Vox pop

“The National Museum Directors’ Conference (NMDC) has been an eccentric beast ever since it brought a handful of non-national museums into membership with no discernible logic behind the decision.

Its reputation is diminished as people and politicians alike are confused about what it stands for and it is very welcome that it is looking afresh at its membership and remit.

The sector needs national museums; it needs their profile, their clout and their expertise. All museums need to share messages and values and yet at the same time, different types of museums must stand up for their particular interests and concerns.

With its 6000+ members, the Museums Association speaks for the whole sector and NMDC should concentrate on doing what it says on its tin.”

“In a period of great uncertainty a strong voice for museums is critical. The demise of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council and the hubs has left a vacuum.

NMDC is one of few bodies with the potential clout to advocate for the wider museum sector. But there is a tension between this wider sector role and the specific advocacy for the interests of its members.

NMDC can appear as a self-selecting club and if it is going to perform a wider role it needs to reassess its purpose, name and membership. The museum sector encompasses more than simply the nationals.

If NMDC were to broaden its membership by including say the potential Core Museums that would be a start but would change the nature of the beast substantially.”

“NMDC wonders if it should be ‘leading and setting the museum and cultural agenda’.

The Association of Independent Museums represents over 900 members across the UK. Some have “national” in their title, although they do not receive DCMS largesse.

Although national museums have developed some good partnerships, NMDC, restricted as it is to the experience of a small group of very singular museums, does not have the knowledge or experience of other types of museums that would enable it to take on these roles credibly.

The strength of NMDC is what it is now – a respected voice for a clearly defined small group of museums that are funded by national government. Respectful collaboration is what is needed.”

“Among the most significant contributions the NMDC has made to the sector of late have been the solid evidence base it has amassed and the effective use to which this has been put for advocacy purposes.

Given the recent seismic shifts in the museum landscape recently, its role as advocate could be expanded with effect and strengthened through more demonstrable partnerships with the regional, local and voluntary/independent museums.

In Northern Ireland, the Northern Ireland Museums Council is leading by example on this. Nothing new, one might say, but being seen to do more ‘joined-up’, collaborative work would do the NMDC and all of us the world of good.”