Lack of staff is biggest challenge facing museum directors this year

Staff shortfalls are the number one challenge currently facing museum directors – putting pressure on existing teams and leading to a long-term decline in core collections activity.  

That’s the finding from the Art Fund’s fifth Museum Directors Research report, which is based on insights from more than 320 directors representing museums and galleries across all four nations, from volunteer-led organisations to major institutions. 

The problem is largely caused by funding shortfalls and wage inflation, leaving many unable to fill vacant roles or reliant on short-term contracts. The impact is concerning – as well as negatively affecting workforce wellbeing, low staffing levels have left museums “struggling to meet rising demand, expectations and potential”.

Many core collections activities, particularly cataloguing, digitisation and conservation, remain “on the back burner”, with 85% of museums citing team size and capacity as the main barrier.

Meanwhile, 25% of non-national museums lack appropriate expertise, a fallout from a general loss of curatorial roles, frozen posts and the undervaluing of curatorial skills.

One respondent, from a local authority museum in Wales, commented: “When I arrived, there was curator, assistant curator, a collections officer, and two technicians, both of whom had experience in designing and mounting exhibitions. Now there’s me and an assistant curator, who is also half the marketing officer, because we lost our marketing budget year before last and everybody else on the team.”

Directors taking part in the survey said that limited staff meant they were not able to respond to increased demands from visitors, communities or partners. This is despite many organisations reporting a rise in visitor numbers, school groups and community engagement with collections.

The report found optimism had grown among directors compared to the previous survey in 2024, particularly about the potential for museums to be civic spaces for all,

It found that 41% organisations had received an increase in public funding and 45% had increased earned income, and 44% had seen an increase in visitor numbers.

However, income has not kept pace with rising costs – including wage inflation. Nearly a third (31%) of local authority museums reported that their funding has decreased or stopped. 

Directors taking part in the survey said the focus on project and capital funding masks the challenge of paying for day-to-day operations.

Presenting the research at the Museums & Heritage Show in London last week, Art Fund policy lead Lucy Bird said the lack of staff was particularly challenging “when museums are now expected to deliver in so many different areas”.

Bird said the findings would inform Art Fund’s next five-year strategy, and advocacy work in the sector.

“We have a stronger voice when we come together,” she said. “As a sector we need to work together to tell those stories and really have an impact in the challenging political landscape.”

Jenny Waldman, the director of the Art Fund, said: “Our new research shows that museums have brilliant ambitions, but they are operating with too few staff, and insufficient resources. 

“Museum directors spoke to us passionately about the vital role museums play in society – as civic spaces of authenticity, safety and trust in an increasingly fractured world. 

“As an independent charity, Art Fund will use the insights from this research to shape our future programme of grants and support for the sector and to advocate for the policies and funding that museums need to thrive.” 

Key stats from the research

• 45% of museums have driven up earned income, and 41% have seen their funding from public sources increase.
• 31% of museums have seen their local authority funding decrease or stop completely.
• 62% of museums are working in partnership to develop exhibitions.
• 44% of museums have seen their overall visitor numbers increase in the last year but 20% have seen audiences decline.
• 41% of museums have reduced the number of exhibitions created each year and 36% have reduced opening times as direct consequences of insufficient funding and staffing.