Bristol's museums could lose several curators and conservators under a proposed cost-cutting programme. A reduction in council and regional funding, as well as a change of emphasis, are being blamed for plans for redundancies among 145 museum staff.
Steve Paines, area convenor of the Unite union, said he was awaiting formal notice on plans to be implemented from 1 April. He estimated potential job losses "in double figures".
Unite is in talks with the council about the restructuring, which Paines said was the result of a cut in Renaissance in the Regions and council funding.
"We have serious concerns," he said. "The council is talking about replacing full-time roles with part-time jobs. Also, in the specialist curator and conservator areas, there are significant cuts being proposed. We feel that because they are specialists, these people will not be redeployed."
Paines said other proposals included cutting winter opening hours at the city's Red Lodge and Blaise Castle House museums.
The South West was in the first phase of the Renaissance programme in 2002, when it was one of three regions to receive part of the £70m budget. But its funding has being reduced as the phase one and phase two hubs are equalised.
Mary Bailey, chairwoman of the Friends of Bristol's Museums, Galleries and Archives, said money was also being transferred ahead of the opening of the flagship Museum of Bristol in 2011.
She added that there was a shift of emphasis among the city's museums to enable Bristol to become a leader in visual arts. "I think they want to change the direction of the museum to get more people through the door," she said.
A Bristol council spokeswoman said the proposed cuts were part of
a wide-scale review of the council's staffing. Results of a two-month consultation process will be implemented early this year.
"The whole service is under review - everyone is involved," she said.
"The aim is to respond to reductions in government Renaissance funding and to implement the council's vision for the service to ensure it meets the needs and expectations of a 21st-century museum service."
The spokeswoman said this meant attracting more visitors and "adopting different ways of working".
Steve Paines, area convenor of the Unite union, said he was awaiting formal notice on plans to be implemented from 1 April. He estimated potential job losses "in double figures".
Unite is in talks with the council about the restructuring, which Paines said was the result of a cut in Renaissance in the Regions and council funding.
"We have serious concerns," he said. "The council is talking about replacing full-time roles with part-time jobs. Also, in the specialist curator and conservator areas, there are significant cuts being proposed. We feel that because they are specialists, these people will not be redeployed."
Paines said other proposals included cutting winter opening hours at the city's Red Lodge and Blaise Castle House museums.
The South West was in the first phase of the Renaissance programme in 2002, when it was one of three regions to receive part of the £70m budget. But its funding has being reduced as the phase one and phase two hubs are equalised.
Mary Bailey, chairwoman of the Friends of Bristol's Museums, Galleries and Archives, said money was also being transferred ahead of the opening of the flagship Museum of Bristol in 2011.
She added that there was a shift of emphasis among the city's museums to enable Bristol to become a leader in visual arts. "I think they want to change the direction of the museum to get more people through the door," she said.
A Bristol council spokeswoman said the proposed cuts were part of
a wide-scale review of the council's staffing. Results of a two-month consultation process will be implemented early this year.
"The whole service is under review - everyone is involved," she said.
"The aim is to respond to reductions in government Renaissance funding and to implement the council's vision for the service to ensure it meets the needs and expectations of a 21st-century museum service."
The spokeswoman said this meant attracting more visitors and "adopting different ways of working".
