David Fleming director, National Museums Liverpool
"Museums are always under pressure to secure funding from a variety of sources, but no funding comes without strings. When these strings represent the will of democratically elected politicians, personally and professionally I am quite happy. However, if conditions are being placed on a grant or a gift by an unelected body or by individuals, then I am more wary.
But I have never felt uncomfortable with accepting gifts from "rich donors", and I have never been pressured by them to "please" anyone in a way that is detrimental to what my museum has been trying to achieve. A more pertinent question is: 'Are progressive museums sometimes constrained through the conservatism of funding bodies?'"
Jonathan Wallis assistant head of museums, Derby City Council
"Museums have always relied on donors to enable them to do new and exciting things. Anyone who invests their time and money to protect, enhance and help us share our collections should be rewarded for this.
Museums should carry on pleasing rich donors, but should also reward those who often make a larger personal sacrifice. A volunteer who donates time, a family who gives an heirloom and the donor of £10 also deserve credit.
When donations to museums support their aims and objectives and what museums do in return for these donations does not compromise themselves or their collections, they should continue to please all donors, rich or otherwise."
Tiffany Jenkins arts and society director, Institute of Ideas
"Museums have always wrestled with tensions between their imaginative and scholastic spirit and the matter of gifts, and with them, the influence of the state and demanding donors. These pressures may have been stronger in the past, but today, because of the confused state of museums they are more easily manipulated and too readily directed.
The muddled rationale due to never ending internal and external questioning, combined with the slippery economic and social outputs they have reoriented around, means that they may be too keen to bend to the donors' whim and all to ready to jettison what principals are left. What is required is mixed funding and the strength of purpose to just say no."
Alison Bevan director, Penlee House Gallery and Museum, Penzanze
"For Renaissance to live up to its name, hubs should become recognised 'one stop shops' for advice and practical help for smaller museums, which is desperately needed.
It is vital, however, not to lose sight of Renaissance's original intent: revitalising and securely funding the country's major museums, so that their important collections are safeguarded for the future and used in inspiring ways.
The hubs need to continue developing their own expertise and improving the care and display of their collections, so that they truly become beacons of excellence, in tandem with giving smaller museums at least the same level of support as they were previously, preferably more."
"Museums are always under pressure to secure funding from a variety of sources, but no funding comes without strings. When these strings represent the will of democratically elected politicians, personally and professionally I am quite happy. However, if conditions are being placed on a grant or a gift by an unelected body or by individuals, then I am more wary.
But I have never felt uncomfortable with accepting gifts from "rich donors", and I have never been pressured by them to "please" anyone in a way that is detrimental to what my museum has been trying to achieve. A more pertinent question is: 'Are progressive museums sometimes constrained through the conservatism of funding bodies?'"
Jonathan Wallis assistant head of museums, Derby City Council
"Museums have always relied on donors to enable them to do new and exciting things. Anyone who invests their time and money to protect, enhance and help us share our collections should be rewarded for this.
Museums should carry on pleasing rich donors, but should also reward those who often make a larger personal sacrifice. A volunteer who donates time, a family who gives an heirloom and the donor of £10 also deserve credit.
When donations to museums support their aims and objectives and what museums do in return for these donations does not compromise themselves or their collections, they should continue to please all donors, rich or otherwise."
Tiffany Jenkins arts and society director, Institute of Ideas
"Museums have always wrestled with tensions between their imaginative and scholastic spirit and the matter of gifts, and with them, the influence of the state and demanding donors. These pressures may have been stronger in the past, but today, because of the confused state of museums they are more easily manipulated and too readily directed.
The muddled rationale due to never ending internal and external questioning, combined with the slippery economic and social outputs they have reoriented around, means that they may be too keen to bend to the donors' whim and all to ready to jettison what principals are left. What is required is mixed funding and the strength of purpose to just say no."
Alison Bevan director, Penlee House Gallery and Museum, Penzanze
"For Renaissance to live up to its name, hubs should become recognised 'one stop shops' for advice and practical help for smaller museums, which is desperately needed.
It is vital, however, not to lose sight of Renaissance's original intent: revitalising and securely funding the country's major museums, so that their important collections are safeguarded for the future and used in inspiring ways.
The hubs need to continue developing their own expertise and improving the care and display of their collections, so that they truly become beacons of excellence, in tandem with giving smaller museums at least the same level of support as they were previously, preferably more."
