Keith Merrin director, Woodhorn, Northumberland
"We are currently seeing a surge in visitors and income with a hugely popular temporary exhibition. Despite testing times for local authorities and corporate partners, it is not yet clear how the recession will affect us. With this in mind, I hope that museums will resist prematurely cutting developmental or innovative work to safeguard perceived core activity.
We will continue to be bullish in terms of new exhibitions, outreach activity and working harder than ever to demonstrate value to visitors, local communities and partners. I also hope that the sector will take a hard look at how we use some of our money and particularly tackle issues around energy consumption."
Tudor Gwynn projects director, Eureka, National Children's Museum, Halifax
"For me it's public programming. Visitors to Eureka know that they're going to get a fabulous day of playful learning, but what makes a family visit particularly memorable for children and adults alike are the times when our skilful front-of-house staff are able to encourage them to play together.
An example being a session designed around a specific holiday theme, where creativity and junk materials come together in perfect harmony. The ownership of the collaboratively produced object along with the broader playful experience of the galleries is irreplaceable in terms of ensuring families come back for more. Those repeat visits are essential to our survival at any time."
Andrew McLaughlin head of communications, National Trust
"Good communications are vital at any time but particularly so when people are thinking carefully about where to invest their time and money. As a result of the recession, most organisations are inevitably focusing on communicating the value and relevance of their offering.
The ability to communicate effectively in this clamour needs high-quality creative people who can tell the organisation's 'stories' imaginatively and with impact, and they need the resources and support to help them do this well.
Without good communications it's all too easy for an organisation to fade from view, which risks eroding support and puts the organisation's long-term future in jeopardy."
Ragesh Khakhria negotiations officer, Public and Commercial Services union
"The last thing that should be cut in a recession is public expenditure.
There is a sound economic case for creating more jobs and increasing pay in the arts, particularly as other sources of income rapidly diminish. What better way to revive our flagging economy than increasing the pay of those on low incomes who spend a great proportion of their pay on essentials?
PCS members working in museums and galleries are passionate about their work. They provide excellent value for money and a crucial service. If the government is insistent on cuts how about the £20bn that will be wasted on new submarines to carry Trident nuclear missiles?"
"We are currently seeing a surge in visitors and income with a hugely popular temporary exhibition. Despite testing times for local authorities and corporate partners, it is not yet clear how the recession will affect us. With this in mind, I hope that museums will resist prematurely cutting developmental or innovative work to safeguard perceived core activity.
We will continue to be bullish in terms of new exhibitions, outreach activity and working harder than ever to demonstrate value to visitors, local communities and partners. I also hope that the sector will take a hard look at how we use some of our money and particularly tackle issues around energy consumption."
Tudor Gwynn projects director, Eureka, National Children's Museum, Halifax
"For me it's public programming. Visitors to Eureka know that they're going to get a fabulous day of playful learning, but what makes a family visit particularly memorable for children and adults alike are the times when our skilful front-of-house staff are able to encourage them to play together.
An example being a session designed around a specific holiday theme, where creativity and junk materials come together in perfect harmony. The ownership of the collaboratively produced object along with the broader playful experience of the galleries is irreplaceable in terms of ensuring families come back for more. Those repeat visits are essential to our survival at any time."
Andrew McLaughlin head of communications, National Trust
"Good communications are vital at any time but particularly so when people are thinking carefully about where to invest their time and money. As a result of the recession, most organisations are inevitably focusing on communicating the value and relevance of their offering.
The ability to communicate effectively in this clamour needs high-quality creative people who can tell the organisation's 'stories' imaginatively and with impact, and they need the resources and support to help them do this well.
Without good communications it's all too easy for an organisation to fade from view, which risks eroding support and puts the organisation's long-term future in jeopardy."
Ragesh Khakhria negotiations officer, Public and Commercial Services union
"The last thing that should be cut in a recession is public expenditure.
There is a sound economic case for creating more jobs and increasing pay in the arts, particularly as other sources of income rapidly diminish. What better way to revive our flagging economy than increasing the pay of those on low incomes who spend a great proportion of their pay on essentials?
PCS members working in museums and galleries are passionate about their work. They provide excellent value for money and a crucial service. If the government is insistent on cuts how about the £20bn that will be wasted on new submarines to carry Trident nuclear missiles?"
