Negotiations are under way to secure the future of one of the UK's oldest museums.
Kendal Museum, which was founded in 1796, has been struggling since April, when South Lakeland district council cut opening hours to three afternoons a week and made four posts redundant. It now employs five part-timers.
Since then, Kendal College has emerged as a potential partner. It is interested in buying the building, which is owned by Kendal town council, and expanding on to the site. It would keep the museum open, albeit on a smaller scale, and would use part of the collection for a culture and heritage course.
But there is still no overall plan for the collection. The council has identified an off-site building to house it, but it is thought to be unsuitable.
"It is a bit desperate," said Carol Davies, Kendal Museum's natural history curator. "There are meetings all the time, but we seem to have reached an impasse."
Museums, Libraries and Archives Northwest said: "We are in no position to comment on this."
Simon Stephens
Kendal Museum, which was founded in 1796, has been struggling since April, when South Lakeland district council cut opening hours to three afternoons a week and made four posts redundant. It now employs five part-timers.
Since then, Kendal College has emerged as a potential partner. It is interested in buying the building, which is owned by Kendal town council, and expanding on to the site. It would keep the museum open, albeit on a smaller scale, and would use part of the collection for a culture and heritage course.
But there is still no overall plan for the collection. The council has identified an off-site building to house it, but it is thought to be unsuitable.
"It is a bit desperate," said Carol Davies, Kendal Museum's natural history curator. "There are meetings all the time, but we seem to have reached an impasse."
Museums, Libraries and Archives Northwest said: "We are in no position to comment on this."
Simon Stephens
