Vox pop

“Overall, the impact of the cuts on the budgets of local authority and independent museums in Northern Ireland would appear to be lagging behind that in the rest of the UK.

Last year NIMC undertook a survey, which revealed a mixed picture. There were some budget rises, with reductions where they occurred running at about 10%.

At the moment, National Museums Northern Ireland is facing much more significant reductions in its budgets, and this could set the trend for the coming years.

Over the past two years NIMC’s support has reduced, having a direct impact on the level of service we can provide, and our functions are now being reviewed in the context of efficiency savings being sought by government. So, for Northern Ireland, the full impact has yet to come.”


“The severity of cuts means we have lost talented colleagues and seen organisations close. But my gut response is no; in tough times we all have to adapt to survive.

Challenge does foster resourcefulness. In Manchester we’re making big, bold changes. We are now two years into sharing resources and posts, including mine, and building odd-shaped but highly effective organisations suited to our new reality.

The work that has come out of this new collaborative mode – from the city-wide We Face Forward exhibition to the early years work that won us the Clore Learning Award this year – demonstrates different as well as leaner can be better.

I see my staff and colleagues around the country being creative and resilient. But any more cuts? That would start to undermine the foundations.”


 “No. Not because I believe random bloodletting is good for the health, but because the circumstances are so special. Museums would have to be very solipsistic not to have noticed that individuals and institutions all over the world are facing the consequences of the economic crisis. In the past, museums were top of the list when the knives were out. This time, we’re not alone.

Because of this, there is a more pragmatic approach to service delivery. This time we’re not expected to continue to do everything for less money. We can be more flexible and proactive.

Income generation is being put on a proper commercial footing, not treated as a bolt-on goodie. Being more entrepreneurial has to be good for museums and galleries in the long term.”


“With my museum, the fact that we no longer have to compete with heavily subsidised arts organisations has meant that we are more successful than ever. Our visitors value our work and are willing to pay for it.

While the cuts are damaging in the short term I am hopeful that the sector will emerge more radical and responsive to the social needs of the public.

New financial and governance structures will mean that museums have greater control over their own futures and will be less reliant on whatever councillor or minister has been given the portfolio for the arts.

My vision is that we create a ‘republic of museums’ that, through fraternity, support each other to achieve a social purpose for our collections, rather than a dependence on government funding. ”