By the time that you read this, the review of Renaissance in the Regions and the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council's (MLA) response to it should be just about to be published.
The report is a thorough appraisal of Renaissance: it considers the scheme's original aims; assesses whether they have been met; and makes recommendations for the future.
It has not pulled any punches. Of its many findings, the headlines are: Renaissance has been a success, despite some poor central management; the hubs have served a purpose but should now be dissolved and replaced by a network of core museums; and the scheme should be run by its own national board.
These radical recommendations may strike terror into some people's hearts. Smaller museums will fear being pushed further into the cold and hubs might worry that they will lose their status. But the report's recommendations takes this into account - and no one is saying that things have to happen overnight. The results of the review should not be ignored because of a fear of reorganisation and upheaval.
One of the report's other recommendations is that the long-awaited and much-put-off national strategy for museums be merged with the findings of the review. This would be good if for no other reason than that something that resembles a strategy might see the light of day.
But a strange dance seems to be taking place between the department for culture and the MLA, with both organisations batting responsibility for a strategy between them. The MLA has said it will publish an action plan in the summer, but museums need and deserve more than a to-do list.
At the moment, all we have is a strategy-avoidance strategy. The recession and the potential change of government is making everyone jittery, but surely the Treasury would be more amenable to departments and agencies with a coherent business plan based on a properly worked-out strategy.
Now is not the time for prevarication. Much has happened since the review started, not least a recession and a new minister. A sober consideration of the review's findings and a decent strategy are needed more than ever.
Sharon Heal, editor
sharon@museumsassociation.org
The report is a thorough appraisal of Renaissance: it considers the scheme's original aims; assesses whether they have been met; and makes recommendations for the future.
It has not pulled any punches. Of its many findings, the headlines are: Renaissance has been a success, despite some poor central management; the hubs have served a purpose but should now be dissolved and replaced by a network of core museums; and the scheme should be run by its own national board.
These radical recommendations may strike terror into some people's hearts. Smaller museums will fear being pushed further into the cold and hubs might worry that they will lose their status. But the report's recommendations takes this into account - and no one is saying that things have to happen overnight. The results of the review should not be ignored because of a fear of reorganisation and upheaval.
One of the report's other recommendations is that the long-awaited and much-put-off national strategy for museums be merged with the findings of the review. This would be good if for no other reason than that something that resembles a strategy might see the light of day.
But a strange dance seems to be taking place between the department for culture and the MLA, with both organisations batting responsibility for a strategy between them. The MLA has said it will publish an action plan in the summer, but museums need and deserve more than a to-do list.
At the moment, all we have is a strategy-avoidance strategy. The recession and the potential change of government is making everyone jittery, but surely the Treasury would be more amenable to departments and agencies with a coherent business plan based on a properly worked-out strategy.
Now is not the time for prevarication. Much has happened since the review started, not least a recession and a new minister. A sober consideration of the review's findings and a decent strategy are needed more than ever.
Sharon Heal, editor
sharon@museumsassociation.org
