Friends of National Museums Liverpool disbanded
Discgusted
Jan 23 2009 by David Bartlett, Liverpool Daily Post
We're not friends any more
THE Friends of National Museums Liverpool was disbanded yesterday, with its
outgoing chairman issuing a stinging criticism of NML director Dr David
Fleming.
Andrew Pearce, chairman of the now disbanded Friends of NML (FNML), said
some of NML's exhibitions had become so dumbed down they were starting to
resemble "Disneyland".
He also claimed exhibitions were being used as an instrument of "social
engineering".
Mr Pearce highlighted the poor relationship between Dr Fleming and the
1,700-strong group as a key part of their decision to disband.
The former Conservative Euro- MP said that, in five years as chairman, he
had never been invited for a cup of coffee with Dr Fleming, and the
relationship had been "frosty and combative".
Mr Pearce added: "The Friends' relations with his predecessor were extremely
close and cordial, which has never been the case with the present
incumbent."
A key dispute between the Friends and Dr Fleming is over the International
Slavery Museum, opened in 2007, which they believe lacks balance in its
portrayal of the slave trade and does not properly recognise Liverpool's
contribution to its abolition.
Last night, Dr Fleming hit back, saying: "We are not here to dance to the
tune of a small group of people who are following their personal agendas.
"Unfortunately, our experience of the Friends committee members is that they
did not honestly represent the views of their membership to NML or vice
versa.
"Andrew Pearce's statement is predictably riddled with inaccuracies. In
terminating our relationship with the former Friends, National Museums
Liverpool (NML) acted in the best interests of the public at large."
Mr Pearce called on the trust of NML to "examine its conscience" for the way
the breakdown was handled. He also detailed the three main reasons why FNML
believe the relationship with NML broke down.
The Friends did not believe "that museums are primarily part of an
educational campaign, and certainly not that they should be an instrument of
social engineering".
The group also claims the Maritime Museum has suffered from "downgraded
importance, leading to many objects of interest in this maritime city being
kept in store, out of public view, when arrangements could have been made to
display them".
The "lack of balance" that the friends perceived in the new slavery museum
seems to have caused the greatest disagreement.
Mr Pearce said: "The Friends join NML in total condemnation of this
abhorrent practice, but believe that such condemnation should be balanced by
fuller recognition of the role of Liverpool people, such as William Roscoe,
in the abolition of the slave trade and in condemnation of the Africans who
captured a large number of the slaves and sold them to the British slave
traders."
He said the museum also failed to recognise the degree to which slavery
still exists in many parts of the world today. Early last year, NML ordered
the Friends out of their headquarters at the Albert Dock.
The membership of FNML, run by an external group of volunteers, also had
their privileges, such as advance viewings of new exhibitions, withdrawn.
Instead, NML has set up a new membership scheme that will be run by the
institution itself.
Mr Pearce said the group would hand the couple of hundred thousand pounds
the Friends had to the National Art Fund, to be allocated by them to NML.
Mr Pearce said: "National Museums Liverpool and lovers of art and maritime
history in the city are the losers from the NML Trust's action in breaking
off relations with the Friends.
"NML loses a source of funds, the service of volunteers, some of them highly
qualified technically, and of informed constructive opinion, which will not
be replaced by the in-house supporters' organisation which NML has now set
up.
"The Trust should examine its conscience over the matter.
"Why did it take the director's recommendation to break off relations with
Friends without attempting to discuss the matter with the Friends?"
davidbartlett