An independent review of Renaissance, published in July 2009, endorsed the flagship funding programme as the most important intervention in English non-national museums since the Museums Act of 1845.
The £300m invested since the programme started in 2002 has helped transform the regional museum sector across the country and boost visitor figures.
Former Culture Minister Barbara Follett, said: “Renaissance in the Regions has been a real success. There are around 15 million visits to the hub museums funded by the programme every year; visitor numbers have increased by 18.5% since 2002/03 and, by the end of March 2011 nearly £300 million will have been invested in it."
“These are remarkable achievements and vindicate the decision to put real investment into our regional museums and galleries for the first time. Much has been achieved but there is still much to be done, and I wish the MLA every success in furthering improvements to the delivery of the programme.”
Review Chair, Professor Sara Selwood said: “There is a lot more work to do – the strategic developments proposed in the Review together with sustained funding will help complete the comprehensive transformation that was originally visualised, to help ensure key regional museums continue to develop as confident, ambitious institutions, focused on continuous improvement.”
Sir Andrew Motion, MLA Chair, said: “Working closely with local government in particular, Renaissance has helped arrest the decline of many regional museums and raise their profile. We are very grateful for the work of Sara Selwood and the Review Panel, which provides a solid platform to help us ensure continuing investment in regional museums gets directed effectively.”
Responding to the detailed recommendations of the Review the MLA has pledged to consult before introducing any far-reaching changes to the delivery mechanisms of the programme.
MLA Chief Executive Roy Clare said: “We warmly welcome the Review and a strong start has already been made on implementing many of its detailed recommendations. Some of the more far-reaching proposals are eye-catching, but the wider context, including timing and resources, need careful consideration."
“Vitally, the Renaissance programme is a regional one, delivering in partnership with others and especially with local government. The ultimate strength of this national investment lies at a local level for local communities. Any reshaping in the arrangements must reflect regional circumstances and accountability and, most importantly, the impact the programme makes on the lives of people. In any case we will consult closely before reaching decisions one way or another.”
The work of the Review helps to pave the way for Leading Museums and Renaissance Future, MLA’s National Action Plan for Museums.
Leading Museums and Renaissance Future envisages a future where excellent regional and national museums develop their collections in ways that reach beyond their walls and put people first. Regional and national museums already work together, but there is more to be done to spread best practice, share collections affordably and to enable people of all ages, backgrounds and cultures to engage with and contribute to the exciting stories.
At the core of the plan is the conviction that collections are kept for the nation so that they can be shared with the nation’s people. The Review panel members were:
Sara Selwood (Chair): Professor of Cultural Policy and Management, City University;
Mark Taylor: Director, Museums Association
Diane Lees: Director General, Imperial War Museum
David Fleming: Director, National Museums Liverpool
Mark O’Neill: Head of Arts and Museums Glasgow
Nichola Johnson: Director, Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts and Museology
Tim Challans: Assistant Director, Leisure Culture and Lifelong Learning, Walsall Council
Hedley Swain: Acting Director of Programme Delivery, MLA
Observer: Julie McGuinness: National Audit Office