MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION Annual Report
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MUSEUMS ASSOCIATION Annual Report 1 Contents President’s Notes to the financial introduction statements Reference and Corporate members administrative details 2011/12 Report of AMA awards the Board 2011/12 Independent Notice of auditors’ report the AGM Statement of financial AGM 2011 activities Balance sheet 01 President’s introduction In the two years since I had the honour to be elected President …THE MA IS of the Museums Association I have seen a great deal of change in the organisation itself and the wider museum sector. GOVERNED BY A NEW In mid-2010 the MA was part way through the financial restructuring forced upon it by the collapse in the job advertising CONSTITUTION market, was overseen on members’ behalf by Council, and was AND A NEW leading the way on collections and workforce with the externally funded Effective Collections and Diversify programmes. Two years later the position is very different. These are tough times for museums in the UK, yet Following a thorough review of MA priorities there is room for optimism. The survey showed and the creation of a new business plan, the clear signs of resilience, and museums are finding MA’s finances are stronger and membership at creative ways of maintaining a high quality of its highest level ever. Effective Collections and service. At a national level, although programmes Diversify have come to an end and the evaluation such as Renaissance, have been restructured of these projects will influence new work streams. and reduced, the programme is still in place and New projects are being undertaken, and the MA is providing much valued support to a range of governed by a new constitution and a new twelve regional museums and consortia in England person Board who have brought a fresh vigour to under the aegis of Arts Council England. Museum MA policy and strategy. Given the MA’s reduced strategies have been developed and rolled out workforce, it has become clear that the Shoreditch in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, and a headquarters is too large for present needs. new development body is in place in Scotland. The Board has decided to sell the present office Led by the MA’s discussion paper Museums and the MA will be occupying new premises 2020 there is fresh and innovative thinking on the by the end of the year. role and function of museums. What this reveals PERSON The changes at the MA have been but a pale is a sector that is suffering but is confident in its reflection of the greater changes within the ability to maintain the public’s trust and affection, BOARD museum sector. The austerity measures brought as shown by buoyant visitor figures. in by the new government in mid-2010 are having Perhaps the best test of an organisation or WHO HAVE a very significant impact on museums at all levels. sector’s mettle is how it copes in adversity. Our 2012 survey revealed many museums are By that measure both the MA and the museum BROUGHT having to absorb cuts of over 20% over two years sector in the UK have reason to be confident. and this is having a major impact on the level of services to the public. A FRESH Vanessa Trevelyan President, Museums Association VIGOUR TO MA POLICY AND STRATEGY 02 Reference and For the year ended administrative details 31 March 2012 Status Solicitors Board 2011/2012 Staff Marketing & sales assistant: The organisation is a charitable Russell - Cooke, Solicitors Emma Mitchinson President: Head of sales & marketing: company limited by guarantee, 2 Putney Hill Vanessa Trevelyan William Adams Events coordinator: incorporated on 20 November Putney Lorraine O’Leary 1930 and registered as a charity London SW15 6AB Vice president: Collections coordinator: on 7 November 1962. Gaby Porter Sally Cross Membership administrator: Stone King, Solicitors Pamela Poynter Governing document 16 St John’s Lane David Anderson Head of policy & The company was established London EC1M 4BS Anna Brennand communications: Head of finance & under a Memorandum of Rowan Brown Maurice Davies administration: Auditors Association which established Isabel Churcher Lucie Slight* Sayer Vincent Sales executive: the objects and powers of the David Fleming Chartered Accountants Richard Eckles* Marketing Officer: charitable company, and is Mark Gallagher Statutory Auditors Zoe Spencer governed under its Articles of Sally MacDonald Project assistant: 8 Angel Gate Association. Sam Mullins Gina Evans Director’s assistant: City Road John Orna-Ornstein Georgie Stagg Company number London EC1V 2SJ Sales manager: 252131 Lee Goodwin Website editor: Investment managers Patrick Steel Charity number Schroder Investments Limited Head of publications 313024 31 Gresham Street & events: Deputy editor, London EC2V 7QA Sharon Heal Museums Journal: OSCR number Simon Stephens SC041856 Museum development officer: Finance administrator: Registered office and Charlotte Holmes Jolanta Stevens operational address 24 Calvin Street Head of finance & Director: London E1 6NW administration: Mark Taylor Tricia Johnstone Bankers * indicates person left before end of year National Westminster Bloomsbury, Parr’s Branch 126 High Holborn London WC1V 6QB United Trust Bank 80 Haymarket London SW1Y 4TE 0303 Report of the board The trustees, who are also directors of the company for the Investment policy By the terms of the articles of association purposes of the Companies Act, submit their annual report and of the MA, the Board has the power to make the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2012. any investment it sees fit. The Board has determined that surplus unrestricted funds Reference and administrative information set Organisation and governance are not sufficiently large to make long-term out on page 3 forms part of this report. The April 2011 saw a major change in governance, investments prudent. Surplus cash is held in financial statements comply with current with a Board of 12 replacing the previous interest-earning bank accounts with funds of statutory requirements, the memorandum and Council. Eight members of the board are the grant-making trust being invested in charity articles of association and the Statement of elected by the members of the MA (one vote equity and fixed interest funds. Recommended Practice (SORP), Accounting and per member) and four are nominated by the reporting by charities issued in March 2005. elected board members. Currently, one Reserves policy nominated place remains vacant. The Board reviews the reserves of the MA Objectives and activities each year to determine what financial buffer is for the public benefit In terms of induction, all new trustees meet needed to protect its activities in the event of The charitable objectives of the Museums individually with the director and are given the an unexpected economic downturn, which has Association (MA) are: to advance education most recent set of accounts, the constitution been identified as the major external risk to the in, and to foster and encourage the documents and a copy of the rules. MA. Some years ago, the Board identified preservation and better understanding of, £250,000, approximately six weeks’ the material heritage of mankind and the Changes of governance of such magnitude take unrestricted expenditure, as the minimum environment for the public benefit by the time to settle in and the Board is still agreeing amount and the MA is moving nearer to this promotion and development of museums and the most effective and efficient ways of figure in line with plans for building up the galleries and by encouraging the involvement working, but it is clear that the MA has reserves. £35,000 designated last year as a of members of the public in their work, and to benefitted greatly from having a small group of property reserve has been transferred back establish, uphold and advance the standards experienced and committed Board members. to general funds. of professional education, qualification, training and competence of those employed To ensure the MA retains contacts and dialogue Risk management in museums and galleries. all across the UK, the change in governance has The Board has approved a three-year business been accompanied by the appointment of a plan which identifies development targets The Board members have referred to the representative in each nation and English region and income-generating activities to fund that Charity Commission’s general guidance on public and by holding four members’ meetings each development. Progress against the objectives of benefit in reviewing the aims and objectives of year. In 2011/12 meetings were held in Cardiff, the plan is monitored by the Board, with a report the charity, in planning future activities and, in Leeds, London and Leicester. being presented at each of its meetings particular, how planned activities will contribute to those aims and objectives. The review of The MA is run by the board, which agrees activities later in the report demonstrates what strategy and is accountable to members. the MA has done during the year to achieve its Operational directorship is delegated to the aims and what its plans are for 2012/13. director who reports to the board. 0404 R EPORT of the board Membership Total membership has grown for the fourth consecutive year Individual membership 2011/12 also saw the introduction of member Following strong membership campaigns, the representatives and members meetings – free and in March 2012, the MA reached its highest ever total end of year figures for individual membership events where members in nations and regions membership, highest ever corporate membership and highest increased by one per cent (2011/12: 5,466; can network and engage with the MA’s work. 2010/11: 5,427). ever individual membership. Membership is the MA’s key In 2012/13 the MA will roll out and establish Institutional membership the new changes. The MA will also investigate success measure and this is an important achievement.