NMDC response to DCMS culture white paper 23 Mar 2016
In response to the publication today of the DCMS culture white paper, NMDC Chair Diane Lees said: “NMDC welcomes the white paper’s recognition of the essential role culture plays in our society and economy. We fully support the focus on ensuring culture is accessible to all and the importance of culture in place-making. We look forward to hearing more about plans for the Cultural Citizens programme and the Great Place scheme to address these agendas, to which museums already make a vital contribution.
As the white paper notes, museums are ‘jewels in our national crown’ and NMDC also welcomes the announcement of a review of museums. We are particularly encouraged to hear that the review will cover the whole museum sector, with a specific strand focussing on local and regional museums. Despite positive outcomes for national museum and Arts Council England funding in last year’s Comprehensive Spending Review, NMDC remains deeply concerned for the sustainability of the UK’s civic museums as local authority funding continues to rapidly decline.
NMDC looks forward to working closely with DCMS to ensure museums continue to play their crucial role in delivering the ambitions of the white paper.”
NMDC and its members made various contributions to DCMS's consultation during the development of the White Paper, taking part in numerous roundtable events and submitting a joint written response coordinated by NMDC on behalf of The Art Fund, Association of Independent Museums, Collections Trust, Museums Association and the University Museums Group. Read the joint museum sector submission here.