Money featured strongly at the Museums Association (MA)conference.
MA vice-president David Fleming argued that we are in crisis. But arts council chairman Peter Bazalgette said although things were tough, it was more a challenge than a full-fledged crisis.
Fleming disagreed, citing the MA cuts survey and reminding members that the association is one of the few organisations raising attention of the impact of cuts.
MA president David Anderson drew on data compiled by the association to show that public spending cuts are falling hardest on local authority museums not in receipt of Major Partner Museum funding. These museums are likely to find it hardest to attract philanthropy.
Inequalities in funding between London and the regions also loomed large. Bazalgette was delighted to escape blame, observing that 90% of arts council museums funding is spent outside London and insisting that regional museums’ complaints should be addressed to the department for culture.
Bazalgette praised Museums Change Lives. He said: “It shows a sector that is aware of its potential and ambitious to realise it. It tells us that museums enrich individual lives, contribute to strong communities and help create a better society.
"It also tells us that museums benefit from engaging with their public and bringing them, their skills and their creativity into the buildings… It gives us a vision of sector that is reinvigorating itself, through different sorts of partnerships – in funding, in skills, in thinking.”
Museums Change Lives can help you reinvigorate your practice and museum. We are inviting people to pledge their support for the MA’s vision.
Maurice Davies is the head of policy and communication at the Museums Association
MA vice-president David Fleming argued that we are in crisis. But arts council chairman Peter Bazalgette said although things were tough, it was more a challenge than a full-fledged crisis.
Fleming disagreed, citing the MA cuts survey and reminding members that the association is one of the few organisations raising attention of the impact of cuts.
MA president David Anderson drew on data compiled by the association to show that public spending cuts are falling hardest on local authority museums not in receipt of Major Partner Museum funding. These museums are likely to find it hardest to attract philanthropy.
Inequalities in funding between London and the regions also loomed large. Bazalgette was delighted to escape blame, observing that 90% of arts council museums funding is spent outside London and insisting that regional museums’ complaints should be addressed to the department for culture.
Bazalgette praised Museums Change Lives. He said: “It shows a sector that is aware of its potential and ambitious to realise it. It tells us that museums enrich individual lives, contribute to strong communities and help create a better society.
"It also tells us that museums benefit from engaging with their public and bringing them, their skills and their creativity into the buildings… It gives us a vision of sector that is reinvigorating itself, through different sorts of partnerships – in funding, in skills, in thinking.”
Museums Change Lives can help you reinvigorate your practice and museum. We are inviting people to pledge their support for the MA’s vision.
Maurice Davies is the head of policy and communication at the Museums Association
