It’s been a while since there has been any discussion about a national museum strategy – in England, that is.
But while museums in England have been nervously preoccupied with the transfer of responsibilities from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council to Arts Council England (ACE), strategies elsewhere in the UK abound.
Wales launched its strategy more than a year ago, the Museums Policy for Northern Ireland was published earlier this year, and last month Scotland launched a consultation on its draft strategy (see news, p5).
The three strategies differ to take into account the circumstances of the country of origin, but they have some things in common, specifically a commitment to public benefit, access, education and collections care.
The Welsh and Northern Irish strategies go beyond platitudes: the Museums Policy for Northern Ireland has a section entitled Turning Words into Action, with specific targets; and the Welsh strategy has action points after each of its strategic objectives.
It is interesting to note that the three strategies apply to all publicly funded museums. There are no get-out clauses where certain museums are allowed to carry on with their business as if a national strategy didn’t exist.
Maybe after the dust settles on the new Renaissance, thoughts will turn to what England needs in the way of a strategy.
ACE says it will continue an informal consultation on post-2015 spending plans next year, but we seem to be heading towards a single funding pot for all art forms, guided by its Achieving Great Art for Everyone vision and goals.
But it’s not a strategy. So there is nothing to stop museums in England and the bodies that represent them taking a leaf out of their neighbours’ books and creating one of their own.
Sharon Heal, editor, Museums Journal
sharon@museumsassociation.org
www.twitter.com/sharonheal
www.museumsassociation.org/cuts
For details of the Come on England! and the National Strategy for Scotland Consultation sessions at the MA conference in Brighton, on 3-4 October, click here
But while museums in England have been nervously preoccupied with the transfer of responsibilities from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council to Arts Council England (ACE), strategies elsewhere in the UK abound.
Wales launched its strategy more than a year ago, the Museums Policy for Northern Ireland was published earlier this year, and last month Scotland launched a consultation on its draft strategy (see news, p5).
The three strategies differ to take into account the circumstances of the country of origin, but they have some things in common, specifically a commitment to public benefit, access, education and collections care.
The Welsh and Northern Irish strategies go beyond platitudes: the Museums Policy for Northern Ireland has a section entitled Turning Words into Action, with specific targets; and the Welsh strategy has action points after each of its strategic objectives.
It is interesting to note that the three strategies apply to all publicly funded museums. There are no get-out clauses where certain museums are allowed to carry on with their business as if a national strategy didn’t exist.
Maybe after the dust settles on the new Renaissance, thoughts will turn to what England needs in the way of a strategy.
ACE says it will continue an informal consultation on post-2015 spending plans next year, but we seem to be heading towards a single funding pot for all art forms, guided by its Achieving Great Art for Everyone vision and goals.
But it’s not a strategy. So there is nothing to stop museums in England and the bodies that represent them taking a leaf out of their neighbours’ books and creating one of their own.
Sharon Heal, editor, Museums Journal
sharon@museumsassociation.org
www.twitter.com/sharonheal
www.museumsassociation.org/cuts
For details of the Come on England! and the National Strategy for Scotland Consultation sessions at the MA conference in Brighton, on 3-4 October, click here