I thought people might be interested to see this.

Bruce Jackson
Lancashire Record Office

-----Original Message-----
From: Emma Wright [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 04 April 2002 09:55
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Major Cash Boost for Regional Museums, Archives and Libraries
Agencies


For Immediate Release
Contact: Emma Wright
                                           020 7273 1459


Major Cash Boost for Regional Museums, Archives and Libraries Agencies

London, 3 April 2002 - Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and
Libraries has announced its funding agreements with English regional
agencies for 2002/03. Between them, the agencies will receive nearly £8
million - twice the amount allocated to the regions this year.

The additional funding comes as the organisations that currently represent
museums, archives and libraries in the regions prepare to unite to become
single agencies, responsible for all three domains. These agencies are being
established in each of the nine English regions to promote, lead, support
and represent museums, archives and libraries, and to enable them to provide
the best services possible to the public. They will be constituted as
charitable and corporate entities, through which Resource will, in future,
channel its regional work and funding.

Chris Batt, Acting Chief Executive of Resource said: "A priority for
Resource is to develop and support an effective regional infrastructure for
our sector. We firmly believe that by working together museums, archives
and libraries will have a stronger voice and be a more effective advocate
for our sector in the regions. The new agencies can take advantage of
existing synergies, and there are fantastic opportunities for further
collaboration between museums, archives and libraries. This doubling of our
funding demonstrates our commitment to our regional agenda and will provide
essential support as we all prepare for the full establishment of the new
regional agencies by April 2004."

Welcoming the additional funding, Tim Hobbs, Chief Executive of the East
Midlands Museums, Libraries and Archives Council said: "The move towards
establishing single regional agencies for museums, archives and libraries is
a really exciting development. Together, the domains will have a much
stronger voice in the regions. This additional funding from Resource
provides a significant first step in enabling us to manage this important
change."
# # #
Notes to Editors
For further information or to interview Fran Hegyi, Senior Regional Policy
Adviser at Resource, please call Emma Wright, Media and Event Manager on 020
7273 1459 or email [log in to unmask]

The funding allocations for each region can be found at:
http://www.resource.gov.uk/news/press_article.asp?articleid=321

The allocations for 2002/03 are based on interim funding agreements. Over
the next months Resource will be consulting with the agencies on performance
indicators and strategic plans that will form the basis of future funding
agreements.

The new regional agencies will expand on the work of the existing Area
Museum Councils, Regional Archive Councils, Regional Library Systems and
Library Development Agencies. They will be responsible for eight core
activities across the museum, archive and library sector in the regions:
strategic leadership; advocacy; stewardship; learning and access; funding
and support; research; continuous improvement; and knowledge management.

The new agencies will be established in all nine English regions by April
2004. One - the North East Museums, Libraries and Archives Council - has
already been established. Two further agencies, in the East Midlands and
the South East, are being established from April, and several more will be
set up and running by the end of this year.

Resource provides the strategic leadership, advocacy and advice to enable
museums, archives and libraries to touch people's lives and to inspire their
imagination, learning and creativity. The Resource website can be viewed at
http://www.resource.gov.uk


14/02


Emma Wright
Media and Events Manager
Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries
16 Queen Anne's Gate
London SW1H 9AA
Direct line 020 7273 1459
Switchboard 020 7273 1444
Email: [log in to unmask]
Website: www.resource.gov.uk
Join the Resourcenews email list at
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/resourcenews.html

Resource: The Council for Museums, Archives and Libraries
16 Queen Anne's Gate
London
SW1H 9AA

Tel 02072731444

Website: http://www.resource.gov.uk