Protests from senior museum professionals and the local community failed to save the Livesey Museum for Children from being shut by Southwark Council on 29 February.
The south London museum had been scheduled to shut at the end of March, but closed its doors earlier than expected because of staff shortages.
The closure went ahead despite various efforts to prevent it, including an online petition, a Facebook group that attracted more than 500 members, a "save the Livesey" blog, lots of press coverage and protests outside council meetings.
Southwark Council leader Nick Stanton said the museum was being closed because the borough had received its worst financial settlement from the government in a decade, which had led to some tough decisions having to be made.
"Local people have made it clear that their preference is for improved libraries and leisure centres," he said.
But campaigners are working on a rescue plan. Bridget McKenzie, director at education organisation Flow Associates, is working on plans for an independent management proposal and is looking at forming a trust to run the museum
Campaigners are exploring whether Southwark Council is legally entitled to sell the building in which the Livesey was housed.
"There is a lack of clarity regarding the history of the deeds, but we have enlisted the help of pro bono solicitors and property experts to get to the bottom of this," said McKenzie. "Apart from negotiating the legalities of the building and clarifying terms of a lease, what is important now is establishing a fundraising plan."
Southwark Council has requested that any proposals for the building be presented soon, but campaigners have said that formalising new management arrangements could take longer than the council is prepared to wait.
The south London museum had been scheduled to shut at the end of March, but closed its doors earlier than expected because of staff shortages.
The closure went ahead despite various efforts to prevent it, including an online petition, a Facebook group that attracted more than 500 members, a "save the Livesey" blog, lots of press coverage and protests outside council meetings.
Southwark Council leader Nick Stanton said the museum was being closed because the borough had received its worst financial settlement from the government in a decade, which had led to some tough decisions having to be made.
"Local people have made it clear that their preference is for improved libraries and leisure centres," he said.
But campaigners are working on a rescue plan. Bridget McKenzie, director at education organisation Flow Associates, is working on plans for an independent management proposal and is looking at forming a trust to run the museum
Campaigners are exploring whether Southwark Council is legally entitled to sell the building in which the Livesey was housed.
"There is a lack of clarity regarding the history of the deeds, but we have enlisted the help of pro bono solicitors and property experts to get to the bottom of this," said McKenzie. "Apart from negotiating the legalities of the building and clarifying terms of a lease, what is important now is establishing a fundraising plan."
Southwark Council has requested that any proposals for the building be presented soon, but campaigners have said that formalising new management arrangements could take longer than the council is prepared to wait.
