The Outside Interests of the UK Cultural Agencies Dave Griffiths University Of Manchester/CRESC

Quangos (Quasi-autonomous non-governmental organisatons) “the large range of bodies of appointed, non-elected, non-civil service people running things, overseeing things, or advising about things, and usually controlling or spending public money” (Marr: 1995)

Quango Literature Skelcher and Davis’ (1995) demographical study into local board members Skelcher and Davis’ (1995) demographical study into local board members Robinson and Shaw’s (1999) demographial study into North East local board members Robinson and Shaw’s (1999) demographial study into North East local board members Both found that white middle-aged, middle-class men were The norm Both found that white middle-aged, middle-class men were The norm Both found evidence of a self-appointing local elite Both found evidence of a self-appointing local elite

Types of capital Social Capital – associations and networks with individuals and institutions Social Capital – associations and networks with individuals and institutions Cultural Capital – knowledge of cultural practices and norms Cultural Capital – knowledge of cultural practices and norms Economic Capital – ownership of cash, property or other economical position Economic Capital – ownership of cash, property or other economical position Symbolic Capital – reputation, skills and expertise respected by others Symbolic Capital – reputation, skills and expertise respected by others

Elite studies Useem’s 1970’s research into the corporate worlds ‘Inner Circle’ Useem’s 1970’s research into the corporate worlds ‘Inner Circle’ Scott’s 1980’s and 1990’s research into the ‘capitalist classes’ Scott’s 1980’s and 1990’s research into the ‘capitalist classes’ Both found business elite use symbolic capital to underpin their economic capital Both found business elite use symbolic capital to underpin their economic capital Both found cultural capital underpinned access to this elite Both found cultural capital underpinned access to this elite

Quango & Elites Literature Both believe that a closed centre exists Both believe that a closed centre exists Both believe that social capital is used to access this centre Both believe that social capital is used to access this centre Elite literature suggests cultural and symbolic capital allows access Elite literature suggests cultural and symbolic capital allows access Quango literature suggests social and economic capital allows access Quango literature suggests social and economic capital allows access

Dataset Department of Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) executive quangos Department of Media, Culture and Sport (DCMS) executive quangos 45 agencies employing 15,000 individuals and spending £1.2 billion a year (2005/06) 45 agencies employing 15,000 individuals and spending £1.2 billion a year (2005/06) Address all forms of UK culture from museums and galleries, regional cultural agencies, public access to literature and music, sports, films, architecture and heritage – even drinking and gambling Address all forms of UK culture from museums and galleries, regional cultural agencies, public access to literature and music, sports, films, architecture and heritage – even drinking and gambling

Museums (London based) British Library; British Museum; Geffrye Museum; Horniman Museum; Imperial War Museum; Museum of London; National Gallery London; National Maritime Museum; National Museum of Science and Industry; National Portrait Gallery; Natural History Museum; Royal Armouries; Sir John Soane’s Museum; Tate; Victoria and Albert Museum; Wallace Collection National bodies Alcohol Education and Research Council; Arts Council England; Big Lottery Fund; Churches Conservation Trust; Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment; English Heritage; Football Licensing Authority; Gambling Commission; Heritage Lottery Fund; Horseracing Betting Levy Board; Museums, Libraries and Archives Commission; National Endowment of Science, Technology and the Arts; National Lottery Commission; Olympic Lottery Distributor; Public Lending Right; Sport England; UK Film Council; UK Sport; VisitBritain Regional bodies Culture East Midlands; Culture North East; Culture North West; Culture South East; Culture South West; Culture West Midlands; Living East; Museum of Science and Industry Manchester; National Museums Liverpool; Yorkshire Culture

Sample 767 individuals 767 individuals 63% male, average age 58 63% male, average age 58 Over 11,000 pieces of information Over 11,000 pieces of information Collected from April 2006 to January 2007 Collected from April 2006 to January 2007 Press releases, websites, annual reports, registers of members’ interests, Who’s Who, Debrett’s People of Today …

Biographical directories 42% University educated 40% Charity trustees 37% Quango advisor 36% Affiliation body membership 32% Private member clubs 30% Educational boards 23% Official honours 23% Corporate directorships 20% Other quango directorships 18% Professional body positions 16% Honorary degrees 12% Corporate advisors 4% Editorial boards 4% Shareholders4% Visiting professorships 4% Known political allegiance 3%

DCMS network

Key Findings Distinction between regional-based and London-based institutions Distinction between regional-based and London-based institutions Distinction between types of London- based institutions Distinction between types of London- based institutions London-based museums occupy similar social and cultural spaces London-based museums occupy similar social and cultural spaces

Charities network

Private Member clubs

Quango directorships

Organisational differences National organisations bridge cultural capital through its social capital National organisations bridge cultural capital through its social capital Regional organisations bridge cultural capital through its social capital Regional organisations bridge cultural capital through its social capital London museums utilise cultural and symbolic capital for its social capital London museums utilise cultural and symbolic capital for its social capital

London-regional distinctions Museums more likely to be linked to charities outside the UK than charities working in the UK outside of London Museums more likely to be linked to charities outside the UK than charities working in the UK outside of London Museums more likely to be linked to international organisations than regional or local bodies outside of London Museums more likely to be linked to international organisations than regional or local bodies outside of London Of the 767 board members, only 1 has links to Wales and only 1 to Northern Ireland Of the 767 board members, only 1 has links to Wales and only 1 to Northern Ireland

Economic capital Economic positions show sparse networks with few interlocks, if any Economic positions show sparse networks with few interlocks, if any Only Employment network shows signs of influence Only Employment network shows signs of influence Only 1 in 3 work for a profit-making organisation Only 1 in 3 work for a profit-making organisation 1 in 6 work in academia 1 in 6 work in academia Cultural capital more important than economic capital, even in employment network Cultural capital more important than economic capital, even in employment network

University Employers London14 AERC, English Heritage (2), Heritage Lottery Fund, Imperial War Museum, National Gallery London, National Gallery London. National Museum of Science and Industry, National Portrait Gallery (2), Natural History Museum (3), Tate, Victoria and Albert Museum Cambridge9 British Museum (2), Living East, National Maritime Museum (2), National Museum of Science and Industry (3) Oxford4 British Museum, English Heritage, National Maritime Museum, Natural History Museum City3 Museums, Archives and Libraries Commission, NESTA, National Portrait Gallery Manchester3 Commission on the Built Environment, Heritage Lottery Fund, Museum of Science and Industry Manchester Newcastle3 Arts Council England, Culture North East (2) Oxford Brookes 3 AERC, National Gallery London, Tate De Montfort 2 Culture East Midlands (2) Leicester2 British Library, National Gallery London Royal College of Art 2 Arts Council England, Victoria and Albert Museum

University attended 66 University of London 61 Oxford University 54 Cambridge University 13 University of Manchester 11 University of Bristol, University of Liverpool 9 University of Birmingham, University of Leeds 8 University of Leicester, University of Warwick 7 Harvard University (USA), Newcastle University, University of Sheffield 6 University of Edinburgh, University of Essex 5 BRNC Dartmouth, City University, Open University, University of Hull, University of Reading, University of York 4 Durham University, University of Glasgow

Prestige universities attended London- based museums National bodies Regional bodies University of London 13.8%16.3%7.0% Cambridge University 10.5%13.4%5.3% Oxford University 14.0%8.1%7.0% USA8.9%7.6%5.3% Total46.1%45.3%24.6%

School attended

Schools popularly attended Total London museums National boards Regional boards Eton8431 Haberdahsers’ Aske School - Hampstead 5410 St Paul’s Girl School 5410 Cheltenham Ladies College 4211 Rugby4310 Dulwich College 3210 Shrewsbury School 3300 Wellington College 3300

Cultural capital Cultural capital important to London-based organisations, not regional organisations Cultural capital important to London-based organisations, not regional organisations However, symbolic capital underpins the forms of cultural capital which are influential However, symbolic capital underpins the forms of cultural capital which are influential

Symbolic capital Social capital – Symbolic capital influences social capital of museums Social capital – Symbolic capital influences social capital of museums Cultural capital – Symbolic capital influences cultural capital of museums Cultural capital – Symbolic capital influences cultural capital of museums Financial capital – Symbolic capital influences other effect of financial capital for museums Financial capital – Symbolic capital influences other effect of financial capital for museums Symbolic capital has no real influence over institutions outside of London Symbolic capital has no real influence over institutions outside of London

Summary Economic capital holds no impact over DCMS executive quangos Economic capital holds no impact over DCMS executive quangos Social capital important to regional bodies Social capital important to regional bodies Cultural and symbolic capital important to London-based instituions Cultural and symbolic capital important to London-based instituions Therefore, regional bodies acting like quango elite Therefore, regional bodies acting like quango elite London-based organisations acting like corporate elite London-based organisations acting like corporate elite

Conclusion Despite lack of influence of financial capital, elite construction mirrors that of financial elite Despite lack of influence of financial capital, elite construction mirrors that of financial elite Evidence that competing elites exists in different spheres, which suggests why quango literature is contridactory Evidence that competing elites exists in different spheres, which suggests why quango literature is contridactory Evidence that boards are self-appointing, with organisational structure appearing to outweigh departmental procedures Evidence that boards are self-appointing, with organisational structure appearing to outweigh departmental procedures