The Museums Association (MA) is urging Arts Council England (ACE) to be bold over its plans for the future of Renaissance.
The MA published a plan in May that called for a wider distribution of funding based on public benefit rather than the core museums model proposed by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA).
The MA said its proposal had been well-received but Iain Watson, director of Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums, said he felt there was an important role for “core” museums, which he said had the capacity to be exemplars, and were resourced to be able to deliver a greater than local role.
“I am convinced that these ‘cores’, or whatever they are called, need to work in partnership nationally and locally, and will be able to engage widely with the sector,” said Watson.
Nick Merriman, director of Manchester Museum, said museums that were currently part of Renaissance generally supported the idea of core museums, while those who weren’t, tended not to.
“On balance, I support the MA’s view that it should be about excellence in outcome rather than, say, population size. But the pot is still limited, and I think it is important that ACE makes sure that it does not spread the money so thinly that it does not make a substantial difference.”
An ACE spokeswoman said: “The arts council welcomes the MA’s views, along with other views from the sector. We will be considering them fully and responding shortly.
“We understand that people want to know about the funding criteria as soon as possible, so we will be announcing our terms in the autumn, in plenty of time for 2012-13 budgets.”
The MA is developing a framework to inform ACE’s decisions on the criteria and is hoping to work closely with the arts council and to consult MA members in the summer.
www.museumsassociation.org/framework
The MA published a plan in May that called for a wider distribution of funding based on public benefit rather than the core museums model proposed by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA).
The MA said its proposal had been well-received but Iain Watson, director of Tyne and Wear Archives and Museums, said he felt there was an important role for “core” museums, which he said had the capacity to be exemplars, and were resourced to be able to deliver a greater than local role.
“I am convinced that these ‘cores’, or whatever they are called, need to work in partnership nationally and locally, and will be able to engage widely with the sector,” said Watson.
Nick Merriman, director of Manchester Museum, said museums that were currently part of Renaissance generally supported the idea of core museums, while those who weren’t, tended not to.
“On balance, I support the MA’s view that it should be about excellence in outcome rather than, say, population size. But the pot is still limited, and I think it is important that ACE makes sure that it does not spread the money so thinly that it does not make a substantial difference.”
An ACE spokeswoman said: “The arts council welcomes the MA’s views, along with other views from the sector. We will be considering them fully and responding shortly.
“We understand that people want to know about the funding criteria as soon as possible, so we will be announcing our terms in the autumn, in plenty of time for 2012-13 budgets.”
The MA is developing a framework to inform ACE’s decisions on the criteria and is hoping to work closely with the arts council and to consult MA members in the summer.
www.museumsassociation.org/framework
