National redundancies top 400 mark since 2010
Voluntary redundancies account for 75% of total as museums seek to make long-term savings
National museums across the UK have made 402 posts redundant since 2010, Museums Journal can reveal.
English nationals have made 346 redundancies in two years, while 42 posts have disappeared at Scottish nationals, 12 at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales and two at National Museums Northern Ireland.
Looking to make long-term savings, nationals have spent millions of pounds on voluntary redundancy packages, which account for 316 out of the 402 former post-holders.
Mark Taylor, director of the Museums Association, said: “Losing this amount of expertise, be it front-of-house, education, curatorial or management, has to diminish institutions that were already pared to the bone.
“The government’s mantra was that frontline services would be protected. That is a forlorn hope now.”
Nationals have had to find savings to meet a 15% cut in grant-in-aid in the 2010 comprehensive spending review, following an initial 3% cut in the emergency budget earlier that year. But last year’s autumn statement heralded additional cuts of 1% in 2013-14 and 2% in 2014-15.
Last month, the Victoria and Albert Museum made three posts focused on social inclusion work and diversity redundant. The part-time roles were in the learning and public affairs departments, and included the position of head of equality and diversity.
The Natural History Museum announced that some roles would be under review as part of a restructure. Museums Journal understands this could include the deletion of some senior and curatorial roles.
Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales revealed a major restructure that will affect about 160 roles and involve the loss of 35 permanent posts, as it aims to find £2.5m in savings by 2016.
It has entered into a 90-day consultation period with its 650 members of staff and trade unions. In January the British Museum deleted the post of deputy director when Andrew Burnett retired.
Only six out of 17 national museum directors received a bonus in 2011-12. Two of those opted to donate it back to their museum.
English nationals have made 346 redundancies in two years, while 42 posts have disappeared at Scottish nationals, 12 at Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales and two at National Museums Northern Ireland.
Looking to make long-term savings, nationals have spent millions of pounds on voluntary redundancy packages, which account for 316 out of the 402 former post-holders.
Mark Taylor, director of the Museums Association, said: “Losing this amount of expertise, be it front-of-house, education, curatorial or management, has to diminish institutions that were already pared to the bone.
“The government’s mantra was that frontline services would be protected. That is a forlorn hope now.”
Nationals have had to find savings to meet a 15% cut in grant-in-aid in the 2010 comprehensive spending review, following an initial 3% cut in the emergency budget earlier that year. But last year’s autumn statement heralded additional cuts of 1% in 2013-14 and 2% in 2014-15.
Last month, the Victoria and Albert Museum made three posts focused on social inclusion work and diversity redundant. The part-time roles were in the learning and public affairs departments, and included the position of head of equality and diversity.
The Natural History Museum announced that some roles would be under review as part of a restructure. Museums Journal understands this could include the deletion of some senior and curatorial roles.
Amgueddfa Cymru – National Museum Wales revealed a major restructure that will affect about 160 roles and involve the loss of 35 permanent posts, as it aims to find £2.5m in savings by 2016.
It has entered into a 90-day consultation period with its 650 members of staff and trade unions. In January the British Museum deleted the post of deputy director when Andrew Burnett retired.
Only six out of 17 national museum directors received a bonus in 2011-12. Two of those opted to donate it back to their museum.