Death of MLA, London 2
This is my report to LMHM email list and the press release from MLa, London
Those of you were were at the LMHM meeting yesterday will probably have been confused by my report on the MLA, London situation. I enclose the MLA press release to clarify the situation.
The point I was trying to make was that the absorption of MLA. London into MLA was the final end 'the death' of the vestiges of the old bottomup membership based Area Museum services replaced by a top-down strategic body. London Museums Group had set up a very good working relationship with the Hub and MLA, London and that we would now have to try do the same with the changed structure. MLA, London had done a wonderful job for the London Museum community and it is a shame to see it go. In the circumstances it was probably inevitable that it went and the LMG representative on the board agreed that there was really no viable alternative.
Negotiatons are continuing as to how the 18 or so MLA, London staff are to be deployed. I think it is likely that the MDO's will be transferred to the Hub, who are funding them but this is not yet finalised. The core team which is and was funded by MLA will be transferred to MLA as the London team with a sub-board to manage it. This is I believe, 5 or 6 staff. Other staff are paid for from projects MLA, London has fund-raised for. Discussions are ongoing and details not yet sorted out, but wholesale redundancies are not expected as their funding is not from MLA. Andrew Holden will come back to LMG once discussions with the Hub have progressed on MDO network, and to give more information about MLA support to wider regional Renaissance programme in London.
There is good will all round to ensure the change does not affect Museums in London, and LMG will be doing its best to help maintain services. Changed circumstances bring new challenges.
Kevin Flude
PRESS RELEASE – Tuesday 9 June 2009
MLA to complete integration with creation of London team.
The MLA has announced that, following agreement with the Mayor of London's Office, it will complete its national transformation with the creation of a regional team for London to be operational from April 2010.
Trustees of MLA London have agreed to support the changes and move to wind-up the last remaining regional MLA agency.
The changes will enable MLA staff supporting the sector in London to focus on core functions of driving improvement, providing advice and brokerage, advocating on behalf of the sector and its users, and levering in additional funding, while enabling MLA to reduce further its overhead costs.
The changes have been agreed following an independent review of MLA’s investment in the capital, which recognised the Mayor of London’s statutory responsibility for culture and his power to appoint the chair of MLA London.
The review also recognised the successes of MLA London and its staff in developing the London Cultural Improvement Programme in partnership with the other cultural agencies, the London boroughs, Government Office for London, and Capital Ambition, as well as other innovative programmes on adult skills and economic impact, and its ability to draw in funding for the sector from key stakeholders including the London Development Agency.
The new structure also proposes a London sub-group of MLA’s Board to focus on the delivery of priorities for the Capital.
Following its reorganisation last year, the MLA is already operating across the country in three other area teams covering the North, West and East, each headed by a Director of Engagement, supported by a Regional Manager in each English region and a small team of Area Engagement Advisors.
Andrew Motion, Chair of the MLA said: “The MLA’s transformation was designed to deliver a single light-footed national organisation operating effectively in every English region to help local government drive the development and improvement of museums, libraries and archives.
“We are delighted that London has embraced our changes in such a constructive way and will become a full part of the new MLA. I want to pay tribute to the work of Geoffrey Bond and the trustees and staff of MLA London who are leaving such a strong legacy. We hope we can build on the many achievements of MLA London while preserving the unique features and opportunities of culture enabled by our Capital city.”
Geoffrey Bond, chair of MLA London, said: “My fellow trustees and I are enormously proud of the work which MLA London staff have done over the past five years to open up the Capital’s museums, libraries and archives to more people, to improve their services, particularly in learning and skills, and to be a powerful voice for the sector in London government. We recognise that the best future for museums, libraries and archives in London lies in having a team integrated within MLA, increasing efficiency, working closely with the Mayor’s Office, and making the full weight of MLA’s voice carry in the Capital.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said: 'London's museums, libraries and archives are an invaluable asset and I'm pleased with how MLA have worked with us. I look forward to a continued partnership that will ensure this critically important sector can be sustained for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.'
In response to the statement, Jack Lohman, Director of the Museum of London and lead partner in the London Museums Hub, said:
“MLA London has been an essential partner in the successful delivery of the Renaissance programme in London and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the trustees and staff of MLA London for the contribution they have made in promoting the profile and sustainability of the sector as a whole. The London Museums Hub is committed to supporting sustainable museum development in the capital and we look forward to working closely with MLA to ensure that we set in place effective mechanisms for building on the progress made to date.”
An operational and staffing structure is still to be worked out and further announcements will be made following consultation with staff and unions, and with partners in key programmes, including Renaissance London and Capital Ambition.
Ongoing successful projects will continue, including the London Cultural Improvement Programme, which was recently awarded a further £125,000 by Capital Ambition to implement three projects within the London Library Change Programme strand. LCIP is managed by MLA London on behalf of the London Cultural Improvement Group.
For more information contact:
John Harrison, Head of Communications, MLA Council, 020 7273 1402, john.harrison@mla.gov.uk
Andrew Holden, Interim Director, MLA London, 020 7549 1700, andrew.holden@mlalondon.org.uk
Ben McKnight, Chief Communications Officer, Mayor's Press Officer, GLA
020 7983 4071 / communitydesk@london.gov.uk
MLA London
Tel: 020 7549 1700
Fourth Floor
53-56 Great Sutton Street
London EC1V 0DG
MLA London (Museums, Libraries and Archives London) is the strategic development agency for archives, libraries and museums in London. For further information please visit the website at www.mlalondon.org.uk
Legal Disclaimer: The information contained in this e-mail message is intended only for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, please note that any dissemination, distribution and copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender immediately and then delete the message and any associated files from your system.
Security Warning: Although this e-mail and its attachments have been screened and are believed to be free from any virus, in all cases it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that the e-mail and any associated attachments are virus free. MLA London will not accept liability for any damage caused by a virus.
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Those of you were were at the LMHM meeting yesterday will probably have been confused by my report on the MLA, London situation. I enclose the MLA press release to clarify the situation.
The point I was trying to make was that the absorption of MLA. London into MLA was the final end 'the death' of the vestiges of the old bottomup membership based Area Museum services replaced by a top-down strategic body. London Museums Group had set up a very good working relationship with the Hub and MLA, London and that we would now have to try do the same with the changed structure. MLA, London had done a wonderful job for the London Museum community and it is a shame to see it go. In the circumstances it was probably inevitable that it went and the LMG representative on the board agreed that there was really no viable alternative.
Negotiatons are continuing as to how the 18 or so MLA, London staff are to be deployed. I think it is likely that the MDO's will be transferred to the Hub, who are funding them but this is not yet finalised. The core team which is and was funded by MLA will be transferred to MLA as the London team with a sub-board to manage it. This is I believe, 5 or 6 staff. Other staff are paid for from projects MLA, London has fund-raised for. Discussions are ongoing and details not yet sorted out, but wholesale redundancies are not expected as their funding is not from MLA. Andrew Holden will come back to LMG once discussions with the Hub have progressed on MDO network, and to give more information about MLA support to wider regional Renaissance programme in London.
There is good will all round to ensure the change does not affect Museums in London, and LMG will be doing its best to help maintain services. Changed circumstances bring new challenges.
Kevin Flude
PRESS RELEASE – Tuesday 9 June 2009
MLA to complete integration with creation of London team.
The MLA has announced that, following agreement with the Mayor of London's Office, it will complete its national transformation with the creation of a regional team for London to be operational from April 2010.
Trustees of MLA London have agreed to support the changes and move to wind-up the last remaining regional MLA agency.
The changes will enable MLA staff supporting the sector in London to focus on core functions of driving improvement, providing advice and brokerage, advocating on behalf of the sector and its users, and levering in additional funding, while enabling MLA to reduce further its overhead costs.
The changes have been agreed following an independent review of MLA’s investment in the capital, which recognised the Mayor of London’s statutory responsibility for culture and his power to appoint the chair of MLA London.
The review also recognised the successes of MLA London and its staff in developing the London Cultural Improvement Programme in partnership with the other cultural agencies, the London boroughs, Government Office for London, and Capital Ambition, as well as other innovative programmes on adult skills and economic impact, and its ability to draw in funding for the sector from key stakeholders including the London Development Agency.
The new structure also proposes a London sub-group of MLA’s Board to focus on the delivery of priorities for the Capital.
Following its reorganisation last year, the MLA is already operating across the country in three other area teams covering the North, West and East, each headed by a Director of Engagement, supported by a Regional Manager in each English region and a small team of Area Engagement Advisors.
Andrew Motion, Chair of the MLA said: “The MLA’s transformation was designed to deliver a single light-footed national organisation operating effectively in every English region to help local government drive the development and improvement of museums, libraries and archives.
“We are delighted that London has embraced our changes in such a constructive way and will become a full part of the new MLA. I want to pay tribute to the work of Geoffrey Bond and the trustees and staff of MLA London who are leaving such a strong legacy. We hope we can build on the many achievements of MLA London while preserving the unique features and opportunities of culture enabled by our Capital city.”
Geoffrey Bond, chair of MLA London, said: “My fellow trustees and I are enormously proud of the work which MLA London staff have done over the past five years to open up the Capital’s museums, libraries and archives to more people, to improve their services, particularly in learning and skills, and to be a powerful voice for the sector in London government. We recognise that the best future for museums, libraries and archives in London lies in having a team integrated within MLA, increasing efficiency, working closely with the Mayor’s Office, and making the full weight of MLA’s voice carry in the Capital.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said: 'London's museums, libraries and archives are an invaluable asset and I'm pleased with how MLA have worked with us. I look forward to a continued partnership that will ensure this critically important sector can be sustained for the benefit and enjoyment of future generations.'
In response to the statement, Jack Lohman, Director of the Museum of London and lead partner in the London Museums Hub, said:
“MLA London has been an essential partner in the successful delivery of the Renaissance programme in London and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the trustees and staff of MLA London for the contribution they have made in promoting the profile and sustainability of the sector as a whole. The London Museums Hub is committed to supporting sustainable museum development in the capital and we look forward to working closely with MLA to ensure that we set in place effective mechanisms for building on the progress made to date.”
An operational and staffing structure is still to be worked out and further announcements will be made following consultation with staff and unions, and with partners in key programmes, including Renaissance London and Capital Ambition.
Ongoing successful projects will continue, including the London Cultural Improvement Programme, which was recently awarded a further £125,000 by Capital Ambition to implement three projects within the London Library Change Programme strand. LCIP is managed by MLA London on behalf of the London Cultural Improvement Group.
For more information contact:
John Harrison, Head of Communications, MLA Council, 020 7273 1402, john.harrison@mla.gov.uk
Andrew Holden, Interim Director, MLA London, 020 7549 1700, andrew.holden@mlalondon.org.uk
Ben McKnight, Chief Communications Officer, Mayor's Press Officer, GLA
020 7983 4071 / communitydesk@london.gov.uk
MLA London
Tel: 020 7549 1700
Fourth Floor
53-56 Great Sutton Street
London EC1V 0DG
MLA London (Museums, Libraries and Archives London) is the strategic development agency for archives, libraries and museums in London. For further information please visit the website at www.mlalondon.org.uk
Legal Disclaimer: The information contained in this e-mail message is intended only for the addressee. If you are not the intended recipient, please note that any dissemination, distribution and copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient please notify the sender immediately and then delete the message and any associated files from your system.
Security Warning: Although this e-mail and its attachments have been screened and are believed to be free from any virus, in all cases it is the responsibility of the recipient to ensure that the e-mail and any associated attachments are virus free. MLA London will not accept liability for any damage caused by a virus.
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