Jack Lohman, the director of the Museum of London, has said that he is "very worried" about local authority and non-national museums in London.
Many who work in the city's museums agree. The past year has been a trying time for non-national museums: in February Museums Journal reported that Wandsworth Council was planning to close its museum in order to save £400,000; and in March came the news that Waltham Forest Council was planning to cut the opening hours of the William Morris Gallery in a bid to save cash. But do these high-profile cases represent a trend? Opinion is divided.
Graham Fisher, the chief executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) London says it doesn't feel like a crisis. "There are some challenges but equally there are some amazing things happening in services such as Hackney, Brent and Redbridge."
But Lohman argues that not all councils take their responsibilities seriously. "There are 26 local authority museums in London and I think we're going to see quite a few sliding in the wrong direction."
This picture will be familiar to those who work in local authority museums up and down the country, so what makes London any different?
The sheer number of museums in the capital (there are more than 250) is a factor. It can give local authorities an excuse not to support culture on their own doorsteps. And for the public, free national museums can be a more attractive proposition than a local museum that has odd opening hours and looks a bit worn around the edges.
Lohman says it is the duty of the MLA and the London hub to intervene if necessary. "We often hear that the hubs are not there to support failing museums but I wouldn't call the William Morris Gallery or Wandsworth failing museums - if they are failing it's because of lack of support."
Fisher says that MLA London has been working closely with the museums that have faced problems, and at a strategic level to help with advocacy.
Different governance arrangements may be one answer. Wandsworth Museum is well on its way to becoming a trust after being bailed-out by a private charitable foundation. The museum will close at the end of December and reopen sometime next year at the West Hill Library.
But curator Pat Astley Cooper says what happened in Wandsworth should be a warning to others. "We were running a good, successful service. I think there's been a change of view about what local authorities think they should be funding."
Trust status hasn't helped Gunnersbury Park Museum. It is jointly funded by Ealing and Hounslow councils and managed by CIP, a not-for-profit trust. Vanda Foster, the deputy curator of the museum, describes the service as being at a "low ebb" with budget cuts and frozen posts.
And at the William Morris Gallery in East London the picture is still far from certain. The reduced opening hours will take effect from the beginning of 2008. Martin Stuchfield, the chairman of the Friends of the gallery, said they were keen to discuss the safe management of the collections and wanted to know what the council's vision for the gallery is.
He agrees that there is a crisis: "It's absolutely right, and it's not just in London, it's national. It's created a domino effect and other local authorities will follow suit."
The forecast for London's museums, for the immediate future at least, remains cloudy.
Sharon Heal
Many who work in the city's museums agree. The past year has been a trying time for non-national museums: in February Museums Journal reported that Wandsworth Council was planning to close its museum in order to save £400,000; and in March came the news that Waltham Forest Council was planning to cut the opening hours of the William Morris Gallery in a bid to save cash. But do these high-profile cases represent a trend? Opinion is divided.
Graham Fisher, the chief executive of the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) London says it doesn't feel like a crisis. "There are some challenges but equally there are some amazing things happening in services such as Hackney, Brent and Redbridge."
But Lohman argues that not all councils take their responsibilities seriously. "There are 26 local authority museums in London and I think we're going to see quite a few sliding in the wrong direction."
This picture will be familiar to those who work in local authority museums up and down the country, so what makes London any different?
The sheer number of museums in the capital (there are more than 250) is a factor. It can give local authorities an excuse not to support culture on their own doorsteps. And for the public, free national museums can be a more attractive proposition than a local museum that has odd opening hours and looks a bit worn around the edges.
Lohman says it is the duty of the MLA and the London hub to intervene if necessary. "We often hear that the hubs are not there to support failing museums but I wouldn't call the William Morris Gallery or Wandsworth failing museums - if they are failing it's because of lack of support."
Fisher says that MLA London has been working closely with the museums that have faced problems, and at a strategic level to help with advocacy.
Different governance arrangements may be one answer. Wandsworth Museum is well on its way to becoming a trust after being bailed-out by a private charitable foundation. The museum will close at the end of December and reopen sometime next year at the West Hill Library.
But curator Pat Astley Cooper says what happened in Wandsworth should be a warning to others. "We were running a good, successful service. I think there's been a change of view about what local authorities think they should be funding."
Trust status hasn't helped Gunnersbury Park Museum. It is jointly funded by Ealing and Hounslow councils and managed by CIP, a not-for-profit trust. Vanda Foster, the deputy curator of the museum, describes the service as being at a "low ebb" with budget cuts and frozen posts.
And at the William Morris Gallery in East London the picture is still far from certain. The reduced opening hours will take effect from the beginning of 2008. Martin Stuchfield, the chairman of the Friends of the gallery, said they were keen to discuss the safe management of the collections and wanted to know what the council's vision for the gallery is.
He agrees that there is a crisis: "It's absolutely right, and it's not just in London, it's national. It's created a domino effect and other local authorities will follow suit."
The forecast for London's museums, for the immediate future at least, remains cloudy.
Sharon Heal
