Docklands museum wins German Olympic funding
Museum will be able to upgrade its galleries in return for hosting German Olympic team
In return for hosting the German team at this summer’s Olympics, Museum of London (MoL) Docklands is to receive funding from the German Olympic Committee towards an upgrade of its galleries.
An MoL spokesman said the upgrade was still being costed and planned, but would include the provision of water and power to areas of the museum currently without them, as well as other infrastructure improvements.
The museum will close to the public before the games, he added, but a date for the reopening had not yet been confirmed. Several other London museums will be affected by the Olympic and Paralympic games, which run from 27 July to 9 September.
Part of the grounds of the National Maritime Museum will form one entrance to the temporary 23,000 capacity Greenwich stadium, but the museum will remain open throughout the games.
The Royal Observatory will be closed between 23 July and 3 August, and the Queen’s House from 25 June to 21 September. The museum is working with Transport for London to develop a transport strategy for staff, and will be carrying out a staff survey to develop contingency plans.
Director Kevin Fewster said: “The temporary Greenwich stadium… will give the museum great exposure but will necessitate some operational changes.
“Our feeling is that there are likely to be swings and roundabouts in our attendance patterns during the games. Based on my Sydney experience, it is simply not possible to anticipate the exact impact with any real confidence.”
The Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green is predicting a slight fall in visitor figures due to a combination of the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, according to a spokeswoman. The museum is forecasting about 430,000 visitors for the year ending March 2012, but only 385,000 for the following 12 months.
Next year’s budgets have not yet been confirmed, but the museum has allowed for a slight increase in its marketing budget, and is reviewing staffing levels and travel for employees over the period of the games.
Historic Royal Palaces is looking into travel arrangements for staff at the Tower of London, which is hosting the Olympic flame on the opening night. But a spokeswoman said all of its sites would remain open throughout the games.
Hackney Museum will remain open throughout the games, but “background tasks” may be reduced.
An MoL spokesman said the upgrade was still being costed and planned, but would include the provision of water and power to areas of the museum currently without them, as well as other infrastructure improvements.
The museum will close to the public before the games, he added, but a date for the reopening had not yet been confirmed. Several other London museums will be affected by the Olympic and Paralympic games, which run from 27 July to 9 September.
Part of the grounds of the National Maritime Museum will form one entrance to the temporary 23,000 capacity Greenwich stadium, but the museum will remain open throughout the games.
The Royal Observatory will be closed between 23 July and 3 August, and the Queen’s House from 25 June to 21 September. The museum is working with Transport for London to develop a transport strategy for staff, and will be carrying out a staff survey to develop contingency plans.
Director Kevin Fewster said: “The temporary Greenwich stadium… will give the museum great exposure but will necessitate some operational changes.
“Our feeling is that there are likely to be swings and roundabouts in our attendance patterns during the games. Based on my Sydney experience, it is simply not possible to anticipate the exact impact with any real confidence.”
The Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green is predicting a slight fall in visitor figures due to a combination of the Olympics and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, according to a spokeswoman. The museum is forecasting about 430,000 visitors for the year ending March 2012, but only 385,000 for the following 12 months.
Next year’s budgets have not yet been confirmed, but the museum has allowed for a slight increase in its marketing budget, and is reviewing staffing levels and travel for employees over the period of the games.
Historic Royal Palaces is looking into travel arrangements for staff at the Tower of London, which is hosting the Olympic flame on the opening night. But a spokeswoman said all of its sites would remain open throughout the games.
Hackney Museum will remain open throughout the games, but “background tasks” may be reduced.