National Museums Northern Ireland (NMNI) is facing a multimillion-pound budget cut over the next three years, from £17.6m in 2011-12 to £15.5m in 2013-14.
A spokeswoman said: “While acknowledging the difficult context of the budget, we are concerned about the impact reductions of this level will have on our ability as a group of national museums to operate as a strategic partner in tourism and learning.”
The Royal Cornwall Museum (RCM), meanwhile, has introduced a £5 charge for adults, which it estimates will increase revenues by £40,000 a year, but could result in attendance dropping by a half.
The RCM’s budget from Cornwall Council was cut by £8,000 this year to £150,000. The museum is also receiving transition funding from the arts council, but a museum spokeswoman said the decision to introduce charges came from “a need for income that can be forecasted”.
Durham County Council, which planned to move its museums to trust status to save £1m a year and open up fundraising opportunities, has delayed its decision due to a government review of business rates.
Kirklees Council also had a change of heart over plans to close the Red House Museum and Oakwell Visitor Centre during the week in winter. Instead, from October, they will open from 11am to 4pm on Tuesdays to Thursdays, and 12pm to 5pm at weekends.
Glover House in Aberdeen, which was managed by Aberdeen City Council until 2008, was forced to auction its furniture last month to meet costs. The museum is currently closed to the public.
Meanwhile, the Science Museum has come under fire from a former senior curator at its Wroughton site.
Peter Turney said: “There are no senior curators left [at Wroughton] and all public access to the store has been stopped, except for specific research.
“There is a London-centric attitude that collections are accessible by exhibiting them in London.”
A Science Museum spokeswoman said: “Wroughton has been undergoing substantial redevelopment as a collections management facility for the Science Museum Group, and access for the purposes of research to the collections store is available by appointment.”
A spokeswoman said: “While acknowledging the difficult context of the budget, we are concerned about the impact reductions of this level will have on our ability as a group of national museums to operate as a strategic partner in tourism and learning.”
The Royal Cornwall Museum (RCM), meanwhile, has introduced a £5 charge for adults, which it estimates will increase revenues by £40,000 a year, but could result in attendance dropping by a half.
The RCM’s budget from Cornwall Council was cut by £8,000 this year to £150,000. The museum is also receiving transition funding from the arts council, but a museum spokeswoman said the decision to introduce charges came from “a need for income that can be forecasted”.
Durham County Council, which planned to move its museums to trust status to save £1m a year and open up fundraising opportunities, has delayed its decision due to a government review of business rates.
Kirklees Council also had a change of heart over plans to close the Red House Museum and Oakwell Visitor Centre during the week in winter. Instead, from October, they will open from 11am to 4pm on Tuesdays to Thursdays, and 12pm to 5pm at weekends.
Glover House in Aberdeen, which was managed by Aberdeen City Council until 2008, was forced to auction its furniture last month to meet costs. The museum is currently closed to the public.
Meanwhile, the Science Museum has come under fire from a former senior curator at its Wroughton site.
Peter Turney said: “There are no senior curators left [at Wroughton] and all public access to the store has been stopped, except for specific research.
“There is a London-centric attitude that collections are accessible by exhibiting them in London.”
A Science Museum spokeswoman said: “Wroughton has been undergoing substantial redevelopment as a collections management facility for the Science Museum Group, and access for the purposes of research to the collections store is available by appointment.”
