MGS members vote in favour of governance changes

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A key milestone of MGS’s transition to National Development Body (NDB) for the museums and galleries sector in Scotland was reached today (22 May 2012) with 82% voting in favour of the proposed constitutional and governance changes at a reconvened General Meeting. The meeting took place at the MGS office at Waverley Gate, Edinburgh.

The constitutional changes are required to make MGS fit for purpose as the National Development Body for the sector. The changes enable MGS to act more effectively on the sector’s behalf while ensuring that MGS’s role to promote and support museums and galleries in Scotland can continue.

The changes were needed to meet the recommendations in the 2010 report by the Museums Think Tank that the sector needed an NDB but that the NDB should not be a membership organisation. Since the 2011 MGS AGM, at which members approved in principle that the organisation could commence the transition to becoming an NDB, the board of MGS has considered several models for the NDB. The proposed model is the option that delivers the most investment, support and profile for the sector.

MGS will continue to be an independent charitable trust, supported by – although entirely independent of – the Scottish Government. The changes ensure that MGS as the NDB can maintain the profile of, and support for, the sector at the highest strategic level whilst enabling it to deliver the National Strategy and advocating on its behalf.

Fiona Ballantyne, Chair of Museums Galleries Scotland, said;
“Since MGS were invited to become the NDB and to develop the National Strategy, we have worked extremely hard within the given timeframe whilst continuing to deliver for the sector. What became evident during April’s General Meeting were concerns within the sector over the pace of change alongside calls for further information to consider the proposals. The ensuing weeks of intensive dialogue allowed us to make clear the continuation of MGS’s sole purpose which is to work in the best interests of the museums and galleries sector in Scotland. We welcomed this dialogue as it confirmed that we have an empowered, engaged and passionate sector which is essential to deliver the National Strategy.”

“There is much work to be done and we will be looking at the issues that the sector has raised in the past weeks. However, the vote today means that we can move things forward together.”

Next steps will be working with museums and galleries to develop the National Strategy delivery plan through a series of sector roadshows to take place over the summer. The process to recruit Board members under the new governance structure will commence and details will be announced in the coming weeks.

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Published
22nd May 2012

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