Museums, Libraries and Archives Council

The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) was until May 2012 a non-departmental public body and 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 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 government. Its functions relating to museums, libraries and archives were transferred on 1 October 2011 to the Arts Council England and the National Archives. Some staff were employed until May 2012 to carry out remaining responsibilities including the appointment of a liquidator.

The MLA was originally established as the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries in 1931. It was set up following the recommendations of the Final Report of the Royal Commission on National Museums and Galleries, produced in 1929 and 1930. The Standing Commission was renamed the Museums and Galleries Commission (MGC) in September 1981 and given additional responsibilities. The MGC was a registered charity and incorporated under a Royal Charter on 1 January 1987. In April 2000, the MGC and the Library and Information Commission were combined into Re:source which was later renamed the MLA Council. The MLA was represented in London by MLA London, a separate charity that received core funding from the MLA.