Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
Successor
Formation1931 (1931)
Dissolved2012 (2012)
TypeNon-departmental public body
Chairman
Sir Andrew Motion
chief executive officer
Roy Clare CBE
Websiteinspiringlearningforall.gov.uk

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) was until May 2012 a non-departmental public body and a registered charity in England with a remit to promote improvement and innovation in the area of museums, libraries, and archives. Its functions spanned the UK and it advised the government on policy and priorities for these areas in England, receiving funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The last chairman was Sir Andrew Motion (lately Poet Laureate) and the last chief executive officer (CEO) was Roy Clare CBE.

On 26 July 2010 it was announced that the MLA would be abolished under new proposals put forward by the Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport, Jeremy Hunt, to reduce the number of public bodies funded by the government. Its functions relating to museums and libraries were transferred on 1 October 2011 to the Arts Council England, and those relating to archives to The National Archives.[1] Some staff were employed until May 2012 to carry out remaining responsibilities including the appointment of a liquidator.[2]

  1. ^ "Arts Council – Museums and libraries formally transfer to Arts Council England". Archived from the original on 25 November 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Responsibilities transfer". archived MLA website. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.