumn and that applications for Renaissance funding for 2012-15 would open in September, with decisions made by the end of the year.
The MA was among the organisations asked for its view. MA director Mark Taylor said the transfer of the responsibility for museums to ACE provided an opportunity for the sector to take stock.
“We’ve had 10 years of Renaissance funding and it’s now time for a new approach to how regional museums in England are funded,” he said.
Taylor added that the MA board wanted to see a radical new attitude to funding, based on delivering benefit to the public.
“The MA thinks we should move away from the idea of hubs or core museums, and distribute Renaissance funding more widely to organisations that can prove they are delivering an excellent service to their audiences,” he said.
Meanwhile Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) staff will find out in the coming weeks if their applications to transfer to ACE have been successful.
The MLA’s 104 staff members were eligible to apply for 53 posts at ACE.
See www.museumsassociation.org/ace for a full MA response to the ACE Consultation
