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Vox pop | What should the new government’s biggest priority be for museums?
Three experts answer our question
James Steward
Head of service, Bradford Museums & Galleries
“Despite interminable austerity measures, we should remain optimistic for a change in direction. Greater economic stability would have a direct impact on a vulnerable cultural sector, and government investment is needed to develop new business models, with opportunities to thrive and show our relevance. Acknowledging museums’ ability to uniquely impact on solutions to a range of public policy challenges would generate greater sector confidence.”
Mike Benson
Director, Scottish Crannog Centre
“The incoming government has one priority: to mend UK-wide what has
been broken –be it in services, communities, the environment or trust. This is an opportunity for a different way of being, a different way of this country working, all of us working together for the common good –a country that represents cooperation, collective, respect for each other, comradeship, caring and love. What is the biggest priority? Simply to sign museums up to help and get us to work!”
Keith Merrin
Director, Tyne & Wear Archives and Museums
“The new government must urgently address the crisis affecting local authority funded museums before huge swathes of our national collection is lost forever. Regional museums are vital to communities and can deliver direct impact supporting health and wellbeing, tackling disadvantage, increasing skills and growing the economy. New sustainable funding models are needed in the longer term but meanwhile a short term ‘Cultural Recovery Fund’ type intervention could stabilise those at greatest risk of immediate closure.”