Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery could be merged into a trust-operating model with the city’s Thinktank science museum in 2012-13 under plans being considered by the local council.
Martin Mullaney, Birmingham’s cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture, said: “We’re looking at options for joining the museum service and Thinktank under a single plan. One option is a trust, but no decisions have been made and we’ll consult with all interested parties.”
It is not clear whether the two museums would be placed within the existing Thinktank trust or a new one, or whether admission charges would be introduced. Birmingham City Council is looking to save an estimated £1.3m in 2011-12 and £2.4m by 2014-15 on its culture spend.
Nick Winterbotham, Thinktank’s chief executive officer, said: “This level of cuts is unprecedented and we are working on how to preserve the reputation and achievements of both museum services.”
Elsewhere, Leicester City Council plans to close the Belgrave Hall Museum & Gardens, Abbey Pumping Station Museum, Jewry Wall Museum and Guildhall to the public from October, other than for special events. It is seeking other organisations or community groups to take over the running of the sites.
Stuart Bailey, chairman of the Leicester Civic Society, has written to Sarah Levitt, head of museums at Leicester City Council, complaining that the plans are “narrow-minded and myopic”.
The Highlands Council has cut funding to the 21 museums it supports by 15%, although none will close. The council has saved an additional £133,300 by introducing seasonal opening hours at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery and the Highland Folk Museum, and deleting several posts including a collections officer and curator.
Meanwhile, Market Harborough District Council has backtracked on plans to cut the Harborough Museum’s £102,500 budget for five assistant staff after a petition opposing the cuts attracted more than 2,500 signatures.
But David Johnson, chairman of the Market Harborough Historical Society, warned that the reprieve was for only a year.
Martin Mullaney, Birmingham’s cabinet member for leisure, sport and culture, said: “We’re looking at options for joining the museum service and Thinktank under a single plan. One option is a trust, but no decisions have been made and we’ll consult with all interested parties.”
It is not clear whether the two museums would be placed within the existing Thinktank trust or a new one, or whether admission charges would be introduced. Birmingham City Council is looking to save an estimated £1.3m in 2011-12 and £2.4m by 2014-15 on its culture spend.
Nick Winterbotham, Thinktank’s chief executive officer, said: “This level of cuts is unprecedented and we are working on how to preserve the reputation and achievements of both museum services.”
Elsewhere, Leicester City Council plans to close the Belgrave Hall Museum & Gardens, Abbey Pumping Station Museum, Jewry Wall Museum and Guildhall to the public from October, other than for special events. It is seeking other organisations or community groups to take over the running of the sites.
Stuart Bailey, chairman of the Leicester Civic Society, has written to Sarah Levitt, head of museums at Leicester City Council, complaining that the plans are “narrow-minded and myopic”.
The Highlands Council has cut funding to the 21 museums it supports by 15%, although none will close. The council has saved an additional £133,300 by introducing seasonal opening hours at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery and the Highland Folk Museum, and deleting several posts including a collections officer and curator.
Meanwhile, Market Harborough District Council has backtracked on plans to cut the Harborough Museum’s £102,500 budget for five assistant staff after a petition opposing the cuts attracted more than 2,500 signatures.
But David Johnson, chairman of the Market Harborough Historical Society, warned that the reprieve was for only a year.