At a meeting of the International Council of Museums (Icom) in Portugal last month, its European national committees signed up to the Lisbon Declaration, calling for governments to maintain funding to museums and heritage.
The declaration reads: “Drastic cuts are endangering the existence of many museums and their collections, and threatening the working conditions of professionals, particularly younger ones… policy makers need to recognise that museums are long-term, inter-generational institutions, where research, conservation and dissemination of knowledge are closely entwined.”
The declaration outlines three priorities: to recognise the importance of cultural infrastructure through maintaining or increasing government resources to museums; to protect and promote human resources in museums; and to promote citizens’ participation in museum activities.
Luis Raposo, the chairman of Icom Portugal, said: “In Portugal, we have seen a diminishing significance in general for culture, and particularly for museums. More than half the budget from central government for museums has been cut. There is no extra money for exhibitions – museums are just surviving.
“Up to now, no government museums have closed. But local museums, dependent on municipalities, are suffering, and there have been closures for financial reasons.
“In general, it is the same for all of the Mediterranean countries. In more northern museums, there have also been significant cuts, but not as much as in the south. Our feeling is that the situation will spread across Europe.”
Raposo said most Icom countries had signed the declaration. At the end of this month, Icom Europe will be seeking an audience with the presidents of the European Parliament and European Commission to hand them the declaration.
The declaration reads: “Drastic cuts are endangering the existence of many museums and their collections, and threatening the working conditions of professionals, particularly younger ones… policy makers need to recognise that museums are long-term, inter-generational institutions, where research, conservation and dissemination of knowledge are closely entwined.”
The declaration outlines three priorities: to recognise the importance of cultural infrastructure through maintaining or increasing government resources to museums; to protect and promote human resources in museums; and to promote citizens’ participation in museum activities.
Luis Raposo, the chairman of Icom Portugal, said: “In Portugal, we have seen a diminishing significance in general for culture, and particularly for museums. More than half the budget from central government for museums has been cut. There is no extra money for exhibitions – museums are just surviving.
“Up to now, no government museums have closed. But local museums, dependent on municipalities, are suffering, and there have been closures for financial reasons.
“In general, it is the same for all of the Mediterranean countries. In more northern museums, there have also been significant cuts, but not as much as in the south. Our feeling is that the situation will spread across Europe.”
Raposo said most Icom countries had signed the declaration. At the end of this month, Icom Europe will be seeking an audience with the presidents of the European Parliament and European Commission to hand them the declaration.
