Funding cuts
Cuts in funding are hitting front-line services
In 2011 we undertook the first comprehensive survey of the impact of cuts to museums across the UK. It showed that cuts in funding have led to reductions in public services. Nearly a quarter of museums have reduced opening hours.
We repeated the survey this year and the results will be published in June.
Last year, we found that over half of museums that responded to the survey cut staff. Most museums cut front-line staff who worked directly with audiences and collections in education, visitor services and curation.
We urged funders, particularly local authorities, not to cut so severely. Launching the results of the survey in July 2011, we said: "Local authorities that cut museums by as much as 25% impoverish their communities.
"Services have been cut and opening hours restricted - there’s a risk that, in some cases, the doors will be slammed shut for ever. Many local authorities haven’t yet made a final decision so still have a chance to do the right thing for present and future generations by not cutting so ferociously."
To download the full report, click here (pdf)
To download the report appendix, click here (pdf)
Cliick here to have your say on the MA's Cuts Monitor
Sale of collections
Some museums are considering selling collections to raise funds. The Museums Association has very strict rules about this.
For more information about sale of collections, click here
Loss of programmes
Already many programmes to improve access have been abandoned. These include Creative Partnerships, Strategic Commissioning and Find Your Talent.
To have your say on cuts and read what others are saying click here
For more on making the case for museums click here
Improved funding
Thanks to government rule changes, the Heritage Lottery Fund has more money available to museums than previously.
For information on the HLF increase, click here
Philanthropy
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working to support philanthropy by persuading the treasury to offer improved tax relief on gifts of works of art.
For details of Acceptance in Lieu changes, click here
Read more about government work to encourage philanthropy
We welcome much of what is being done, but insist that private giving must not be regarded as a replacement for public funding.
We also think it’s crucial that a wide range of museums can benefit from philanthropy.
For more on the MA's line on philanthropy, click here
We repeated the survey this year and the results will be published in June.
Last year, we found that over half of museums that responded to the survey cut staff. Most museums cut front-line staff who worked directly with audiences and collections in education, visitor services and curation.
We urged funders, particularly local authorities, not to cut so severely. Launching the results of the survey in July 2011, we said: "Local authorities that cut museums by as much as 25% impoverish their communities.
"Services have been cut and opening hours restricted - there’s a risk that, in some cases, the doors will be slammed shut for ever. Many local authorities haven’t yet made a final decision so still have a chance to do the right thing for present and future generations by not cutting so ferociously."
To download the full report, click here (pdf)
To download the report appendix, click here (pdf)
Cliick here to have your say on the MA's Cuts Monitor
Sale of collections
Some museums are considering selling collections to raise funds. The Museums Association has very strict rules about this.
For more information about sale of collections, click here
Loss of programmes
Already many programmes to improve access have been abandoned. These include Creative Partnerships, Strategic Commissioning and Find Your Talent.
To have your say on cuts and read what others are saying click here
For more on making the case for museums click here
Improved funding
Thanks to government rule changes, the Heritage Lottery Fund has more money available to museums than previously.
For information on the HLF increase, click here
Philanthropy
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working to support philanthropy by persuading the treasury to offer improved tax relief on gifts of works of art.
For details of Acceptance in Lieu changes, click here
Read more about government work to encourage philanthropy
We welcome much of what is being done, but insist that private giving must not be regarded as a replacement for public funding.
We also think it’s crucial that a wide range of museums can benefit from philanthropy.
For more on the MA's line on philanthropy, click here
