Written evidence submitted by the Federation
of Museums and Art Galleries of Wales (arts 200)
In submitting these comments we would like to
acknowledge the fact that certain duties of government are devolved
from Westminster. It is not entirely clear if this consultation
applies to England only, but we have assumed it is a UK wide consultation.
Our comments relate mainly, but not entirely, to how museums in
Wales are affected.
1. SUMMARY
— Museums in Wales are already low level
of funding, as are those in England who have not benefitted from
the successful Renaissance programme. More cuts could lead to
widespread closures.
— Proposed closure of MLA is hasty and
seems to be based on no strategic overview of the consequences.
— We are concerned that the effect on all
the Home Countries may not have featured in any discussions on
these actions.
— Private philanthropy has its place but
under the current taxation system there is little incentive to
support it. When given it usually supports short term projects
not long term sustainability. It can never replace public support.
2. THIS SUBMISSION
IS ON
BEHALF OF
THE FEDERATION
OF MUSEUMS
AND ART
GALLERIES OF
WALES.
2.1 The Federation of Museums and Art Galleries
of Wales is the strategic body for museum and art gallery professionals
in Wales, advocating for the highest standards of museum provision
throughout Wales. We represent all types of museums—National,
local authority, university and independent,—and their staff
whether paid or volunteer. The Federation promotes good practice
in museums and galleries and provides support, advice and a forum
for discussion of museum issues affecting members.
2.2 The museum environment in Wales is different
from elsewhere in the UK with the National Museum of Wales holding
the majority of collections. The pattern of local museums—a
mix of Local Authority and independent museums—is characterised
by small scale institutions in the main—there are no big
city museums in Wales for instance. Despite devolution, the impact
of Westminster decisions can have a bigger impact on Wales, due
to decisions being made with only the English situation in mind.
It is for this reason that the Federation is keen to respond to
the consultation.
2.3 Our comments concentrate on the situation
within museums rather than the wider arts and heritage field.
3. IMPACT OF
SPENDING CUTS.
3.1 Museums are not a statutory service.
Local museums in Wales already operate on minimal staff and resource
levels, so any further cuts will have a serious effect. Local
authorities are likely to concentrate further on core services—which
does not include heritage—and there will be a further squeeze
on funding. This will also apply to the independent museum sector
that often receives modest grant aid and/or other forms of support
from local authorities. Very small grants—in many cases
less than £10,000—do make a considerable difference
and allow the volunteer run museums to operate. Grants to organisations
such as small museums may be the first to be cut.
3.2 There is now a real fear that museums,
both Local Authority and Independent will close—a loss to
the local economy (especially tourism), the local community and
to jobs. In addition there will be added pressure on any surviving
museums to safeguard collections from closed museums. Closures
will often be of branch museums which serve local communities.
Authorities may be reluctant to entirely dispense with the vestige
of a museum service but if funding is at a premium they may make
such decisions.
3.3 Many local museums receive help and
advice from the National Museum of Wales. In addition museums
in Wales have links with other National Museums throughout the
UK. A recent study by the National Museums Directors Conference
highlighted the importance of this. (Summary at http://www.nationalmuseums.org.uk/media/documents/what_we_do_documents/partnerships_report.pdf
). Examples of this work include museums in Wales borrowing objects
from The Tate, via the Museum Associations Effective Collection
Programme and a long term partnership between the National Portrait
Gallery and Bodelwyddan Castle. If these bodies and institutions
are similarly squeezed they will retract to core business and
cease or reduce their pastoral role. Thus local museums will have
a double hit.
3.4 In our view it is essential, if there
is to be a reduction in budgets, that this must be done on a managed
basis, based on a strategic overview on a country or regional
basis rather than piecemeal. Otherwise we could be left with very
patchy provision in the future.
3.5 If peoples access to the past through
objects is lost that can never be regained. It will not be retrievable
once the economy has recovered.
4. ROLE OF
ARTS ORGANISATIONS
IN WORKING
TOGETHER
4.1 We assume this also applies to museum
and heritage organisations too.
4.2 Many museums already work in partnership
on projects on an ad hoc basis. However formal relationships,
in terms of the museums we know in Wales, would not lead to any
significant savings as museums are operating from such a low base
already. We can see the advantages of large museum services working
together (as some examples in England) but there is little opportunity
to do this in Wales.
4.3 The public face of museums must continue
to be local within the community. The possible closure of some
museums would be a retrograde step. Public services in museums
such as the educational role are very popular and rely on a constant
level of staffing and resources. Schools are being encouraged
to explore new learning environments for their pupils and the
benefits of museums education programmes. Museums provide this
as a service and operate on a cost covering basis only. Further
cuts would mean services such as these would be cut.
4.4 There are few specialist staff in museums
in Wales (outside the National Museum)—it is possible to
share experience (and this happens a lot) but not the expertise.
5. LEVEL OF
PUBLIC SUBSIDY
5.1 Museums are not Statutory and therefore
at particular risk. Museums are praised for their Contribution
to Society but not supported as such.
5.2 Current system of funding. There
are no well funded museums in Wales outside the National Museum
and even that might be said to be relative. Funding for local
authority and independent museums has continued to decrease over
a number of years—the current situation is not new. Redistributing
funding to ensure nationals provide more services to locals may
be a way of filling the gap left by closure of MLA (and others).
5.3 Admission charges. National Museums
have free entry due to government policy but many LA and independent
museums have to charge to survive. The difference is not well
appreciated by the public—there is hostility to any charge.
Why not ask overseas tourists from non EU countries to pay at
National Museums and redistribute this income across museums,
or even as a saving to protect vital services?
5.4 Lottery. the increase in the
percentage of lottery funds allocated to heritage is only restoring
it to the level it was before 1998. We obviously support this
move. However with little capacity museums often struggle to jump
through all the hoops of the application process especially for
large projects. This is to their detriment although the need is
definitely still there.
5.5 Recent changes to arm's length DCMS
bodies. The recent announcement by the Department of Culture
Media and Sport that the Museums Libraries and Archives Council
(MLA) is to be abolished in 2012 as part of the spending cuts
may spell disaster for museums in Wales.
5.5.1 Several functions of MLA have an impact
in Wales and it is unclear how these will continue in the future.
5.5.2 There is concern, for instance, that grant
support for museum purchases whether works of art or historic
industrial equipment will be lost.
5.5.3 Another valuable service that is under
threat is the free technical advice from the National Security
Advisor. Museums have to follow strict guidelines to borrow items
of national importance from other museums. The advice from the
National Security advisor enables museums to make decisions on
what improvements they need to make to their galleries. In addition
the Government Indemnity Scheme administered by MLA provides museums
with an alternative to the considerable cost of commercial insurance.
These services are crucial for the continuation of the successful
network of loans that occur across the UK.
5.5.4 The MLA also operates the Acceptance in
Lieu scheme throughout the UK which enables taxpayers to transfer
items to museums to offset tax. Many museums in Wales have benefitted
from these programmes in the past.
5.5.5 There are also a number of organisations
funded through MLA which provide advice, funding and support to
museums in Wales such as the Portable Antiquities Scheme and the
Collections Trust.
5.5.6 A key strength of the successful Museum
Accreditation Scheme—a quality standard administered and
developed by MLA that gives the public assurance that museums
are safe places for their heritage—is that it operates UK
wide. How will this quality assurance scheme be maintained and
developed in the future?
5.5.7 The loss of the MLA may have bigger consequences
for Welsh Museums than their English counterparts as there is
a danger that any transition arrangements will not apply in Wales.
5.5.8 The closure of MLA is therefore of considerable
concern. The decision seems to have been made with little knowledge
of the impact on the sector as a whole. Many sector support bodies
have been stripped away in the past (Area Museum Councils, Regional
Agencies) and now MLA. If functions go into DCMS (or elsewhere)
there will inevitably become even more England focussed, but there
are still many services provided by MLA that are UK wide (see
examples above). Whilst the MLA/DCMS have said it will maintain
some schemes through the transition, we are concerned that some
of the specific implications for Wales may be overlooked.
5.5.9 It will not be possible to replicate these
services locally—it has been far more efficient to undertake
some services and support on a UK basis. Replicating them in Wales
will cost more money which obviously is neither desirable nor
practical. There is a danger of losing some world leading initiatives
such as Accreditation.
6. ROLE OF
BUSINESSES AND
PHILANTHROPISTS
6.1 Business can help but often it is very
hard work to source especially for the small museum. It is also
usually not for revenue funding. Museum professionals would need
to develop expertise and skill in making approaches for such funding.
At a practical level money needs to be available outside of the
capital and big cities and incentives through eg taxation need
to be encouraged. This has to be done at a UK level as it is not
a devolved responsibility.
7. PRIVATE DONATIONS
7.1 Encouraging private donations is obviously
supported but past evidence is that they are never long term (see
above) and often on the donor's terms. Funding a temporary exhibition
is of value but does not help long term sustainability of the
museum. There are some good examples of private giving—recently
the Cardiff Story has had substantial private support but even
here it is to set up a new museum—not long term support.
8. OTHER ISSUES
8.1 Volunteering. There is a danger of over
reliance on volunteers—the nature of volunteering will undoubtedly
change over time and people may not be so attracted to volunteer
in museums. A recent study of volunteering in museums was carried
out on behalf of AIM (the Association of Independent Museums)
and can be found at http://www.aim-museums.co.uk/downloads/84797761414092009152924.pdf
. In its executive summary it says "competition for volunteers
will be greater, and the needs and motivations of potential volunteers
will differ to those of today". Recruiting and retaining
volunteers will therefore be a job in itself and should not be
viewed as an easy option.
8.2 Earlier this year Volunteer Development
Scotland warns that fewer young people recognise the link between
volunteering and being a good citizen http://www.thirdsector.co.uk/news/Article/986645/Scotland-faces-lost-generation-volunteers/
In 2009 The Institute for Volunteer Research found many reasons
for not volunteering, a lack of time, lack of information and
awareness and perception and stereotypes. The report gave recommendations
for improving this, but it is not an easy process. http://www.vds.org.uk/Portals/0/Documents/Ockenden%20and%20Russell%202009%20All%20woolly%20hats%20and%20wellies.pdf
8.3 It is not sustainable to replace existing
publically funded museums with volunteer museums. The pool of
volunteers is limited and even successful volunteer run museums
tend to have some paid input, such as a volunteer co-ordinator
or access to advice from a Museums or Heritage Officer. Whilst
there are some extremely successful examples of volunteer run
museums, organisation and professional input is the key to their
success.
September 2010
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