The Cultural Statistics in Scotland survey found that spending on museums and heritage by Scottish local authorities has fallen from £39.3m in 2003/4 to an estimated £33.3m in 2004/5, despite a rise in culture spending from £509m to £522m.
Mike Taylor, the chairman of Group of Smaller Local Authority Museums and the head of arts and heritage at Perth Museum and Art Gallery, said that the figures didn't indicate a drastic cut, but a 'standstill' in local authority funding to museums. He said that in Perth they had seen a modest increase in funding over the past decade, but in real terms this represented a cut.
'Pay has increased, but supplies and services budgets have been cut. This makes life more difficult because we have to divert staff into seeking money from elsewhere and away from their core activities.'
Margaret O'Connor, the cultural services manager at East Lothian Council, pointed out that local authority spending was balanced with national spending, which in turn was driven by national policy. 'We have been working hard to raise the profile of museums and heritage in East Lothian, but we've slipped a bit,' she said. 'I am not shocked by the conclusions and they show we have work to do.'
One area that bucked the trend in the survey was Dundee, where the McManus Galleries is undergoing a £7m redevelopment. John Stewart-Young, the heritage manager at the McManus Galleries, said: 'Our actual revenue has increased as a result of the redevelopment. You have to assert the importance of your service and remember that attack is the best form of defence.'
The survey was developed by CIPFA with the Scottish Executive, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Voice of Chief Officers for Cultural, Community and Leisure Service, following recommendations in Scotland's National Cultural Strategy in 2000. The survey is closely modelled on the English Leisure and Recreation Statistics to allow for cross-border comparisons.
Lorraine Grant, the senior arts manager, strategy and development at Aberdeenshire Council, said: 'There are issues with how the figures are calculated, as different authorities have different systems for calculating cultural spend, and there are likely to be disparities.'
However, Julian Mund, the associate director of information services at the Institute of Public Finance, CIPFA's support services company, said: 'As with any survey, you learn as you go along. This is not meant to answer every question. It is a can-opener to be used to improve delivery of services and provide the basis for comparisons.'
Patrick Steel
Mike Taylor, the chairman of Group of Smaller Local Authority Museums and the head of arts and heritage at Perth Museum and Art Gallery, said that the figures didn't indicate a drastic cut, but a 'standstill' in local authority funding to museums. He said that in Perth they had seen a modest increase in funding over the past decade, but in real terms this represented a cut.
'Pay has increased, but supplies and services budgets have been cut. This makes life more difficult because we have to divert staff into seeking money from elsewhere and away from their core activities.'
Margaret O'Connor, the cultural services manager at East Lothian Council, pointed out that local authority spending was balanced with national spending, which in turn was driven by national policy. 'We have been working hard to raise the profile of museums and heritage in East Lothian, but we've slipped a bit,' she said. 'I am not shocked by the conclusions and they show we have work to do.'
One area that bucked the trend in the survey was Dundee, where the McManus Galleries is undergoing a £7m redevelopment. John Stewart-Young, the heritage manager at the McManus Galleries, said: 'Our actual revenue has increased as a result of the redevelopment. You have to assert the importance of your service and remember that attack is the best form of defence.'
The survey was developed by CIPFA with the Scottish Executive, the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities and the Voice of Chief Officers for Cultural, Community and Leisure Service, following recommendations in Scotland's National Cultural Strategy in 2000. The survey is closely modelled on the English Leisure and Recreation Statistics to allow for cross-border comparisons.
Lorraine Grant, the senior arts manager, strategy and development at Aberdeenshire Council, said: 'There are issues with how the figures are calculated, as different authorities have different systems for calculating cultural spend, and there are likely to be disparities.'
However, Julian Mund, the associate director of information services at the Institute of Public Finance, CIPFA's support services company, said: 'As with any survey, you learn as you go along. This is not meant to answer every question. It is a can-opener to be used to improve delivery of services and provide the basis for comparisons.'
Patrick Steel
