24 Hour Museum - official guide to UK museums, galleries, exhibitions and heritage
Gateway to Over 3,000 UK museums, galleries and heritage attractions
Skip to navigation
MLA Slims Down, Relocates And Redefines Future Tasks
By 24 Hour Museum Staff
04/06/2008
Most of MLA's core administrative activities are being moved to Birmingham. © Roslyn Tappenden
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) announced on June 3 2008 a new slimmed-down organisational shape with most core activities moved to Birmingham, leaving just a basic presence in London.
“Our new philosophy is rooted firmly in best practice,” said MLA’s CEO, Roy Clare. “It’s about innovation and integration of services for all, and our new structure is designed to serve this need over and above professional divides.”
The changes are the result of extensive consultation across governmental and cultural sectors, with the aim being to set clear goals for the future. According to MLA the moves have won broad support from the sector.
MLA’s new focus sees it becoming the one agency responsible for promoting best practice and inspiring innovative and sustainable services. Changes detailed in the announcement include:
* A unified national organisation shaped to engage with local government
*Slimmed down staff structure
*Relocation of most functions away from London
*Costs cut, resources redeployed to support front line improvements
*Prioritisation of key projects that deliver the most impact
*Redundancies achieved through consultation and agreement
It’s been a complex, and at times, difficult phase in MLA development, explained Roy Clare: “The transition phase has been difficult for staff, and I regret that some posts have become redundant, but it was essential that we switched resources to front line purposes and strengthened our capacities overall.”
Image: photo of three children touching a Henry Moore sculpture of a female figure reclining
Change at MLA is in part designed to back up the government's commitment to quality exposure to arts and culture. © Caroline Lewis / 24 Hour Museum
Eight of the nine regional MLA agencies will be replaced by April 2009 by a single, integrated staff team working regionally and nationally. MLA London’s position will be clarified once the implications of the recent Mayoral elections have been considered.
Regional reach is important to MLA and at board level, Regional Managers for each English region and three Directors of Engagement will boost representation.
MLA’s move to Birmingham will see a small staff remaining in London dealing with Acceptance in Lieu issues and Export Licensing policy. Staff union Prospect were consulted and approved of 12 compulsory redundancies, and 18 voluntary cases.
According to MLA, the changes will enable support of Culture Secretary Andy Burnham’s National Improvement Strategy, launched earlier in 2008.
Nationally, MLA’s three chief priorities remain Renaissance; Accreditation; and action plans for libraries and archives. The Cultural Olympiad remains at the core of the national programmes supported.
Image: a photograph of a museum with banners in front of it
At the core of the new plan is renewed backing for the Renaissance programme. Photo World Museum Liverpool
Digital futures strategy will be at the centre of a new deal with Culture24 – the organisation that publishes 24 Hour Museum - and the Collections Trust. Both organisations now take on responsibility for the digital strategy work once done within MLA. The Collections Trust take on most work involving collections, standards and professional development.
Working with key partners in the museum, gallery, library and archive sector, Culture24 will develop a coherent online publishing strategy for the delivery of MLA customer focussed digital services.
“The result will be a leaner, fitter MLA uniquely positioned to work collaboratively to challenge and invigorate our sector, embrace the future, and work for standards right across the country that measure up to the best,” said Roy Clare, CEO of MLA.
E-news registration
E-mail story to a friend
Tell us what you think
Mark Leckey Scoops £25,000 And The 2008 Turner Prize
Library Thief Update: Sentencing Adjourned Until January 16, 2009
Fund Aims To Realise Long Campaign For Cardiff Museum
Britglyph Art Campaign Uses Web To Make Mass Geoglyph
Inaugural Awards Ceremony Honours UK Arts Philanthropists
Rare Silver Cup Commemorating Coronation Of Charles II Is Saved For The Nation
London Fire Brigade Museum Escapes Closure - For Now
Another Busy Year For Archaeology On Orkney In 2008
Severndroog Castle To Be Restored Thanks To Lottery Grant
Campaign To Save Captain Scott's Hut Needs Another £65,000
Open Air Lab Project Launches At The Natural History Museum
Gravity Defying Vertical Racer Drives Kids Up the Wall At MOSI
DCMS And English Heritage List Seven London Bridges
Railway Museums Launch Joint WWII Railway Worker Project
Bowes Museum Famous Mechanical Swan Goes Back On Show In December
Free Admission To Historic Scotland Sites For St Andrew's Day
Fund Raising Scheme Is Backing Great North Museum: Hancock
Tyneside Gallery Plots New Display After Funding Victory
Search this site
Home Page
News Page
Exhibition Page
What's On
Trails Page
Website of the Week
Letters Page
Welsh Home
Graphical Version
Copyright © 24 Hour Museum
Information published here was believed to be correct at the time it was prepared. Welsh language pages developed with CYMAL: Museums Archives and Libraries Wales, funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.