The end of Bodelwyddan Castle’s 29-year partnership with four national museums has exposed the lack of a cohesive national strategy on culture for Wales, and raised concerns about the viability of national/local partnerships.
The castle, in north Wales, has ended its long-term loan agreement with four national museums, including the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Academy of Arts, after Denbighshire County Council cut the annual funding to its trust by 40%.
The cuts come ahead of the publication of a new museum strategy for Wales, which will provide a framework for the sector until 2020. Victoria Rogers, the president of the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales, is “extremely concerned” about Denbighshire’s decision, particularly as it was the only “outpost” of a London-based national museum in Wales.
“We’re concerned that this will mean potential partnerships between local museums in Wales and national museums will be compromised,” she says.
Rogers adds that Westminster’s funding cuts to the Welsh Assembly were “increasingly being felt” within the museum sector and communities via local authority cuts, and, as there are costs associated with long-term loans and partnerships, fears are growing that these costs will, in future, be regarded as prohibitive.
Loss of credibility
Kevin Mason, the director of Bodelwyddan Castle Trust, does not believe the cuts are a reflection of the funding situation across Wales, nor is it simply a cost-cutting exercise at Bodelwyddan. “To my mind, it is more about a loss of heritage credibility.
“Bodelwyddan Castle’s partnership with four national museums may not be the local authority’s mandatory responsibility, but neither is it some form of ‘white elephant’ that is divorced from the cultural fabric of the region – or the expectations of the community it serves. In cutting the funding so decisively, the county council appears to be saying that such a major cultural partnership does not matter.”
Mason believes some local authorities do see the value of culture and heritage in building economic strength and community wellbeing. He points to an “ambitious” plan to create a culture centre in neighbouring Conwy, for which the borough council has received £900,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
He adds: “The Welsh government is passionate about enhancing Wales’s cultural identity as a means of promoting community identity and wellbeing. The national strategy will take time to embed itself and it may take even longer for many of our leaders to understand how much regional museums contribute to society in Wales.”
Maria Bojanowska, the head of national programmes at the British Museum, which has about 1,700 items on long-term loan at about 70 venues and has seven partnership galleries, says the museum is “very conscious” of the funding issues faced by local and regional museums, but they have not yet affected any of its partnerships.
The British Museum recently completed a report into how best to support its partners during long-term loans. She adds: “For many, our support is really important in terms of stakeholders, which helps with fundraising and growing visitors.
“Where we have a physical presence, we haven’t always done enough for our partner museums. The project we did assessed our presence and the appetite for increased support, such as using our branding.”
Emma Routley, the Museums Association representative for Wales, believes it is important to note that the Welsh museum sector is showing resilience and adaptability in the face of the cuts.
However, she adds that a reduction in funding is leading to a loss of resources and staff at many organisations.
“Local and national museums will continue to work together,” says Routley. “The only danger is that the number of people to work with will diminish.”
The castle, in north Wales, has ended its long-term loan agreement with four national museums, including the National Portrait Gallery and the Royal Academy of Arts, after Denbighshire County Council cut the annual funding to its trust by 40%.
The cuts come ahead of the publication of a new museum strategy for Wales, which will provide a framework for the sector until 2020. Victoria Rogers, the president of the Federation of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales, is “extremely concerned” about Denbighshire’s decision, particularly as it was the only “outpost” of a London-based national museum in Wales.
“We’re concerned that this will mean potential partnerships between local museums in Wales and national museums will be compromised,” she says.
Rogers adds that Westminster’s funding cuts to the Welsh Assembly were “increasingly being felt” within the museum sector and communities via local authority cuts, and, as there are costs associated with long-term loans and partnerships, fears are growing that these costs will, in future, be regarded as prohibitive.
Loss of credibility
Kevin Mason, the director of Bodelwyddan Castle Trust, does not believe the cuts are a reflection of the funding situation across Wales, nor is it simply a cost-cutting exercise at Bodelwyddan. “To my mind, it is more about a loss of heritage credibility.
“Bodelwyddan Castle’s partnership with four national museums may not be the local authority’s mandatory responsibility, but neither is it some form of ‘white elephant’ that is divorced from the cultural fabric of the region – or the expectations of the community it serves. In cutting the funding so decisively, the county council appears to be saying that such a major cultural partnership does not matter.”
Mason believes some local authorities do see the value of culture and heritage in building economic strength and community wellbeing. He points to an “ambitious” plan to create a culture centre in neighbouring Conwy, for which the borough council has received £900,000 from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
He adds: “The Welsh government is passionate about enhancing Wales’s cultural identity as a means of promoting community identity and wellbeing. The national strategy will take time to embed itself and it may take even longer for many of our leaders to understand how much regional museums contribute to society in Wales.”
Maria Bojanowska, the head of national programmes at the British Museum, which has about 1,700 items on long-term loan at about 70 venues and has seven partnership galleries, says the museum is “very conscious” of the funding issues faced by local and regional museums, but they have not yet affected any of its partnerships.
The British Museum recently completed a report into how best to support its partners during long-term loans. She adds: “For many, our support is really important in terms of stakeholders, which helps with fundraising and growing visitors.
“Where we have a physical presence, we haven’t always done enough for our partner museums. The project we did assessed our presence and the appetite for increased support, such as using our branding.”
Emma Routley, the Museums Association representative for Wales, believes it is important to note that the Welsh museum sector is showing resilience and adaptability in the face of the cuts.
However, she adds that a reduction in funding is leading to a loss of resources and staff at many organisations.
“Local and national museums will continue to work together,” says Routley. “The only danger is that the number of people to work with will diminish.”