Delayed Hepworth leads to cuts at Wakefield museums
Wakefield’s museums face a budget squeeze caused partly by the spiralling cost of building The Hepworth Wakefield, which is now a year behind schedule.
The showpiece museum, which is now due to open in spring 2011, will house works by locally born sculptors Barbara Hepworth and Henry Moore.
Former museum employees believe a funding shortfall for The Hepworth Wakefield has meant cuts and restructuring at some of the six council-run facilities, including Pontefract Museum, where curator Richard Van Riel has resigned after 32 years.
Measures introduced at Pontefract include closure of a reference room and meetings facilities used by local organisations. Van Riel was also told to take more of a “backroom” role and spend less time meeting the public.
“I resigned in protest at various changes,” said Van Riel, who added that he would not pursue a claim for constructive dismissal.
According to a source new working practices were introduced after the council installed a management team without heritage background late last year.
Another ex-employee said some museums and heritage staff had been asked to reapply for their jobs. The former worker said: “Their main priority is the new gallery. At Pontefract, it all points to it just being an information centre with one person on the desk.”
The Hepworth Wakefield was originally going to cost £24m, but the bill is now understood to have exceeded £30m. A trust has been set up to raise cash.
Andy Wallhead, Wakefield council’s corporate director for regeneration, culture and sport, said: “The total capital project cost for The Hepworth Wakefield of £30m is within identified resources, including the contribution from the Hepworth Trust.
“The Hepworth Wakefield is in the process of converting to an independent charitable trust and is developing a business plan and revenue budget in partnership with core funders Wakefield council and the Arts Council.”
Wallhead added that the council was “undergoing some organisational change”, but said there had not been a reduction in the number of posts in the arts, museum and heritage team.
He indicated that Pontefract Museum’s status was under review. “We have received an initial enquiry from groups in Pontefract about them running the museum as a community trust, and will be working with them once more information is received,” said Wallhead.
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