Ruth Mackenzie to Oversee Museums, Libraries, and Arts Council England for UK Culture Ministry
Ruth Mackenzie has been appointed as the new arts minister for the UK, overseeing museums, libraries, and cultural heritage within the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), according to Museums Journal. Her responsibilities will include managing Arts Council England (ACE) funding and fostering connections between governmental departments and public institutions. This role comes during Labour's discussions regarding admission charges for international visitors to England's national museums, a move many museums oppose. Prime Minister Andy Burnham appointed Mackenzie as parliamentary under-secretary of state for the arts in July. She previously led the Cultural Olympiad for the 2012 Olympics and has held significant positions in various arts organizations. An independent inquiry found her innocent of any misconduct following her exit from the Théâtre du Châtelet.
Key facts
- Ruth Mackenzie appointed UK arts minister overseeing museums, libraries, and cultural property at DCMS.
- She will cover sponsorship of Arts Council England.
- Labour government debates introducing admission fees for overseas visitors to national museums in England.
- Museums in England largely oppose charging foreign tourists.
- DCMS declined to confirm Mackenzie's brief, saying portfolios will be set out in due course.
- Mackenzie was made a peer and appointed parliamentary under-secretary of state for the arts in July by PM Andy Burnham.
- Lisa Nandy remains secretary of state for culture; Ian Murray remains minister of state for DCMS.
- Sharon Heal, director of the Museums Association, welcomed the appointment.
- Mackenzie previously directed the Cultural Olympiad for the 2012 Olympics and received a CBE.
- She held leadership roles at festivals in Chichester, Manchester, Amsterdam, and Adelaide.
- She was director of Scottish Opera in the late 1990s and artistic director of Théâtre du Châtelet from 2017 to 2020.
- A 2000 Scottish parliamentary report criticized her opera management; she called it 'untrue and unfair'.
- She was dismissed from the Châtelet; an independent inquiry found no evidence of wrongdoing.
- Last year she was director of arts at the British Council; Scott McDonald praised her contribution.
Entities
Artists
- Ruth Mackenzie
- Andy Burnham
- Lisa Nandy
- Ian Murray
- Sharon Heal
- Scott McDonald
Institutions
- Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
- Arts Council England
- Museums Association
- Museums Journal
- Cultural Olympiad
- Scottish Opera
- Théâtre du Châtelet
- British Council
- The Guardian
- BBC
Locations
- United Kingdom
- England
- Chichester
- Manchester
- Amsterdam
- Adelaide
- Paris
- France
- Scotland