Leadership

Leadership at all levels is an issue of concern across the sector identified in reports such as Renaissance in the Regions for museums, Framework for the Future for libraries and Listening to the Past, Speaking to the Future for Archives.

We have begun to tackle this issue on a number of fronts and several levels:

Leading Archives and Museums 2008-09

Strategic Planning & Fundraising Programme, Jan – April 2009

As part of the national Action for Archives programme, MLA has appointed FPM Training to deliver a new programme for managers in archive services. 

Through focussing on real-life challenges, the programme will enable participating services help them develop the skills, confidence and understanding to plan strategically and to manage sustainable change.  This will include addressing core management competences for:
• Strategic Planning
• Change Management
• Advocacy
• Relationship & Partnership Development

The programme will combine group learning with dedicated one to one support.  Participants need to commit to four days of dedicated time away from the workplace, and to related activities in the workplace.  However, learning is spread over a four month period, to take into account pressures faced by services with limited resources. 
 
The programme will be regionally based, depending on location of participants.

Fully funded by MLA, there are 20 places available – all local authority archive services in England are eligible to apply.  The deadline for applications is 7th November.  Completed Application Forms should be emailed to: susan.dheere@fpmonline.co.uk

For more information contact Susan Dheer at FPM on 0116 249 5000 or email susan.dheer@fpmonline.co.uk.

Take The Lead: Leadership programme for a new generation of leaders in libraries, museums & archives, Feb – April 2009

Equipping new and existing leaders with the skills to achieve Excellence

This programme is for those taking on leadership responsibilities for the first time, or for those managers who have not had access to leadership development at an earlier stage in their careers. 

Through a mix of work-based activity, self-reflection and taught modules, it will enable emerging leaders in Libraries, Museums & Archives to contribute to delivery of ‘A Passion for Excellence’, the National Improvement Strategy for Culture & Sport, launched earlier this year by DCMS, in partnership with other key agencies.  Focussed on using cultural provision to deliver better outcomes for people and improve the quality of life locally, this strategy is a key driver for local government and its partners.

Participants will need to commit a minimum of eight days to the programme.  Six courses will be delivered, covering a range of locations across England.   

MLA is also working with Foundation Degree Forward and FPM to develop these programmes into a module which will form part of a Foundation Degree for staff in the Cultural Sector.  It is hoped to make this new programme available from 2009/10.

The cost per place is £1,200 plus VAT, although in many instances MLA will be able to subsidise this cost. 

For Nomination Forms & Guidance Notes, please email: susan.dheere@fpmonline.co.uk

Working with partners

As leadership is such a key concern to the sector as a whole, MLA has been working in partnership with other stakeholders in the sector to implement and support a number of initiatives to address the issue.

MLA has invested £105,000 per annum since 2004 to fund MLA Fellowships on the  Clore Leadership programme. 

MLA continues to work with the National Museums Directors' Conference to develop a mentoring network for potential leaders within the museum sector and funded the evaluation of the networks.

Direct intervention

MLA has addressed the issue of leadership development within our own work programmes. Under Framework for the Future, MLA has piloted a targeted leadership programme for public libraries, combining training and a mentoring programme.

MLA has commissioned a national leadership development programme contextualised to meet the needs of managers in archives and museums. The Leading Archives and Museums programme will equip managers to respond to the demands for more effective leadership at all levels as identified in Renaissance in the Regions and the Archives Development Plan. The programme is currently being piloted and following evaluation a fuller description will be available on the MLA website.

Cultural Leadership Programme

MLA is working in partnership with Arts Council England and Creative and Cultural Skills to deliver the Treasury-funded Cultural Leadership Programme. The programme has been developed to nurture and develop world class, dynamic and diverse leaders for the 21st Century.

Find out what opportunities are available by logging onto the Cultural Leadership website.