Scarborough's museums and galleries service moved to trust status last month, and Woodhorn Northumberland Museum, Archives and Country Park is set to follow in April.
Shirley Collier, chief executive of Scarborough Museums Trust (SMT), said the council decided in November that the trust, originally formed to raise money for and to run the Rotunda Museum, should run the whole museums service.
In addition to the Rotunda Museum, the trust took over the management of the Scarborough Collections and Scarborough Art Gallery at the start of the year.
Collier said the decision was partly prompted by the desire for a cultural quarter. This would have the Rotunda Museum at its centre, and would also include the Stephen Joseph Theatre and the redeveloped site at Wood End, housing the trust alongside a creative-industries centre.
She also cited financial reasons for the move, which would offer access to the European Regional Development Fund and increased corporate and private donations.
The redevelopment of the Rotunda Museum, which is to reopen in May, has attracted £1.9m of Heritage Lottery Fund money, £500,000 of European Regional Development Fund money, £460,000 from Scarborough Borough Council, and £1.45m from corporate and private sponsors. The trust has also secured council funding of about £500,000 a year, index-linked for the next 30 years.
Steve Hollingworth, head of tourism and leisure services at Scarborough council, said: "The main benefit is having a board that is independent of the council to focus on the development of museums and galleries. This is a more effective way of doing things, and we get more value for what we are putting in."
Meanwhile, potential trustees of the nascent Woodhorn Trust in Northumberland had their first meeting last month. The director of the Woodhorn Museum, Keith Merrin, who moved to the post at the start of the year, said there was a high level of support for the move from Wansbeck District Council and Northumberland County Council.
The councils have agreed funding of £1.2m year on year for the next five years, while the museum would also aim to generate £400,000 a year from sources such as fundraising and sales at the museum's cafe and shop.
Shirley Collier, chief executive of Scarborough Museums Trust (SMT), said the council decided in November that the trust, originally formed to raise money for and to run the Rotunda Museum, should run the whole museums service.
In addition to the Rotunda Museum, the trust took over the management of the Scarborough Collections and Scarborough Art Gallery at the start of the year.
Collier said the decision was partly prompted by the desire for a cultural quarter. This would have the Rotunda Museum at its centre, and would also include the Stephen Joseph Theatre and the redeveloped site at Wood End, housing the trust alongside a creative-industries centre.
She also cited financial reasons for the move, which would offer access to the European Regional Development Fund and increased corporate and private donations.
The redevelopment of the Rotunda Museum, which is to reopen in May, has attracted £1.9m of Heritage Lottery Fund money, £500,000 of European Regional Development Fund money, £460,000 from Scarborough Borough Council, and £1.45m from corporate and private sponsors. The trust has also secured council funding of about £500,000 a year, index-linked for the next 30 years.
Steve Hollingworth, head of tourism and leisure services at Scarborough council, said: "The main benefit is having a board that is independent of the council to focus on the development of museums and galleries. This is a more effective way of doing things, and we get more value for what we are putting in."
Meanwhile, potential trustees of the nascent Woodhorn Trust in Northumberland had their first meeting last month. The director of the Woodhorn Museum, Keith Merrin, who moved to the post at the start of the year, said there was a high level of support for the move from Wansbeck District Council and Northumberland County Council.
The councils have agreed funding of £1.2m year on year for the next five years, while the museum would also aim to generate £400,000 a year from sources such as fundraising and sales at the museum's cafe and shop.
Scarborough's reasons
Offers access to the European Regional Development Fund, and increased corporate and private donations
Allows creation of a cultural quarter that would include the Rotunda Museum, Stephen Joseph Theatre and a creative-industries centre
Establishment of a board that is independent from the council and can therefore focus on the development of museums
Offers access to the European Regional Development Fund, and increased corporate and private donations
Allows creation of a cultural quarter that would include the Rotunda Museum, Stephen Joseph Theatre and a creative-industries centre
Establishment of a board that is independent from the council and can therefore focus on the development of museums
