In 2005, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) celebrated ten years of grant-giving. Despite some niggles, on the whole it has been an overwhelmingly positive development.
Some £1.16bn has gone into museums and galleries; creating new venues, refurbishing existing ones and supporting new posts and projects.
But the threat of a reduced pot (see HLF story opposite) and a changed remit cannot be ignored. You may well be sick of being consulted on everything - from the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict to the future of historic ships - but the lottery consultation is important: we need to contribute.
In June, the Museums Association (MA) published its Collections for the Future report, which refocused attention on how we display, care for, interpret and share objects.
This work will continue next year with the help of the Designation Challenge Fund, which has specified that in 2006-08 grants will be awarded to projects that take forward the recommendations of the report (although we shouldn't forget, we need to talk about disposal).
The MA also published its salary guidelines this year. Pay is still a massive issue in the sector and the guidelines are a call to responsible employers: if you value your staff, reward them appropriately.
The Scottish Cultural Commission produced its long-awaited report in June. But despite its length - 540 pages - it failed to impress. One of its central recommendations - the creation of two news bodies to oversee policy and funding - was rejected by the culture minister Patricia Ferguson.
After much time, effort and money has been spent trying to determine the way forward for museums in Scotland, it's about time a workable solution was found.
July saw two events that have had a major impact on museums. On the 6th came the announcement that London would host the 2012 Olympics. While the games could be a drain on money, they also present an opportunity for the whole country to show its cultural riches to the rest of the world.
On the 7th, the London bombings took place. The terror attacks led to a sharp drop in visitors to the capital's museums and, as the story opposite shows, attendances are only just beginning to creep back up.
Towards the end of the year, the newish minister for culture in England, David Lammy, challenged museums to improve their diversity: of collections, audiences and staff.
Schemes such as the MA's Diversify can help, but the problem needs tackling at its roots: entry-level schemes; pay in museums; the perception of the profession; and the type of subject matter that is tackled in exhibitions.
This month should see the publication of the government's response to the consultation on Understanding the Future. Let's hope it tackles some of these issues.
Some £1.16bn has gone into museums and galleries; creating new venues, refurbishing existing ones and supporting new posts and projects.
But the threat of a reduced pot (see HLF story opposite) and a changed remit cannot be ignored. You may well be sick of being consulted on everything - from the protection of cultural property in the event of armed conflict to the future of historic ships - but the lottery consultation is important: we need to contribute.
In June, the Museums Association (MA) published its Collections for the Future report, which refocused attention on how we display, care for, interpret and share objects.
This work will continue next year with the help of the Designation Challenge Fund, which has specified that in 2006-08 grants will be awarded to projects that take forward the recommendations of the report (although we shouldn't forget, we need to talk about disposal).
The MA also published its salary guidelines this year. Pay is still a massive issue in the sector and the guidelines are a call to responsible employers: if you value your staff, reward them appropriately.
The Scottish Cultural Commission produced its long-awaited report in June. But despite its length - 540 pages - it failed to impress. One of its central recommendations - the creation of two news bodies to oversee policy and funding - was rejected by the culture minister Patricia Ferguson.
After much time, effort and money has been spent trying to determine the way forward for museums in Scotland, it's about time a workable solution was found.
July saw two events that have had a major impact on museums. On the 6th came the announcement that London would host the 2012 Olympics. While the games could be a drain on money, they also present an opportunity for the whole country to show its cultural riches to the rest of the world.
On the 7th, the London bombings took place. The terror attacks led to a sharp drop in visitors to the capital's museums and, as the story opposite shows, attendances are only just beginning to creep back up.
Towards the end of the year, the newish minister for culture in England, David Lammy, challenged museums to improve their diversity: of collections, audiences and staff.
Schemes such as the MA's Diversify can help, but the problem needs tackling at its roots: entry-level schemes; pay in museums; the perception of the profession; and the type of subject matter that is tackled in exhibitions.
This month should see the publication of the government's response to the consultation on Understanding the Future. Let's hope it tackles some of these issues.
