Culture minister ‘painfully aware’ of financial crisis facing civic museums

The UK culture minister Chris Bryant has told the sector that he is “painfully aware” of the financial crisis facing civic museums and galleries.

In an address to the Museums Association Conference, which took place in Leeds from 12-14 November, Bryant said: “I don't need to tell anybody in this room, but local government has found it tough protecting arts, culture and leisure budgets when they're facing a massive deficit and when statutory social services inevitably consume more and more over the last 14 years.”

Bryan said that, while the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) does not have responsibility for local government, it is reviewing the “total package” of financial support for civic institutions, including local, regional and central government finding, private giving, private finance, earned income, Arts Council England funding, the lottery and direct grant in aid.

He added: “I can't promise to change things overnight [..] but I know we cannot carry on indefinitely as we are.”

Bryant outlined his department’s ambition for national museums and galleries to be “genuinely national” and extend their reach across the whole of the UK.

“I want to see more significant works on tour, especially works that might otherwise be sitting in the basement somewhere, either visiting libraries and schools or on loans to civic museums and galleries,” he said.

Bryant said he views culture and the arts as “key to economic development and national economic growth”.

He said a “holistic argument” needed to be made about the economic power of the creative industries as a whole.

“They're not hermetically sealed from the rest of the economy,” he said. “They are a single ecosystem. I would argue you don't get a successful video games industry without successful publishers, actors, artists and even archeologists and museum directors.”

He added: “Museums and galleries are not just a nice to have. They are an essential part of our growth agenda in the UK, enticing visitors, anchoring creative businesses, showcasing local talent and giving people a chance to see things from a different angle. The more we can all make that argument together, the stronger our future.”

The culture minister’s comments come after sector bodies expressed disappointment that the UK Government’s autumn budget did not offer any support for civic institutions. The English Civic Museums Network has warned that some museums could face closure in the coming year unless their financial situation is addressed.