Two museums announce closure due to low footfall and rising costs

Two museums have announced they will close in December due to increasing financial challenges.

The Quaker Tapestry Museum in Kendal, Cumbria, is to shut on 13 December as it is no longer financially viable.

The museum is centred on a tapestry that tells the story of Quakers in 77 embroidered panels, which cover more than 350 years of social history. 

A statement from the trustees of Quaker Tapestry Limited, the charitable company that runs the museum, said: “The financial stability of the museum has become more difficult to sustain in recent years and income received from paying visitors and other sources has failed to keep pace with regular leaps in running costs.

“As a result, we have no option under our obligations to the Charity Commission but to look into an orderly winding down of the museum and sadly will say goodbye both to our staff and to our visitors.”

In 2024 the museum received 4,800 visitors and this year that number will be about 4,000. Of these figures, about 60% are paying visitors.

At this stage, the museum couldn’t provide any information on the future of the collection, except to say that it will be properly taken care of and managed and that trustees intend to ensure the tapestry and the wider collection will be accessible to audiences.

Six permanent members of staff are being made redundant due to the closure. The museum also has 12 volunteers.

The building that houses the museum is owned by the Quaker Local Area Meeting and will continue to act as a place of worship.

The Quaker Meeting House became the home of the Quaker Tapestry in 1994. Work started on the tapestry in 1981.

The site also includes a gift shop, walled Peace Garden, cafe, rooms for hire and a small car park.

Meanwhile the Museum of Carpet in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, has announced “with deep regret” that it is closing on 20 December.

The venue describes itself as the only museum in the UK dedicated to celebrating the heritage, art and industry of carpet-making.

It tells the story of the carpet industry in Kidderminster through visuals, photos, films and interactives.

A statement from the chair of the Carpet Museum Trust, Geoffrey Gilbert, said: “After 13 years serving the public as a centre of learning, culture and heritage the museum has, like many similar institutions, faced significant financial challenges in recent years.

“Despite the dedication of staff, volunteers, friends, trustees, corporate partners and supporters the combination of rising energy prices, maintenance costs, loss of tenants and reduced footfall have made it unsustainable to continue operations at its present site.”

Gilbert said the museum had made extensive efforts to explore additional long-term funding with help from Museums Development Midlands and Arts Council England.

“Unfortunately, no sustainable solutions have been found to overcome these financial challenges,” he said.

Gilbert said the trust would continue to be responsible for the management of the museum's archives, displays and collections.

“Arrangements are being made to preserve and relocate the museum’s collection for future generations as necessary and they will be made public once details are finalised,” he said.

Enquiries can be made via email to collections@museumofcarpet.org.uk.