Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

Museums, Libraries and Archives CouncilSuccessor|

* Arts Council England
* The National Archives

|

Formation| 1931 (1931)
Dissolved| 2012 (2012)
Type| Non-departmental public body

Chairman

| Sir Andrew Motion

chief executive officer

| Roy Clare CBE
Website| inspiringlearningforall.gov.uk

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) was until May 2012 a non-departmental public body and a registered charity in England with a remit to promote improvement and innovation in the area of museums, libraries, and archives. Its functions spanned the UK and it advised the government on policy and priorities for these areas in England, receiving funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The last chairman was Sir Andrew Motion (lately Poet Laureate) and the last chief executive officer (CEO) was Roy Clare CBE.

On 26 July 2010 it was announced that the MLA would be abolished under new proposals put forward by the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt, to reduce the number of public bodies funded by the government. Its functions relating to museums and libraries were transferred on 1 October 2011 to the Arts Council England, and those relating to archives to The National Archives.[1] Some staff were employed until May 2012 to carry out remaining responsibilities including the appointment of a liquidator.[2]

## History

[edit]

The MLA was originally established as the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries in 1931.[3] It was set up following the recommendations of the Final Report of the Royal Commission on National Museums and Galleries, produced in 1929 and 1930. The Standing Commission was renamed the Museums and Galleries Commission (MGC) in September 1981 and given additional responsibilities. The MGC was a registered charity and incorporated under a Royal Charter on 1 January 1987. In April 2000, the MGC and the Library and Information Commission were combined into Re:source which was later renamed the MLA Council. The MLA was represented in London by MLA London, a separate charity that received core funding from the MLA.

In 2003 the MLA was a stakeholder in the Framework for the Future report that set out a vision for the future of public libraries in England. In 2008, working with The National Archives, the MLA developed a consultation document on "21st Century Archives". In 2009 the MLA published "Leading Museums" a vision and action plan for museums.

The MLA took over the running of the Designation Scheme, which began in 1997 under the auspices of the Museums and Galleries Commission (MGC). It was expanded in 2005 to include archives and libraries as well as museums that had pre-eminent collections of national or international importance held outside of national institutions. 135 collections had been awarded Designated status by 2011. After the abolition of the MLA the Designation Scheme was taken over by Arts Council England (ACE).[4]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Arts Council – Museums and libraries formally transfer to Arts Council England". Archived from the original on 25 November 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
2. ^ "Responsibilities transfer". archived MLA website. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
3. ^ Museum and Galleries Commission Archived 2 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine, The National Archives, UK.
4. ^ "Arts Council – Designation Scheme". Retrieved 10 August 2012.

## External links

[edit]

* Archived version of Museums, Libraries and Archives Council website hosted by the National Archives
* "Museums, Libraries and Archives Council, registered charity no. 1079666". Charity Commission for England and Wales.

* v
* t
* e

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

Headquarters: 100 Parliament Street

Ministers|

| Secretary of State|

* Lisa Nandy

|

Minister of State|

* Minister of State for Creative Industries, Arts and Tourism: Chris Bryant

Under-Secretaries
of State|

* Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Sport, Media, Civil Society and Youth: Stephanie Peacock
* Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Gambling: The Baroness Twycross

Non-ministerial
departments|

* Charity Commission
* National Archives

Non-departmental
public bodies|

| Advisory|

* Advisory Council on National Records and Archives
* Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art and Objects of Cultural Interest
* Theatres Trust
* Treasure Valuation Committee

|

Executive|

* Arts Council England
* British Film Institute
* Gambling Commission
* Historic England
* Horserace Betting Levy Board
* National Heritage Memorial Fund
* National Lottery Community Fund
* Sport England
* Sports Grounds Safety Authority
* UK Anti-Doping
* UK Sport
* VisitBritain
* VisitEngland

Museums|

* British Library
* British Museum
* Horniman Museum
* Museum of the Home
* Imperial War Museums
* National Gallery
* National Museums Liverpool
* National Portrait Gallery
* Natural History Museum
* Royal Armouries
* Royal Museums Greenwich
* Science Museum Group
* Sir John Soane's Museum
* Tate
* Victoria and Albert Museum
* Wallace Collection

Tribunal|

Horserace Betting Levy Appeal Tribunal

Other bodies|

* BBC
* BBC Board
* Channel Four Television Corporation
* Churches Conservation Trust
* Historic Royal Palaces
* National Citizen Service
* S4C
* S4C Authority
* The Royal Parks

Category

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States

Other|

* Yale LUX

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