Mosi to merge with Science Museum
Combined service will attract five million visitors annually
Manchester’s Museum of Science and Industry (Mosi) has confirmed that it will join the National Museum of Science and Industry group (NMSI) in January 2012.
As reported in December’s Museums Journal, future funding arrangements for non-national museums remain uncertain after the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said it was still seeking alternative sponsors.
Last October, the DCMS said it would relinquish control of eight non-national museums after April 2015. It planned to find alternative sponsors by April 2011, but has so far failed to do so for six of the museums. The National Football Museum became the responsibility of Manchester City Council in April.
Mosi and NMSI have been in talks about the benefits of a merger for several months. In a statement, NMSI said a merger would create significant “cultural synergies and visitor benefits”.
NMSI includes the Science Museum in London, York’s National Railway Museum and the National Media Museum in Bradford. Following January’s merger, the group will have an annual visitor figure of five million.
Peter Fell, interim chairman of Mosi, said a merger would secure the future of the Manchester museum.
Douglas Gurr, chairman of NMSI, added: “Mosi holds exceptional collections housed in a landmark location and NMSI is delighted that such an important resource, both for Manchester and the country, is joining the NMSI group.”
DCMS has said that it will continue to seek sponsors for the remaining six non-national museums, but added that it will not cut off any institution if alternative funding can not be found.
The other non-national museums are the Design Museum, the Horniman Museum and Gardens and the Geffrye Museum in London; Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums; the People’s History Museum in Manchester; and the National Coal Mining Museum for England in Wakefield, which says it is a non-statutory national.
Click here to read a report on the non-national museums in December’s Museum Journal
As reported in December’s Museums Journal, future funding arrangements for non-national museums remain uncertain after the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said it was still seeking alternative sponsors.
Last October, the DCMS said it would relinquish control of eight non-national museums after April 2015. It planned to find alternative sponsors by April 2011, but has so far failed to do so for six of the museums. The National Football Museum became the responsibility of Manchester City Council in April.
Mosi and NMSI have been in talks about the benefits of a merger for several months. In a statement, NMSI said a merger would create significant “cultural synergies and visitor benefits”.
NMSI includes the Science Museum in London, York’s National Railway Museum and the National Media Museum in Bradford. Following January’s merger, the group will have an annual visitor figure of five million.
Peter Fell, interim chairman of Mosi, said a merger would secure the future of the Manchester museum.
Douglas Gurr, chairman of NMSI, added: “Mosi holds exceptional collections housed in a landmark location and NMSI is delighted that such an important resource, both for Manchester and the country, is joining the NMSI group.”
DCMS has said that it will continue to seek sponsors for the remaining six non-national museums, but added that it will not cut off any institution if alternative funding can not be found.
The other non-national museums are the Design Museum, the Horniman Museum and Gardens and the Geffrye Museum in London; Tyne & Wear Archives & Museums; the People’s History Museum in Manchester; and the National Coal Mining Museum for England in Wakefield, which says it is a non-statutory national.
Click here to read a report on the non-national museums in December’s Museum Journal