Laura Pye, head of culture, Bristol City Council
“On the whole I think the review is a positive and it’s great that it paints a positive image of the sector. But I worry it could lead to us becoming complacent as a workforce.
There has been a lot of talk about whether the sector is in crisis? The dictionary definition of crisis is: ‘A time when a difficult or important decision must be made.’ On this definition then, yes, I think we are at this point. And while I think the review touches on the main areas of ‘crisis’, I worry that it doesn’t make enough of its seriousness and the need for change.”
Tim Desmond, CEO, National Football Museum, Manchester
“Less a snapshot and more a well presented family photo album of the sector. We will all be drawn to our own areas of interest, mine would be non-charging museums, which are seen to widen access, despite the figures telling us otherwise.
The other is the key funders and, given the huge investment, the need for them to be more strategically linked. The sector now needs to respond with new financial models before we have to sell the family silver. We also need to attract new blood to respond to the diverse world around us.”
Sharon Heal, director, Museums Association (MA)
“I am pleased to see government recognition of many of the issues that the MA raised during the consultation. In particular, DCMS has accepted the need for a strategic funding approach to ensure that funding bodies work together more closely. I am also pleased to see recognition of the opportunities we identified relating to the social impact of museums. However, it is disappointing that despite recognising the severe funding difficulties experienced by many museums the government has so far failed to identify any new resources or capacity to improve the sustainability.”
Kate Arnold-Forster, director, Museum of English Rural Life
“One of the most interesting and potentially far-reaching outcomes of the Mendoza Review of museums in England could well be the impact of how the Heritage Lottery Fund responds to the call to invest in the renewal of existing infrastructure.
How will this change the museums’ landscape over the next 10 years? Will there possibly be fewer new museum projects, but greater emphasis on finding solutions to renew and reshape how museums can continue to contribute to future resilience of the communities they serve?”
“On the whole I think the review is a positive and it’s great that it paints a positive image of the sector. But I worry it could lead to us becoming complacent as a workforce.
There has been a lot of talk about whether the sector is in crisis? The dictionary definition of crisis is: ‘A time when a difficult or important decision must be made.’ On this definition then, yes, I think we are at this point. And while I think the review touches on the main areas of ‘crisis’, I worry that it doesn’t make enough of its seriousness and the need for change.”
Tim Desmond, CEO, National Football Museum, Manchester
“Less a snapshot and more a well presented family photo album of the sector. We will all be drawn to our own areas of interest, mine would be non-charging museums, which are seen to widen access, despite the figures telling us otherwise.
The other is the key funders and, given the huge investment, the need for them to be more strategically linked. The sector now needs to respond with new financial models before we have to sell the family silver. We also need to attract new blood to respond to the diverse world around us.”
Sharon Heal, director, Museums Association (MA)
“I am pleased to see government recognition of many of the issues that the MA raised during the consultation. In particular, DCMS has accepted the need for a strategic funding approach to ensure that funding bodies work together more closely. I am also pleased to see recognition of the opportunities we identified relating to the social impact of museums. However, it is disappointing that despite recognising the severe funding difficulties experienced by many museums the government has so far failed to identify any new resources or capacity to improve the sustainability.”
Kate Arnold-Forster, director, Museum of English Rural Life
“One of the most interesting and potentially far-reaching outcomes of the Mendoza Review of museums in England could well be the impact of how the Heritage Lottery Fund responds to the call to invest in the renewal of existing infrastructure.
How will this change the museums’ landscape over the next 10 years? Will there possibly be fewer new museum projects, but greater emphasis on finding solutions to renew and reshape how museums can continue to contribute to future resilience of the communities they serve?”
