8th December 2007, 02:07 PM
email from MLA (from another persons letter)
Thank you for writing to me to express your concerns about the future of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS). The lead partners (the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and the British Museum (BM)) recognise that PAS is an important national scheme in England and Wales. PAS has strong professional and scholarly relevance to the work of museums and to the study of archaeology. The primary aim of the scheme - to record archaeological objects found by the public - is complemented by outreach activities that extend the benefits to wider audiences in the context of work by museums. Backed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (from where the funding originates), the MLA is currently evaluating its own operations and the entire span of its programmes to ensure that every area is delivered effectively and efficiently and in a way that gains the best value for public money. As part of the overall process we have indicated our intention to take stock of PAS and in particular to consider whether there is scope to strengthen its day to day relationship with regional museums and further develop its outreach potential. Details will be announced shortly, but in principle the review of regional impact will be led jointly by the MLA and BM and will include members of the Portable Antiquities Advisory Group. Consultation will be planned with local authorities, regional museums and partners in the posts funded by the PAS. A report would be expected by the summer of 2008. A key assumption of the review is that the BM would continue to manage the PAS and retain scholarly leadership of it, setting the professional standards that assure its authority. Pending the outcome of the review the MLA has already stated publicly that funding will be maintained at 2007/8 levels for the financial year 2008/9. Beyond that, funding has been earmarked for two further years and would be confirmed in light of the findings of the review. I hope that this information is helpful to you in setting straight recent erroneous reports and placing the issue in a more constructive context. Roy Clare Chief Executive - Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu
Thank you for writing to me to express your concerns about the future of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS). The lead partners (the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) and the British Museum (BM)) recognise that PAS is an important national scheme in England and Wales. PAS has strong professional and scholarly relevance to the work of museums and to the study of archaeology. The primary aim of the scheme - to record archaeological objects found by the public - is complemented by outreach activities that extend the benefits to wider audiences in the context of work by museums. Backed by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (from where the funding originates), the MLA is currently evaluating its own operations and the entire span of its programmes to ensure that every area is delivered effectively and efficiently and in a way that gains the best value for public money. As part of the overall process we have indicated our intention to take stock of PAS and in particular to consider whether there is scope to strengthen its day to day relationship with regional museums and further develop its outreach potential. Details will be announced shortly, but in principle the review of regional impact will be led jointly by the MLA and BM and will include members of the Portable Antiquities Advisory Group. Consultation will be planned with local authorities, regional museums and partners in the posts funded by the PAS. A report would be expected by the summer of 2008. A key assumption of the review is that the BM would continue to manage the PAS and retain scholarly leadership of it, setting the professional standards that assure its authority. Pending the outcome of the review the MLA has already stated publicly that funding will be maintained at 2007/8 levels for the financial year 2008/9. Beyond that, funding has been earmarked for two further years and would be confirmed in light of the findings of the review. I hope that this information is helpful to you in setting straight recent erroneous reports and placing the issue in a more constructive context. Roy Clare Chief Executive - Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
"No job worth doing was ever done on time or under budget.."
Khufu