Phase one hubs are feeling the bite as funding is equalised across all nine Renaissance in the Regions hubs over two years.
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) will allocate £34m in 2009-10 and £36m in 2010-11, split across the hubs. This represents, in effect, a funding cut for the phase one hubs - South West, West Midlands and North East.
Sue Hayward, heritage manager at Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, which is part of the South West hub, said the museum was looking at a new business model, as the existing one was no longer sustainable.
She said Renaissance made up nearly 50 per cent of the museum's funding, so it is looking at ways to increase the emphasis on leadership and entrepreneurship.
Alec Coles, director of Tyne and Wear Museums and the leader of the North East hub, said that, because of the level of reduction proposed, some vacant posts would not be filled and some contracts would not be renewed.
"I must confess to some disappointment at the MLA's rush towards further equalisation ahead of publication of the Renaissance review," he said.
"The review may consider and even propose alternative funding arrangements and formulas. I would have thought that it would have been sensible to await its publication before establishing any funding arrangements beyond 2009-10."
But Hedley Swain, head of museums policy at the MLA, thought it was important that the hubs had two years of certainty, as Renaissance had in the past been accused of short-termism.
The MLA hopes to complete the review by the end of this month, he said, but any major recommendations would not be taken forward until spring 2011, by which time any future funding for Renaissance would be clear.
To encourage new ways of working, such as forming partnerships outside the sector or working within the wider cultural sector, the MLA is holding back 25 to 30 per cent of funding until after the review, said Swain.
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA) will allocate £34m in 2009-10 and £36m in 2010-11, split across the hubs. This represents, in effect, a funding cut for the phase one hubs - South West, West Midlands and North East.
Sue Hayward, heritage manager at Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum, which is part of the South West hub, said the museum was looking at a new business model, as the existing one was no longer sustainable.
She said Renaissance made up nearly 50 per cent of the museum's funding, so it is looking at ways to increase the emphasis on leadership and entrepreneurship.
Alec Coles, director of Tyne and Wear Museums and the leader of the North East hub, said that, because of the level of reduction proposed, some vacant posts would not be filled and some contracts would not be renewed.
"I must confess to some disappointment at the MLA's rush towards further equalisation ahead of publication of the Renaissance review," he said.
"The review may consider and even propose alternative funding arrangements and formulas. I would have thought that it would have been sensible to await its publication before establishing any funding arrangements beyond 2009-10."
But Hedley Swain, head of museums policy at the MLA, thought it was important that the hubs had two years of certainty, as Renaissance had in the past been accused of short-termism.
The MLA hopes to complete the review by the end of this month, he said, but any major recommendations would not be taken forward until spring 2011, by which time any future funding for Renaissance would be clear.
To encourage new ways of working, such as forming partnerships outside the sector or working within the wider cultural sector, the MLA is holding back 25 to 30 per cent of funding until after the review, said Swain.
