It must be difficult to make cuts, move office (twice), restructure an entire organisation and close all your regional offices down, while at the same time trying to get on with your day-to-day business - a major review of Renaissance in the Regions and the creation of a national museums strategy.
But that is exactly what the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) is in the midst of at the moment. And despite all the activity on the surface, you could be forgiven for asking "what's going on?".
Well, it looks as if the national strategy for museums will finally be with us towards the end of this year, and there appears to be some progress on the Renaissance in the Regions review (see news, p5).
But there is still some doubt about how far-reaching the review will be. Renaissance is just about the biggest thing that has happened to museums in the past 10 years, and so in assessing its impact, the MLA should be thinking thorough and analytical, as opposed to quick and dirty.
The review panel is independent, but its budget has to be agreed by the MLA. Penny pinching at this stage, after £300m has already been spent on Renaissance, is not the answer.
I am sure we could all come up with a list of questions that need asking. But the starting point should be what was the original intention of Renaissance and has it been realised? Following on from that, scrutiny of whether the hubs are working, how the money has been spent, what measures and targets are in place, and whether they have been met, would also be useful.
Now is not the time for over-sensitivity on the MLA's part. The review may well turn up some uncomfortable truths, but what is needed is openness and transparency throughout the whole process.
There is already suspicion that the direction of Renaissance has been steered away from its original course and that cash allocated to the scheme is being used to mop up other projects. The best way to get it back on course and to prepare for the next spending round is a systematic review that is prepared to ask the awkward questions.
Sharon Heal, editor
sharon@museumsassociation.org
But that is exactly what the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) is in the midst of at the moment. And despite all the activity on the surface, you could be forgiven for asking "what's going on?".
Well, it looks as if the national strategy for museums will finally be with us towards the end of this year, and there appears to be some progress on the Renaissance in the Regions review (see news, p5).
But there is still some doubt about how far-reaching the review will be. Renaissance is just about the biggest thing that has happened to museums in the past 10 years, and so in assessing its impact, the MLA should be thinking thorough and analytical, as opposed to quick and dirty.
The review panel is independent, but its budget has to be agreed by the MLA. Penny pinching at this stage, after £300m has already been spent on Renaissance, is not the answer.
I am sure we could all come up with a list of questions that need asking. But the starting point should be what was the original intention of Renaissance and has it been realised? Following on from that, scrutiny of whether the hubs are working, how the money has been spent, what measures and targets are in place, and whether they have been met, would also be useful.
Now is not the time for over-sensitivity on the MLA's part. The review may well turn up some uncomfortable truths, but what is needed is openness and transparency throughout the whole process.
There is already suspicion that the direction of Renaissance has been steered away from its original course and that cash allocated to the scheme is being used to mop up other projects. The best way to get it back on course and to prepare for the next spending round is a systematic review that is prepared to ask the awkward questions.
Sharon Heal, editor
sharon@museumsassociation.org
