Visits rise despite funding cuts

A comprehensive survey of the effects of the recession on the museum and gallery sector has found that more people are visiting museums, although the institutions are suffering budget cuts.

The study, by the independent charity the Art Fund, is based on the responses of 312 of the UK's 1,800 accredited museums, which completed an online survey between September 2008 and March 2009. It was found that 65 per cent of museums suffered budget cuts during the six months of the survey, 71 per cent of which were local authority institutions.

Nearly as many (60 per cent) publicly funded museums were expecting a further drop in funds. The survey found that, so far, independent museums were least likely to be affected by cuts.

For the past 10 years, Derby Museum and Art Gallery's budget has been part of the city council's 3 per cent efficiency savings for culture. But for 2009-10, this figure has increased to 4 per cent. Having successfully argued against the potential freezing of two posts, the museum will make cuts this financial year during the delay in filling the vacant head of service post.

A museum insider says it is likely to take at least four months to fill the vacancy, which will allow it to make the necessary savings for the year. But fresh ideas will be needed to meet the target savings for the following year.

One of the consequences of a rise in visitor numbers is that staff have been diverted to front-of-house duties, with curatorial and back-office functions, in particular, suffering. Should this pattern continue, the long-term effects on the institution, and therefore visitor figures, could be disastrous.

One museum professional says it is important to make sure that collections are secure through any financial turmoil. He adds that in a sector in which specialist capacity has already been under pressure, he wouldn't want to see things get worse.

Most efficiency savings have forced a reduction in staff - either through redundancies, merging posts or recruitment freezes. In turn, many museums are replacing these roles with volunteers and interns.

Elizabeth Mackenzie, the vice-president of the British Association of Friends in Museums, an organisation for friends, volunteers and supporters of museums, says that there could be too much pressure on volunteers to take responsibility in areas in which they are untrained.

Although it has not suffered from local authority cuts, at the Museum in the Park in Stroud, one learning and public programmes post has been considered for deletion. There is just one member of staff delivering all schools and public education programmes to link into the 10 annual temporary exhibitions the museum runs.

At present, exhibitions are free, but the museum says that discussions around charging could be considered in the future.

At Bristol's museums service, funding cuts and a review of the service are expected to result in double- figure job losses. Bristol also has the burden of a reduction in its Renaissance funding, as a result of equalisation (see link below).

But a spokeswoman for Bristol's museums put on a brave face, focusing on the rise in visitor numbers - although she says there has been a strain on the building and the shop, as a result.

It is early days for the survey and there are very specific circumstances for some museums, which make it difficult to draw precise conclusions at this stage. Subsequent surveys are to be undertaken every six months.

The good news from the survey is that museums are still acquiring artefacts. In the six months of the survey, 84 per cent successfully acquired something, with 58 per cent of those surveyed being able to buy at a reduced price.