Renaissance is the Museums, Libraries and Archives (MLA) Council’s £150million programme to transform England's regional museums.
For the first time ever, investment from central government is helping regional museums across the country to raise their standards and deliver real results in support of education, learning, community development and economic regeneration. A network of 'Hubs' has been set up in each English region to act as flagship museums and help promote good practice. Alongside the Hubs, MLA Regional Agencies and Museum Development Officers are providing advice and support, Subject Specialist Networks have been set up, and national museums are sharing their skills and collections to ensure Renaissance benefits the entire museums sector. Renaissance is helping museums to meet people's changing needs - and to change people's lives.
MLA South East's role is to:
- provide the regional and strategic context for the development of Hub activity
- act as lead advocate for Renaissance within the region
- facilitate communications between the hub and non hub museums, and promote the sharing of expertise and maximising of benefits to current and potential users
- administer the Museum Development Fund for small and medium sized local and community museums
- develop and manage the Sharing Skills programme, in partnership with the Hub
- develop and implement a joint Renaissance South East communications strategy with the Hub
- manage the Strategic Commissioning Education Programme so that its work is complementary to the Hub's plans for educational services
- manage the South East Schools Database Project in partnership with the Hub to record and monitor schools’ use of museums services across the region
Renaissance Delivery in 2008/9
In 2008/9, MLA South East will continue to manage the network of sub-regional Museum Development Services. These will continue to provide support, advice, training and grants to sub-regional Museums.
MLA South East will also continue to deliver the Sharing Skills programme on behalf of the South East Hub; providing access to the Skills Bank, cross regional training, access to the Placements Scheme and support for the highly acclaimed Emergency Response Units.
The ICT and Fundraising support pilot projects will also be rolled out to the rest of the region.
During 2008/9, responsibility for the Museum Development Service will pass from MLA South East to the South East Hub. MLA South East and Hub Partners are working to ensure a smooth transition of services and this should not effect delivery to sub-regional Museums.
For more information about the services available to you, please contact your sub-regional Museum Development Officer or Helen Gibbons, Museum Development Manager, at: helen.gibbons@mlasoutheast.org.uk.
