The Museums Association’s new president says the time for action is now

This is my personal perspective of what the next two years have in store for museums, and some suggestions as to how the Museums Association (MA) might respond.

The greatest challenge is to help support and sustain small and medium-sized independent and public museums. Across the UK, new political configurations, the reduced resources at the Heritage Lottery Fund and the variable commitment of local authorities are creating uncertainty.

In England, while a reformed delivery of Renaissance must remain central to policy, the collapse of regional agencies threatens the traditional pluralistic support for museums. As president, I will advocate that the MA repositions itself to address these issues and pays more attention to the longer-term issue of organisational sustainability.

When Andy Burnham, the secretary of state for culture, spoke at the MA's conference in Liverpool last month, he was positive about Renaissance and also about free admission to the nationals.

He might have added the enormously beneficial impact of the Heritage Lottery Fund. Together, these three have formed a trinity of transformational impacts on museums in the new millennium.

He also mentioned the importance of branding. In Renaissance, we have a very strong brand. The indications are that ministers in the department for culture and the Treasury are convinced of the value of Renaissance.

We must be careful over the next two years not to throw that hard-won respect away. The case for Renaissance has to be made to each new player as they appear, whether politician, civil servant or someone within our own camp. The review will help us strengthen Renaissance's case.

Support for museums and galleries in the English regions - especially those outside the hubs - has been an issue since the Area Museum Councils disappeared. Now their successors, the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council's regional agencies, are going too, apparently to be replaced by three itinerant directors of engagement.

Renaissance in the Regions said the new arrangements for the English regions should be a partnership that included hubs and regional agencies. They had different roles and could not be substituted for each other. This is of enormous importance to our membership, and the MA must take a strong and proactive role in the regions in the months to come.

Place-Shaping: a Shared Ambition for the Future of Local Government, published in March 2007, reiterated the importance of having a local voice and that "place remains relevant" in the contemporary world.

Indeed, the report suggested that the role of local government is in fact place-shaping - another term aimed at integrating roles and responsibilities across the public, private and third sectors.

Local and independent museums are often exactly about places and people. Here is another chance for the MA to take on a new campaign, to remind local government of the value of museums as part of the place, capable of being energetic and democratic agents for social good.

Much of this could be summarised as being about organisational sustainability. Too many museums are reporting that they are seriously under threat.

The MA needs to take a lead on this issue. One option - mirroring English Heritage - is setting up a "museums at risk register". This will help to focus our energies and raise the profile of the problem with politicians, the media and the public.

Some changes are needed at the MA. First, governance issues must be addressed. There are currently 39 people on the council - the MA is ungovernable.

Second, to achieve the agenda that I have outlined, it may be necessary to strengthen the MA's communications and PR role, and make more use of the skills and expertise of the membership itself.

Third, I believe that the time has come to reposition the MA in order to participate more visibly in more strategic and political spheres.

This is the time for people to be reminded that we are many, and our customers form a mighty host of people who believe that museums and galleries, as part of heritage and the arts, should be respected and that their potential for inspiration, learning and enjoyment is a resource to be nurtured and sustained, not stabbed in the back the first time a cold draught is felt round the house.

Changes are coming. The next few years are going to be tough. We need to mobilise our resources now. We will need the best arguments, our best case studies, our best data and statistics, so be ready to share your knowledge and information with those who will speak on your behalf.

Our negotiators will need to be at their best, and will have to be backed up by the voices of many - not just us professionals but all our supporters out there. The time has come to prepare for battle.

Stuart Davies is the president of the Museums Association.