Museums Journal’s straw poll of eight museum services in England and Scotland shows that most had slight rises in budgets compared with last year (see box). But the majority are already being asked to find savings within this financial year.
A BBC survey earlier this year revealed that 50 of 93 English councils thought the budget for their arts services and library services would be cut. Many were predicting reductions of between 5 and 20 per cent.
The only museum in our poll that revealed it might have to find such severe cuts was Wolverhampton. The museum service falls within the arts and heritage division. In 2009-10 it merged with tourism and in 2010-11 archives were brought on board.
Corinne Miller, head of arts and heritage, says she has been asked by the council to look into options of 10 or 25 per cent cuts to the service. “We are going to see a radical shift in how museum services are provided,” said Miller.
It looks like a re-evaluation of services is on the cards for everyone. Anecdotal evidence has revealed that discussions are already taking place about museums moving to trust status, introducing charging or merging with other services.
At Hampshire Museums Service, which runs 17 museums, the focus is on increasing income generating opportunities such as hiring out venues and maximising retail sales, seeking sponsorship opportunities and applying for small-scale grants, while at the same time reviewing spend on exhibitions, education, collections and venue management. This approach is typical of the services polled.
In Bristol, the museum service is looking at ways to work with other directorates in the council. Julie Finch, the head of museums and archives, said museums are “highly valued” by the council.
The service’s new flagship museum, M Shed, is one of the main focuses. Finch said the council philosophy was more about risk-taking and opening up new ways of working. She added that staff were also being asked to think more broadly about their roles.
According to Finch, new posts in the museum service will be created this year in anticipation of M Shed opening in spring 2011. However, the opening will coincide with all museums in the service reducing their opening hours to six days a week with one late night.
In Norfolk, the museum service has been asked find cuts of £300,000 over the next three years. Vanessa Trevelyan, the head of Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service, said the county council is investing in energy conservation. In addition, functions will be brought together with more staff being asked to multi-task.
She said staff cuts will be made through natural wastage, and structures will be changed over time. The service as a whole is reviewing its opening hours and reducing the number of stores it uses.
Trevelyan believes it is too early to talk about delivering the museum service in different ways but said this might be a strategy later on.
Leeds bucked the trend this year with a 7.4 per cent rise in its museum budget. But John Roles, the head of heritage services, struck a cautionary note. “Fifty years ago museums had very few staff so could do very little. Today we have fingers in many pies. To go back to the 1950s would be a disaster.”
Museums Journal went to press as the budget was being announced. Its contents may change the outlook for culture but the waiting game will still be on for the next Comprehensive Spending Review, which will detail the settlements for 2011 through 2014.
Service Birmingham (WM)
2009-10 (£m) 10.075
2010-11 (£m) unavailable
Service Bristol (SW)
2009-10 (£m) 3.078
2010-11 (£m) 3.139
% change +1.9
Service Edinburgh (Scotland)
2009-10 (£m) 2.524
2010-11 (£m) 2.540
% change +0.6
Service Hampshire (SE)
2009-10 (£m) 3.094
2010-11 (£m) 3.048
% change -1.4
Service Leeds (Yorkshire)
2009-10 (£m) 5.770
2010-11 (£m) 6.200
% change +7.4
Service Norfolk (EofE)
2009-10 (£m) 4.375
2010-11 (£m) 4.604
% change +5.2
Service Tyne & Wear (NE)
2009-10 (£m) 6.125
2010-11 (£m) 6.012
% change -1.8
Service Wolverhampton
2009-10 (£m) 1.861
2010-11 (£m) 2.252*
% change +21*
* Wolverhampton figure includes budget for archives that merged with its arts and heritage service in 2010-11
The figures exclude Renaissance funding
A BBC survey earlier this year revealed that 50 of 93 English councils thought the budget for their arts services and library services would be cut. Many were predicting reductions of between 5 and 20 per cent.
The only museum in our poll that revealed it might have to find such severe cuts was Wolverhampton. The museum service falls within the arts and heritage division. In 2009-10 it merged with tourism and in 2010-11 archives were brought on board.
Corinne Miller, head of arts and heritage, says she has been asked by the council to look into options of 10 or 25 per cent cuts to the service. “We are going to see a radical shift in how museum services are provided,” said Miller.
It looks like a re-evaluation of services is on the cards for everyone. Anecdotal evidence has revealed that discussions are already taking place about museums moving to trust status, introducing charging or merging with other services.
At Hampshire Museums Service, which runs 17 museums, the focus is on increasing income generating opportunities such as hiring out venues and maximising retail sales, seeking sponsorship opportunities and applying for small-scale grants, while at the same time reviewing spend on exhibitions, education, collections and venue management. This approach is typical of the services polled.
In Bristol, the museum service is looking at ways to work with other directorates in the council. Julie Finch, the head of museums and archives, said museums are “highly valued” by the council.
The service’s new flagship museum, M Shed, is one of the main focuses. Finch said the council philosophy was more about risk-taking and opening up new ways of working. She added that staff were also being asked to think more broadly about their roles.
According to Finch, new posts in the museum service will be created this year in anticipation of M Shed opening in spring 2011. However, the opening will coincide with all museums in the service reducing their opening hours to six days a week with one late night.
In Norfolk, the museum service has been asked find cuts of £300,000 over the next three years. Vanessa Trevelyan, the head of Norfolk Museums and Archaeology Service, said the county council is investing in energy conservation. In addition, functions will be brought together with more staff being asked to multi-task.
She said staff cuts will be made through natural wastage, and structures will be changed over time. The service as a whole is reviewing its opening hours and reducing the number of stores it uses.
Trevelyan believes it is too early to talk about delivering the museum service in different ways but said this might be a strategy later on.
Leeds bucked the trend this year with a 7.4 per cent rise in its museum budget. But John Roles, the head of heritage services, struck a cautionary note. “Fifty years ago museums had very few staff so could do very little. Today we have fingers in many pies. To go back to the 1950s would be a disaster.”
Museums Journal went to press as the budget was being announced. Its contents may change the outlook for culture but the waiting game will still be on for the next Comprehensive Spending Review, which will detail the settlements for 2011 through 2014.
Local authority museum budgets
Service Birmingham (WM)
2009-10 (£m) 10.075
2010-11 (£m) unavailable
Service Bristol (SW)
2009-10 (£m) 3.078
2010-11 (£m) 3.139
% change +1.9
Service Edinburgh (Scotland)
2009-10 (£m) 2.524
2010-11 (£m) 2.540
% change +0.6
Service Hampshire (SE)
2009-10 (£m) 3.094
2010-11 (£m) 3.048
% change -1.4
Service Leeds (Yorkshire)
2009-10 (£m) 5.770
2010-11 (£m) 6.200
% change +7.4
Service Norfolk (EofE)
2009-10 (£m) 4.375
2010-11 (£m) 4.604
% change +5.2
Service Tyne & Wear (NE)
2009-10 (£m) 6.125
2010-11 (£m) 6.012
% change -1.8
Service Wolverhampton
2009-10 (£m) 1.861
2010-11 (£m) 2.252*
% change +21*
* Wolverhampton figure includes budget for archives that merged with its arts and heritage service in 2010-11
The figures exclude Renaissance funding
