The announcement by the Scottish Executive of several new initiatives to support Scottish museums and galleries has been met with incredulity and disbelief amongst many of those involved in the sector.
The initiatives are to be launched in response to last year?s consultation exercise to develop an Action Plan for Scotland?s museums and galleries, and will be implemented pending a wider review of the governance of Scotland?s cultural sector. Under the new plans, a regional development framework will be created and new partnerships developed to support the cultural heritage sector. Specifically, the National Museums of Scotland and the National Galleries of Scotland will adopt greater roles in support of non-national museums and galleries, providing advice and expertise. The costs of the plans will be met by ?refocusing? the Strategic Change Fund, a £1.5m package over 2 years which was set aside to help stabilise the museums sector in Scotland.
Culture Minister Frank McAveety described the new measures as putting in place ?some important stepping stones for the future care and conservation of important collections across Scotland?, but the Scottish Museums Council (SMC), which has 207 members, themselves responsible for 340 museums across Scotland, has strongly criticised the plans for failing to offer any additional investment and leaving significant questions unanswered. Jane Ryder, SMC Director, described the measures as ?cold comfort to the museums struggling to deliver high quality services?, and called on the Executive to ?address the single most pressing issue ? the need for core funding for core museum functions.? During the consultation exercise, sums of between £7m and £14m were quoted as being required to stabilise the sector. Ian Maclagan, Treasurer of Bute Museum, said ?I am certain that most independent museums will read the Executive?s statement with disbelief and resignation. The old order does not seem to have changed.?
Dr Gordon Rintoul, Director of the National Museums of Scotland, and Sir Timothy Clifford, Director General of the National Galleries of Scotland, have both welcomed the idea of closer relationships with regional museums and galleries. Dr Rintoul said ?It is important that the museum community now works together to demonstrate the benefits it can deliver for the people of Scotland and visitors to this country.?