Museums must think creatively about the future
Ed Vaizey sets out the future policy direction for museums
In a speech to the Museums Association conference yesterday, the Culture Minister said all museums need to develop a stronger instinct for partnerships, commercial ventures and new approaches to funding.
“Those who fund museums and those who govern and lead them need to consider fresh strategies to ensure sustainability in the years to come,” said the Culture Minister.
During the speech Mr Vaizey also paid tribute to the work of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA). Echoing the recommendations of the Leading Museums Group, Mr Vaizey spoke of the need for closer working and “cultural convergence”, in sharing collections, expertise and audiences between museums and the wider cultural sector, as well as with the creative industries.
Renaissance in the Regions
Mr Vaizey also outlined how the Renaissance in the Regions project will develop. The “new Renaissance” will:
- replace the existing hub network with a group of core museums - a small number of non-national museums with outstanding collections and which offer exceptional services to large audiences
- use a proportion of Renaissance funding to create a challenge fund which will give all regional museums access to Renaissance funding
- work in partnership with local funding
The Programme will continue to:
- use national funding to secure and unlock the potential of the very best regional museums and their collections..
- invest in museum development and to maintain support for Accreditation and Designation
- promote innovative ideas such as “Kids in Museums” and “Museums at Night”