Faced with 28.4% cuts over the next four years, many local authorities are proposing severe reductions to discretionary services, putting museum services in the firing line.
Croydon council is consulting on the future of its museum service. One option open to councillors is to close the Museum of Croydon, put its collections into storage, and cut the service’s education programme.
Lincolnshire County Council will cease funding three of its museums in April, and has accepted offers from community groups to take over the running of Church Farm Museum and Grantham Museum. Stamford Museum’s future is uncertain. Nine full-time equivalent positions will be made redundant across the museum service.
Leicestershire County Council is considering its options following an independent report into ways of meeting 25% cuts to the council’s libraries, heritage and arts service. Options include sharing services with other local authorities, moving council assets to trust status, and reducing services across the board. A decision will be made by the end of February.
Stoke-on-Trent City Council is looking at proposals to sell the Etruria Industrial Museum to save £117,000 per year, leading to three full-time equivalent staff being made redundant. It is also considering entry charges for the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery.
Hull City Council refused to confirm reports that it is looking to cut its cultural services, which could affect opening times and staffing at the Streetlife Museum of Transport, Ferens Art Gallery and Hull Maritime Museum.
York Museums Trust has invited its 120 contracted staff to apply for voluntary redundancy and early retirement, and will undergo a restructure this month with a view to reducing expenditure.
Aberdeenshire council is looking to save £90,000 in 2011-12 and £30,000 in 2012-13 by closing small museums, including Stonehaven’s Tolbooth Museum, and transferring or disposing of some of its collections.
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