Six weeks after the comprehensive spending review, there are still many unanswered questions.
Most local authority museums have yet to have their budgets set – and big cuts are expected. The budgets for national museums in the devolved nations are only just filtering through, and museums funded by the Ministry of Defence are still waiting to hear about their settlements.
On top of all the uncertainty, it is still unclear what is happening in the transition from Renaissance to Core museums (during the switch, some museums will inevitably lose out).
In this confusing landscape, the question of who speaks up for museums is crucial. Rumour has it that the department for culture wants a single voice for museums. But is that really feasible?
The National Museum Directors’ Conference (NMDC) is currently reviewing its future role. One of the options it might consider is extending membership to the Core museums once they are decided, and taking on a role in setting policy and representing the UK museum sector as a whole. But does it have the experience, the mandate or the will to do this?
The NMDC’s track record on speaking for, or working with, all museums rather than the chosen few is not great (cast your minds back to the frantic lobbying before the comprehensive spending review – there weren’t many national museum directors making the case for museums other than their own).
It’s difficult for an organisation with a specific remit to speak for an extremely diverse sector, and as the NMDC is funded by its members, it also raises the question of whether it is independent enough to lobby on behalf of all museums.
A turf war about who represents museums and speaks on their behalf is not what is needed now. A strong and united voice is. The Museums Association can – and should – step up.
Sharon Heal, editor, Museums Journal
Cuts Monitor
sharon@museumsassociation.org
www.twitter.com/sharonheal