Culture Minister Margaret Hodge at the July 2007 launch of MLA's Setting the Pace strategy document for the Cultural Olympiad. © Jon Pratty / 24 Hour Museum
With just four years to go, 2008 will be vital in preparing for the ‘Cultural Olympiad’ – the cultural sector’s contribution to the 2012 Games.
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) today outlined its plans for the year, announcing the appointment of a new Programme Director, Hedley Swain, and a Programme Manager for 2012, Isobel Siddons.
The Programme Director will ensure that museums, libraries and archives play a key role in the Cultural Olympiad, while the Manager will co-ordinate (in partnership with LOCOG and partners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland) the delivery of the International Exhibition Programme (IEP).
Welcoming the appointments, MLA Chief Executive Roy Clare said: “We start the new year with a determination to strengthen our professional contribution to the sustainable development of our sector, across museums, public libraries and archives.”
“The Cultural Olympiad is an exciting marker, which will be both a fantastic national festival in itself and an opportunity to re-present our sector for ever-broader audiences and users.”
“Underpinned by scholarship and innovation, an international exhibitions programme will feature inputs from across the UK and lead to enduring legacies in terms of expertise and fresh interpretations of national and local collections,” continued Mr Clare. “Our objective is that the sector’s cultural offer should be better understood, owned, shared and appreciated by people of all backgrounds.”
Key tasks in 2008 will include consultation with young people to help identify themes for the IEP and festivals of activities in museums, libraries and archives to celebrate the handover of the Games from Beijing.
Preparation will also begin at the National Archives to establish an archival legacy for the 2012 Games, and the development of a People’s Record of the experience of hosting the Games.
Hedley Swain worked for many years at the Museum of London, latterly as the Head of Early London History and Collections where he was responsible for delivering several galleries and exhibitions. He joined MLA in 2007 as Head of Museum Policy.
Isobel Siddons has worked within the MLA Partnership since 2004, initially in archive development where she was responsible for establishing Action for Archives. Before joining MLA, Isobel had a 15-year career as an archivist and records manager in organisations including the Wellcome Trust, Marks & Spencer and The National Gallery.
