Ruth Mackenzie to reportedly oversee museums, libraries and Arts Council England for UK culture ministry
Mackenzie, who was made a peer in July, previously led various performing arts festivals and theatres in the UK and abroad, and was most recently director of arts at the British Council
Ruth Mackenzie, the new UK Arts Minister, will oversee museums, libraries, and the Arts Council England as part of her responsibilities at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), according to Museums Journal. In addition to her new role, Mackenzie will be in charge of sponsorship for the Arts Council England, which receives core funding from the DCMS.
The DCMS has not confirmed Mackenzie's specific responsibilities, stating that ministerial portfolios will be announced later. Mackenzie, who was appointed as a peer and parliamentary under-secretary of state for the arts by the new Prime Minister Andy Burnham in July, previously held leadership roles in performing arts festivals and served as the director of the Cultural Olympiad during the 2012 Olympics.
She has also faced criticism in the past for her management of the Scottish Opera, but has maintained that the report criticizing her was "untrue and unfair". Despite her positive contributions to the arts sector, concerns remain about the potential impact of her appointment on regional institutions, especially in light of discussions about dismantling the DCMS.
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