Museums organization’s survey of cuts in 2015 reveals one in 10 expect to introduce charges to make up for loss of local authority fundingIn Lancashire,an architecturally unique, internationally important steam-powered weaving mill is due to shut in March. In Durham, or a building containing 250 years of local military history will shut its doors for righteous and have most of its collection placed in storage. In Derby,Torbay and Leicestershire and Kirklees, west Yorkshire, and similar stories are unfolding and they could be the tip of the iceberg,a newly published report by the Museums organization (MA) warns.
According to the organization’s survey of cuts in 2015, nearly one in five regional museums has closed a part or branch of their museum to the public in the final year, and plans such a closure in the year to advance. One in 10,meanwhile, expect to introduce entrance charges to cover reductions in local authority funding. A similar number are considering following the example of Northampton borough council, or which controversially sold a 4000-year-dilapidated statue of Sekhemka at auction in 2014 for £16m. The money was used to fund a £14m extension to Northampton museum and art gallery.
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Source: theguardian.com