The Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee will hold an inquiry on 2 July to hear evidence and discuss the future of the Science Museum Group (SMG), following the SMG’s announcement that it may have to close one of its sites if its budget is cut by 10% in the upcoming spending review.
According to a government spokeswoman, the inquiry will focus on the SMG’s funding difficulties, the importance of each of its museums on a local and national basis, the potential for more commercial exploitation to make up the shortfall, and other possible funding sources.
It is hoped that the museums’ local authorities will give evidence, while the committee is accepting written evidence prior to the hearing.
The announcement last week by SMG’s director Ian Blatchford that he may have to close one of SMG’s three northern museums has provoked confusion and indignation in equal measure.
Keith Crunden from Bognor Regis, writing on a petition to save York’s National Railway Museum, sums up the tone of many of the other 4,500 signatories when he writes: “We must save these museums for our children to have the same opportunity to learn of our history as we have.”
A separate petition to save the Museum Of Science and Industry in Manchester has garnered over 19,000 signatures, while another for the National Media Museum in Bradford has over 33,000.
Museums Association director, Mark Taylor, said: “The SMG is in a similar position to many other museums round the country.
“Whatever the government says, it is not possible to maintain frontline services when funding is so massively reduced. Something has to give. Another set of substantial cuts could bring closures all over the country.”
The select committee requests short written submissions. A copy of the submission should be sent by email to cmsev@parliament.uk and should have ”Science Museum” in the subject line.
Submissions should be received by Thursday 27 June 2013.
Update
14.06.2013
This piece was updated to include address for written submissions.
According to a government spokeswoman, the inquiry will focus on the SMG’s funding difficulties, the importance of each of its museums on a local and national basis, the potential for more commercial exploitation to make up the shortfall, and other possible funding sources.
It is hoped that the museums’ local authorities will give evidence, while the committee is accepting written evidence prior to the hearing.
The announcement last week by SMG’s director Ian Blatchford that he may have to close one of SMG’s three northern museums has provoked confusion and indignation in equal measure.
Keith Crunden from Bognor Regis, writing on a petition to save York’s National Railway Museum, sums up the tone of many of the other 4,500 signatories when he writes: “We must save these museums for our children to have the same opportunity to learn of our history as we have.”
A separate petition to save the Museum Of Science and Industry in Manchester has garnered over 19,000 signatures, while another for the National Media Museum in Bradford has over 33,000.
Museums Association director, Mark Taylor, said: “The SMG is in a similar position to many other museums round the country.
“Whatever the government says, it is not possible to maintain frontline services when funding is so massively reduced. Something has to give. Another set of substantial cuts could bring closures all over the country.”
The select committee requests short written submissions. A copy of the submission should be sent by email to cmsev@parliament.uk and should have ”Science Museum” in the subject line.
Submissions should be received by Thursday 27 June 2013.
Update
14.06.2013
This piece was updated to include address for written submissions.
