Shetland Museum may close to public
Museum in talks over 35% budget cut proposal
Officials from Shetland Islands Council told trustees of the Shetland Amenity Trust (SAT) at a meeting last week that they would be recommending cuts of 35% to the budget of the Shetland Museum and Archive over the next three years.
In an open letter published in the Shetland Times, SAT’s chairman Brian Gregson said that, if implemented, the cuts would result in “at least 20 staff being made redundant and render it impossible to provide any workable or acceptable level of museum and archive services in Shetland”.
Gregson pointed to the 25-year service-level agreement between SAT and the council, which states that the council should provide the necessary revenue resources to meet the delivery of the museum and archives services. The agreement was a pre-condition of a £5.1m Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant for Shetland Museum and Archives.
"Notwithstanding this," he wrote, "since the first full year of operation the museum and archives services have been subjected to cuts each year.
"The total level of cuts, since opening, amount to 27% in real terms and the current year’s budget is now £1.035m… a further 35% cut over the next three years… would reduce the total funding to £681,000."
A spokeswoman for Shetland Islands Council said: "Shetland Islands Council agreed a medium-term financial plan in September to achieve a balanced budget within five years.
"Service managers are now preparing service proposals for councillors to consider later in the year.
"Where these proposals involve grants or service agreements with third parties, officers are holding discussions with the third-party partners concerned to investigate where these savings can be made, where more effective service delivery can be achieved, and where services can be reduced or changed.
"At this stage SAT has been asked for its feedback on these proposals."
A spokeswoman for the HLF declined to comment, but Museums Journal understands that it is in dialogue with the museum over its future.
In an open letter published in the Shetland Times, SAT’s chairman Brian Gregson said that, if implemented, the cuts would result in “at least 20 staff being made redundant and render it impossible to provide any workable or acceptable level of museum and archive services in Shetland”.
Gregson pointed to the 25-year service-level agreement between SAT and the council, which states that the council should provide the necessary revenue resources to meet the delivery of the museum and archives services. The agreement was a pre-condition of a £5.1m Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) grant for Shetland Museum and Archives.
"Notwithstanding this," he wrote, "since the first full year of operation the museum and archives services have been subjected to cuts each year.
"The total level of cuts, since opening, amount to 27% in real terms and the current year’s budget is now £1.035m… a further 35% cut over the next three years… would reduce the total funding to £681,000."
A spokeswoman for Shetland Islands Council said: "Shetland Islands Council agreed a medium-term financial plan in September to achieve a balanced budget within five years.
"Service managers are now preparing service proposals for councillors to consider later in the year.
"Where these proposals involve grants or service agreements with third parties, officers are holding discussions with the third-party partners concerned to investigate where these savings can be made, where more effective service delivery can be achieved, and where services can be reduced or changed.
"At this stage SAT has been asked for its feedback on these proposals."
A spokeswoman for the HLF declined to comment, but Museums Journal understands that it is in dialogue with the museum over its future.