The future of the Theatre Museum in London's West End is still surrounded by speculation as the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) has refused to reveal any details about its talks with the Royal Opera House (ROH) on the future of the museum.
The Theatre Museum, a branch of the V&A, has been fighting for its survival since the failure of two Heritage Lottery Fund bids for cash to redevelop its building (see Museums Journal, April 2006, p5).
Discussions between the V&A and the ROH began soon after the last failed bid. Although the partnership is certain to go ahead, a spokeswoman for the V&A said its proposals for the building, and a new programme of exhibitions and educational events based on the collection, would not be revealed until the autumn.
The V&A has confirmed that once the announcement is made, the museum will probably close at the end of the year. A review of operations will then take place. A statement from the museum said: 'This [the review] may have an impact on staffing and it is likely that there will be some redundancies.'
Seventeen of the 40 staff at the Theatre Museum have been told that their jobs could be affected. All operational jobs are under threat. A V&A spokeswoman said: 'We don't think anything like that number will be made redundant, but it is too early to say.' Curatorial staff are unaffected.
Dave Allen, a negotiations officer for the union Prospect, said he fully expected some staff to be redeployed into the new structure. The issue is whether the ROH has enough operations staff to run the organisation.
John Levitt, the chairman of the Save London's Theatre Campaign, said: 'We have lost confidence in the will of the V&A senior management to secure the Theatre Museum's long-term future. The V&A had starved the museum of funds over a period of 20 years and yet it criticised the management of the museum for poor displays. This is deeply hypocritical.' The running costs of the museum in Covent Garden are £2.5m year on year.
Levitt believes there is a 'deep lack of regard and respect for the collection itself'. And he queried the dedication of some of the people involved. 'We are questioning how much the director of the Theatre Museum has fought for it.' A V&A spokeswoman said: 'The V&A is certainly not looking for a quick-fix solution. We have explored many options over the years and tried to raise money for development.'
Commenting on the involvement of the ROH, Levitt said: 'The ROH will put in all the sequins, the glitz and glamour, but its first interest will not be the Theatre Museum.' The campaign's preferred option would be an independent museum.
Levitt's sentiment is shared. A source told Museums Journal that the building may have been saved, but asked where the heart of the Theatre Museum would reside.
Insiders have speculated that the ROH is to contribute about £2m to the partnership, but the V&A has denied this.
Felicity Heywood
The Theatre Museum, a branch of the V&A, has been fighting for its survival since the failure of two Heritage Lottery Fund bids for cash to redevelop its building (see Museums Journal, April 2006, p5).
Discussions between the V&A and the ROH began soon after the last failed bid. Although the partnership is certain to go ahead, a spokeswoman for the V&A said its proposals for the building, and a new programme of exhibitions and educational events based on the collection, would not be revealed until the autumn.
The V&A has confirmed that once the announcement is made, the museum will probably close at the end of the year. A review of operations will then take place. A statement from the museum said: 'This [the review] may have an impact on staffing and it is likely that there will be some redundancies.'
Seventeen of the 40 staff at the Theatre Museum have been told that their jobs could be affected. All operational jobs are under threat. A V&A spokeswoman said: 'We don't think anything like that number will be made redundant, but it is too early to say.' Curatorial staff are unaffected.
Dave Allen, a negotiations officer for the union Prospect, said he fully expected some staff to be redeployed into the new structure. The issue is whether the ROH has enough operations staff to run the organisation.
John Levitt, the chairman of the Save London's Theatre Campaign, said: 'We have lost confidence in the will of the V&A senior management to secure the Theatre Museum's long-term future. The V&A had starved the museum of funds over a period of 20 years and yet it criticised the management of the museum for poor displays. This is deeply hypocritical.' The running costs of the museum in Covent Garden are £2.5m year on year.
Levitt believes there is a 'deep lack of regard and respect for the collection itself'. And he queried the dedication of some of the people involved. 'We are questioning how much the director of the Theatre Museum has fought for it.' A V&A spokeswoman said: 'The V&A is certainly not looking for a quick-fix solution. We have explored many options over the years and tried to raise money for development.'
Commenting on the involvement of the ROH, Levitt said: 'The ROH will put in all the sequins, the glitz and glamour, but its first interest will not be the Theatre Museum.' The campaign's preferred option would be an independent museum.
Levitt's sentiment is shared. A source told Museums Journal that the building may have been saved, but asked where the heart of the Theatre Museum would reside.
Insiders have speculated that the ROH is to contribute about £2m to the partnership, but the V&A has denied this.
Felicity Heywood
