Museums under threat of closure?

[stephenholmes]

Good evening everyone
The following is from tonights Manchester Evening News
I hope this doesn't happen

Manchester’s most popular visitor attraction could close in order to keep the London Science Museum open.

The Museum of Science and Industry (Mosi) – which welcomes thousands of families each year – could be shut down under plans being considered by the national Science Museum Group.

The shocking announcement also puts in jeopardy the National Media Museum in Bradford and the National Rail Museum in York.

The three northern visitor attractions, which are all part of the London-based museum group, have been put on the chopping block because of funding cuts.

Town hall bosses in Manchester and the other northern cities have been engaged in emergency talks today in a bid to resolve the crisis.

The Liverpool Road museum, which is built on the site of the world’s first intercity railway, was forced to go into partnership with the London Science Museum after the government cut funding to ‘non-core museums’.

But the Science Museum Group now says that the only way it can overcome a huge operating debt is to jettison the three museums.

The plans will be put forward to the museum groups’s trustees in the autumn.

In a statement, the group said: “The Science Museum Group has to address a large projected operating deficit from 2014 onwards and is assessing a range of options to address this situation.

"Despite making significant cost reductions we are still faced with a significant annual deficit next year and beyond because of cuts in Grant in Aid. The Group’s finances are expected to come under even greater pressure following the Spending Review on 26 June 2013.

“We have already undertaken a range of cost saving initiatives since the government cuts announced in October 2010, and we will look at further efficiencies to ensure that we continue to care for our collections and maintain our role in inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers. Our recommendations will go to the Board of Trustees in the Autumn.”

A spokeswoman for the museum group said she could not comment on whether the museums would be viable or whether the group would be prepared to sell or give them to another operator.

Mosi received 830,000 visitors in 2011/12.

[lenfish]

Probably a prelude to charging for admission (again) and/or playing politics prior to the Spending Review and/or privatising them.

Regards,

Len

[stephenholmes]

Good morning Len and all viewing this thread
It would be a great shame if Mosi or the NRM at York were closed
Both have been in regular use for many years and are very popular with visitors
If an entry fee was the only option of saving them then I think many would be in favour
Kind regards Stephen

[lenfish]

Hello Stephen,

I can see there being a huge public uproar if they were to close, recession or no recession. Is cash so tight and times so desperate that we will just throw away our national heritage after spending so many years building it up? Common sense tells me it won't happen, but common sense seems to be in short supply where are rulers (of whatever colour) are concerned. I agree that re-introducing entrance fees is preferable to shutting them down.

Regards,

Len

[PeterPeddlesden]

Perhaps it is time for our Museums to become part of our Heritage under the guise of "The National Trust".

They seem to do remarkably well with numbers visiting in the millions and two options of payment: "membership of the National Trust" or "pay per visit".

Here's just one page of their Annual Report 2011/2012 clearly showing very high numbers.

http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/about-u ... l-reports/

Membership numbers around the 4 million mark

Pay per visit numbers at 19 million

Staggering numbers by comparison to our museums.

[stephenholmes]

Good evening everyone
The following is from todays Manchester Evening News
Kind regards Stephen

The head of the Science Museum Group has confirmed that cuts to its budgets could lead to the closure of Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI).

As well as "big cuts" to the Science Museum in London, the group's director Ian Blatchford said MOSI, or one of its other outposts in York or Bradford could close its doors.

Mr Blatchford, head of the London-based group, said the prospect of a further 10% extra cut in funding meant "almost certainly" that one of the museums would have to go.

The group runs MOSI, the National Railway Museum in York and Bradford's National Media Museum.
Mr Blatchford told BBC Radio 4's World at One: "There are two problems. The first is we are already in quite a weak position because in the existing spending round we ended up with 25% real terms cuts.

"But the real problem is there seems a very strong prospect of a further 10% of cuts which basically means that we will end up with a deficit, currently of £2 million, rising to about £6 million a year which for a museum is a huge amount of money."

Asked if that would mean the closure of a museum, he said: "I have to say, with a very heavy heart, it really does. We have done lots of boring and sensible things, awful things like cutting staff, procurement, raising more money.

"But cuts of that level bite really deep into our flesh so it means not only big cuts in the Science Museum in London but one of our three great northern museums almost certainly would also have to close."

National museums do not charge for admission, but Mr Blatchford said he was in talks with the Government about the possibility of reinstating entry fees.

"Even though it might be an option, it's certainly not an option on the table at the moment, I just don't have the power to do it," he said.
"It's part of the conversation we are having with them because, clearly, we appreciate times are tough and they also do appreciate that if the cuts are significant there will be some pain.

"So we are having that discussion with them at the moment."

Pressed on which museum was most likely to shut he said: "It is a very difficult question to answer because we are having that discussion at the moment. You are comparing three great cities, York, Bradford and Manchester, very different cities with different economies and different universities.

"We just haven't decided yet."

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: "It would be inappropriate to speculate on the outcome of the Spending Review.

"This is an operational matter for the Science Museum Group who has to address a large projected operating deficit from 2014 onwards and is assessing a range of options to address this situation".

[lenfish]

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: "It would be inappropriate to speculate on the outcome of the Spending Review.

"This is an operational matter for the Science Museum Group who has to address a large projected operating deficit from 2014 onwards and is assessing a range of options to address this situation".

Nothing to do with us Guv.

Regards,

Len

[rufuskins]

I believe that that Mr Micawber's famous take on money from Charles Dickens' "David Copperfield" may be appropriate here

"Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure nineteen [pounds] nineteen [shillings] and six [pence], result happiness. Annual income twenty pounds, annual expenditure twenty pounds ought and six, result misery."

Alec

[stephenholmes]

Good morning everyone
There have been numerous people signing the Manchester Evening News petition to save MOSI

In just 24-hours, an M.E.N petition calling for the Science Museum Group to guarantee the future of the landmark has received overwhelming support
Twenty thousand people from Manchester and beyond have said: ‘Hands off our museum’.

In just 24-hours, an M.E.N petition calling for the Science Museum Group to guarantee the future of the landmark has received overwhelming support.

Last night, more than 20,000 had backed us in our bid to save the museum.

High-profile backers along with ordinary people from all walks of life – including teachers, mums and dads – have told us why they love the Liverpool Road museum.

The science venue was voted the north west’s top visitor attraction in 2011 – and is also Manchester’s busiest tourist attraction.

ITV presenter Lucy Meacock Tweeted: “If you’re in north west and value our rich industrial history or see a need to teach science to kids please help save Mosi.”
Town hall bosses also urged the public to get behind our petition.

Coun Rosa Battle, executive member for culture and leisure, said: “We give our full support to the M.E.N’s campaign to save this wonderful institution, which hundreds of thousands of people across Manchester and further afield have grown up with.”

Withington MP John Leech, the Lib Dem’s culture spokesman, backed our campaign as he tabled an Early Day motion calling for the government to safeguard the museum.

He added: “It is part of our fabric here in Manchester, it inspires the hundreds of thousands who walk through its doors every year. I’ve raised this in Parliament as it’s vital we retain this fantastic museum for future generations.”

Trade union Prospect, which represents museum workers, labelled the closure option ‘illogical’.

Alan Leighton, from the union, said: “Every £1 spent on the arts generates £4 for the economy.”

The MEN petition can be found here
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... ry-4050167

[davejc64]

But aren't these prime examples of what the lottery should be funding?

[stephenholmes]

Good afternoon everyone
I agree with your comments Dave about lottery funding
Here is a further update to this news article from todays Manchester Evening News

Civic leaders have joined forces in a bid to safeguard the future of Manchester's Museum of Science and Industry, it was announced today.

The museum on Liverpool Road in the city centre is under threat alongside the National Rail Museum in York and Bradford's National Media Museum.

The Science Museums Group, which runs Mosi and the two other venues, said one could close over fears of a £6m funding shortfall.

The leaders of Manchester, Bradford and York councils said in a joint statement issued today that any closure would be devastating.

And they rounded on the government's science policies in terms of funding, calling for a change in the way money is allocated.
he three civic leaders said the museums 'educate and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers' – and warned that any closure would be 'unacceptable' to the north.

The statement was issued in the name of Sir Richard Leese, leader of Manchester council, James Alexander, leader of York council, and Bradford council leader David Green.

Almost 36,000 people have now signed an M.E.N. petition calling on the Science Museums Group to save Mosi.

The statement said it would be 'unthinkable' to close a national museum like London's National History Museum – and questioned why it 'appeared acceptable' to close museums in the north.

It read: “Bradford, Manchester and York councils are working together to make sure we can maintain the Science Museums Group current scale of operations in its national presence outside of London.

“The Science Museum Group, which has already absorbed 25 per cent cuts since 2010, has said that if an additional 10 per cent cut is made by the government through its spending review, it would have very little choice other than to close one of the northern national science museums in our cities, since their year-on-year deficit would rise from £2m to £6m.

“This is something we and the north as a whole could not accept.

“We not only host priceless national collections but are in partnership to educate and inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers to drive the national and local economies and showcase best of British research.

“Government science policy needs to be more joined up and there needs to be an on-going commitment to funding across the scientific community.

“The Department of Business, Innovation and Skills has a £13m ‘science and society’ programme and spends its money on a plethora of initiatives, but not on the Science Museum Group.

“This does not make sense because the science museums are trusted by the public and teachers and have the best experience of presenting science with the greatest impact and reach across the country.

“The three northern national science museums are also vital to the current local economies of our great cities. In total they contribute over £500m per annum and provide directly over 250 full time equivalent jobs in Yorkshire and Lancashire.

“We are keen to encourage increased collaboration across all the national science museums and with the Department for Business Innovation and Skills.

“The science museums are important contributors to our national and local education, tourism and cultural offer, providing a very real indication of the government’s commitment to science and technology and our national economic growth, particularly in the north of England.

“It would be unthinkable even to consider closing national museums, like the Victoria and Albert or the National History Museum, in London. Why then does it appear to be acceptable to discuss potential closures of national museums in Northern cities?

“The economic and cultural impact of closing a national science museum in Bradford, York or Manchester would be much more devastating in any one of these cities, than closing a London museum would be on the capital’s or indeed the nation’s economy.”

[PeterPeddlesden]

The Guardians take on the matter - http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/polit ... ter-london

[jbilton]

Hi

Bad state of affairs indeed.
Seems the Government have money for some Museums.
38 Degrees have a position on it, you can sign the petition if you agree.


http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/n ... are-button

Cheers
Jon

[stephenholmes]

Good morning Jon
I am a member of 38 degrees and regularly sign their petitions
Kind regards Stephen

[jbilton]

Hi Stephen

Good news

"38 Degrees members have been running amazing campaigns this week to save three northern museums from the threat of closure. Thousands signed petitions to save Bradford Media Museum, York Railway Museum and Manchester Museum of Science and Industry.

Today, Culture Minister Ed Vaizey said there was "no question" of them closing."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-22948171

Cheers
Jon