MUSEUMS THINK TANK
REMIT AND PURPOSE
This stems from the Museums Summit on 2 June 2009 at which the Minister for Culture, External Affairs and the Constitution invited the creation of a small think tank.This group will bring together representatives from the museums and gallery sector to work with the Scottish Government to develop a new Museums Policy Statement.
The group will:
- Offer advice and assistance to the Scottish Government on the development of the new policy statement for museums and galleries in Scotland, setting the strategic direction for the sector consistent with the Government's strategic objectives.
- Build on addressing in more detail the key challenges identified at the summit on 2 June:
- Articulating to policy makers at all levels the contribution of the sector to Scottish society
- The balance between national, local authority and independent provision
- Making the best use of scarce resources, through collaboration, priority setting etc so that the sector can take forward appropriate solutions
- A sustainable future for Scotland's industrial collections
- Consider as part of these solutions potential changes to funding structures.
- Agree outcomes which are relevant to all in the sector, cost effective and realistic in the current economic climate. The impact and implementation of the recommendations should be fully considered.
- Communicate and seek feedback on the work of the group, as it proceeds, with members of the sector.
- Make the full connections with the heritage sector in relation to policy for museums and galleries, particularly in the question of resource sharing, joint marketing etc.
- So far as is possible, endorse the resulting policy statement to the broader sector once it is finalised and launched.
TIMESCALE
The Group will meet between every 4-6 weeks with sub-groups doing more detailed work in between. Recommendations to be produced for Summer 2010.
Any suggestions or ideas for the Museums Think Tank can be forwarded via Museumsthinktank@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
MINUTES OF MEETINGS
BIOGRAPHIES OF THINK TANK MEMBERS
John Leighton, Director General National Galleries of Scotland
John Leighton was appointed in 1986 as Curator of 19th-century paintings at the National Gallery in London, a post he held for over ten years.
He was Director of the Van Gogh Museum from 1997 until his appointment as Director-General of the National Galleries of Scotland in March 2006. He has curated numerous exhibitions and contributed to catalogues for a variety of exhibitions. He has published and lectured on various aspects of 19th and 20th century art.
Bailie Liz Cameron
Liz Cameron became Lord Provost of the City of Glasgow from 2003 - 2007. She now serves as the first Chair of Culture and Sport Glasgow and Vice Chair of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.
She serves on many cultural and artistic Boards, including the Arches Theatre, Glasgow Film Theatre, the Scottish International Piano Competition and The National Youth Choir of Scotland. She is Chair of the Scottish Baroque Ensemble and a Governor of Hutcheson's Grammar School. She is the first woman Patron of the Glasgow Celtic Society for the promotion of Gaelic language and culture and Chair of Glasgow Film Theatre (2009).
Dr Gordon Rintoul
Dr Gordon Rintoul joined National Museums Scotland as Director in 2002. He was previously Chief Executive of Sheffield Galleries and Museums Trust.
At National Museums Scotland, Dr Rintoul is responsible for five museums, three storage sites, a collection of over 4 million items and 475 employees.
Dr Rintoul served on the Councils of the Association of Independent Museums and the Museums Association for many years. He has also served on the governing bodies of a wide range of other museum related organisations.
Dr. James Edward Arnold
Jim Arnold was appointed as the founding Director of the New Lanark Trust in 1974. He has master-minded the challenging project to transform the historic village of New Lanark from a completely derelict condition in the 1970s, when it was under threat of demolition, to its current status as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
He was Secretary of the New Lanark Housing Association until 2009 when it converted to become a private landlord.
He was a Governor and Chairman of Bell College of Higher Education in Hamilton until 2006. He is Chairman of the Association of Independent Industrial Museums and Heritage Sites in Scotland, a Board member of the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions, a committee member of the Scottish Co-op, a past member of the Strathclyde European Partnership's consultative panel for the West of Scotland, and a member of the Visit Scotland Visitor Attractions Grading Committee.
Ewen Smith
Ewen Smith joined the Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery, at the University of Glasgow, as Planning Unit Administrator, in support of the then-Director, Prof Malcolm McLeod. Subsequently (1999), he was appointed Deputy Director (Operations), before spending one year (October 2000 - September 2001) as the Acting Director. Also in 2000, he was elected by the Executive Committee to the official post of Treasurer of the University Museums in Scotland group. In October 2001, he reverted to his substantive post of Deputy Director (Operations), before finally being appointed Director of The Hunterian in June 2006, a post he still holds. In 2007, he was elected to the Board by the membership of Museums Galleries Scotland, where he represents the Directors of University Museums.
Professor Stewart Brymer
Professor Stewart Brymer WS is a solicitor in private practice. He is accredited by the Law Society of Scotland as a specialist in commercial leasing law and intellectual property law. He has also served as Chairman of Dundee Heritage Trust for the past 13 years and has been involved with the organisation since 1986. Dundee Heritage Trust is a charitable trust responsible for two of Scotland's most notable museums, namely, Verdant Works and Discovery Point with RRS Discovery. Stewart is standing down as Chairman on 1 October but will continue working for Dundee Heritage Trust in an honorary role.
Stewart is also honorary president of Tayside Area Cancer support; an Elder of Broughty Ferry New Kirk and a General Trustee of the Church of Scotland.
Rachel Skene
Rachel Skene joined Highlands and Islands Enterprises in 2009 as Head of Tourism for Caithness and North Sutherland.
Rachel's career has included roles as Researcher with The Mackay Country Project; Development Officer with Strathnaver Museum and Development Director with Timespan Heritage and Arts Centre, both independent organisations which function as key community cultural assets. Rachel was Chair of the Highlands and Islands Museums Forum between 2004 and 2009 and has served on the Board of Museums Galleries Scotland since 2007.
Dr Sharon Webb
Shortly after arrival at Kilmartin House Museum in 2003, and following a funding crisis, Sharon was appointed Director and Curator. She has also curated a number of temporary exhibitions. The current temporary exhibition, 'Ancient Bones and Carved Stones, the Early Church in Argyll' is on loan from the National Museum of Scotland - one of a number of long term loans secured during the last 6 years.
Sharon is also the Curator of Archaeology and Natural Sciences for Campbeltown Museum, curatorial advisor for Lismore Museum, Easdale Museum, Oban War and Peace Museum, the McDougal Collection and the Dunollie Preservation Trust.
Sharon is also a committee member of the National Committee for Carved Stones in Scotland, the Vice Chair of the Natural History and Antiquarian Society of Mid Argyll, the Vice President of the Argyll and Bute Museums and Heritage forum, and helper for the Museums Young Archaeologists Club. She is an active Trustee of Auchindrain Museum, which received Recognition status in 2008. Recent grant funding initiated by Sharon has saved this museum from closure.
Frank Little
Frank Little has worked in the museums sector in Scotland for the last 25 years and has held senior positions in North Lanarkshire, Paisley and Glasgow Museums. For last six years he has been Museums Manager for City of Edinburgh Council Museums and Galleries. He is currently Chair of the East of Scotland Museums Partnership and Convenor of the Scottish Local Authorities Museums Group.
Jim Tildesley
Jim Tildesley was Director of the Scottish Maritime Museum from 1989 until 2002. He is currently working as a consultant. He is Company Secretary of the Scottish Maritime Museum Trust and has been, for a short period, Acting Director. He has previously been a Member of the National Historic Ships Committee, National Maritime Collection Committee [Duke of York's Committee], Chairman Ayrshire & Arran Tourist Board, Member Scottish Museums Council, Trustee Windermere Steam Boat Museum and a Board Member of the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions.