Reading Museum faces funding cuts
Loss of Accreditation highlighted as a potential risk of cost cutting
Reading Borough Council has proposed cuts to its museum service that could see six jobs lost and a greater reliance on volunteers.
Staff working at Reading Museum, located in the town hall, are currently being consulted on plans to make savings of £100,000 in 2016/17 and a further £50,000 in 2017/18, according to a report outlining the council’s budget proposals.
In 2015/16 the expenditure for the town hall and the museum was £1,717,100.
The proposed cost savings would result in six jobs being lost at the museum, which has so far been largely unaffected by budget cuts, the report states. Also being considered are changes to opening hours and an increased use of volunteers.
The council also said that work needed to be done to ensure the cuts did not affect the museum's Accreditation with Arts Council England.
“Loss of Accreditation at the museum is a potential risk that would undermine reputation and future funding opportunities from the arts council and the Heritage Lottery Fund,” stated the report.
Another risk cited in the report is that the cuts would affect the museum's role in a project to restore and redevelop Reading’s Abbey Quarter.
Initial funding for restoration has already been secured from HLF. Work has started on providing educational activities, improved signage and public events relating to the heritage site.
“Reducing staffing capacity at the museum would provide sensitivities in relation to HLF and the Abbey ruins restoration as the museum is integral to delivering associated interpretation and activity programmes,” the report states.
The proposed budget cuts could also affect the delivery of the museum’s loan box service and there will be less capacity to run community outreach projects.
The council is also looking at ways to increase income for the museum. These include relaunching its Flying Objects scheme, which allows local businesses to display artefacts on their premises, and further optimising the use of space in the town hall.
The staff consultation on the changes will end in October and a public consultation will begin in November. If approved the cost reductions and redundancies will be effective from March.
Staff working at Reading Museum, located in the town hall, are currently being consulted on plans to make savings of £100,000 in 2016/17 and a further £50,000 in 2017/18, according to a report outlining the council’s budget proposals.
In 2015/16 the expenditure for the town hall and the museum was £1,717,100.
The proposed cost savings would result in six jobs being lost at the museum, which has so far been largely unaffected by budget cuts, the report states. Also being considered are changes to opening hours and an increased use of volunteers.
The council also said that work needed to be done to ensure the cuts did not affect the museum's Accreditation with Arts Council England.
“Loss of Accreditation at the museum is a potential risk that would undermine reputation and future funding opportunities from the arts council and the Heritage Lottery Fund,” stated the report.
Another risk cited in the report is that the cuts would affect the museum's role in a project to restore and redevelop Reading’s Abbey Quarter.
Initial funding for restoration has already been secured from HLF. Work has started on providing educational activities, improved signage and public events relating to the heritage site.
“Reducing staffing capacity at the museum would provide sensitivities in relation to HLF and the Abbey ruins restoration as the museum is integral to delivering associated interpretation and activity programmes,” the report states.
The proposed budget cuts could also affect the delivery of the museum’s loan box service and there will be less capacity to run community outreach projects.
The council is also looking at ways to increase income for the museum. These include relaunching its Flying Objects scheme, which allows local businesses to display artefacts on their premises, and further optimising the use of space in the town hall.
The staff consultation on the changes will end in October and a public consultation will begin in November. If approved the cost reductions and redundancies will be effective from March.