A consultation on the future strategy of the National Museum Directors’ Conference (NMDC) has led other organisations that represent museums to warn against a duplication of roles.
As well as asking about the NMDC’s future role and policy priorities, the survey asked respondents what type of museums should be included in its membership.
Options given included: UK nationals; all directly government-funded UK museums; core museums; museums over a certain size; and all major publicly funded museums.
The option of a layer of associate membership was also on the list.
David Fleming, director of National Museums Liverpool, an NMDC member and a member of the board of the Museums Association (MA), said: “Some NMDC members want to expand its role but I’m not one of them.
“NMDC members should be government-funded national museums, giving it a strong identity, logic and legitimacy. It should not attempt to take on a wider role because that wider role is fulfilled by the MA.”
Bill Ferris, chairman of the Association of Independent Museums (AIM), said: “With respect to the NMDC, which does a brilliant job of representing its members, I’m not sure what it knows about independent museums, and I don’t think it could claim to represent the whole sector.
“It should work with the MA, AIM and local authority groups to make sure there is joined-up advocacy at the highest levels.”
Sarah Levitt, head of museums at Leicester City Council, said: “It’s a huge agenda and it needs to take into account how the MA and arts council intend to cover these areas, and also the representative framework for museums nationally.”
An NMDC spokeswoman emphasised that it was not planning a “massive expansion of membership”.
She added: “The main purpose of the review is to look at the strategy and vision of the NMDC, and the membership question needs to be considered in this context. We expect to make changes as a result of the consultation, but those are for the directors to consider once the consultation process has finished.”
See vox pop p21
As well as asking about the NMDC’s future role and policy priorities, the survey asked respondents what type of museums should be included in its membership.
Options given included: UK nationals; all directly government-funded UK museums; core museums; museums over a certain size; and all major publicly funded museums.
The option of a layer of associate membership was also on the list.
David Fleming, director of National Museums Liverpool, an NMDC member and a member of the board of the Museums Association (MA), said: “Some NMDC members want to expand its role but I’m not one of them.
“NMDC members should be government-funded national museums, giving it a strong identity, logic and legitimacy. It should not attempt to take on a wider role because that wider role is fulfilled by the MA.”
Bill Ferris, chairman of the Association of Independent Museums (AIM), said: “With respect to the NMDC, which does a brilliant job of representing its members, I’m not sure what it knows about independent museums, and I don’t think it could claim to represent the whole sector.
“It should work with the MA, AIM and local authority groups to make sure there is joined-up advocacy at the highest levels.”
Sarah Levitt, head of museums at Leicester City Council, said: “It’s a huge agenda and it needs to take into account how the MA and arts council intend to cover these areas, and also the representative framework for museums nationally.”
An NMDC spokeswoman emphasised that it was not planning a “massive expansion of membership”.
She added: “The main purpose of the review is to look at the strategy and vision of the NMDC, and the membership question needs to be considered in this context. We expect to make changes as a result of the consultation, but those are for the directors to consider once the consultation process has finished.”
See vox pop p21
