Museum cuts

moss Mar 26, 2009 08:11:20

I know the world is coming to an end as we know it, but in its contractions, and especially in the handling of the situation by our dearly beloved government some of the things that are going for the chop needs highlighting.
So it is with museums being hit by the withdrawal of the 'Rennaissance Scheme' that the government was running up to a short while ago....

http://www.mla.gov.uk/what/programmes/renaissance

Its now withdrawing its funding, and results can be seen in job cuts at just two highlighted in the news the last two days; first off is Bristol,

http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Bristol-museum-job-cuts-insult/article-838374-detail/article.html

second is the Royal Cornwall Museum in Truro...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/7963409.stm

Archaeologists are also feeling the pinch I believe... getting the stones protected from farmers is bad enough but when the 'backup' team starts disappearing as well - things look serious..

Rhiannon Mar 26, 2009 13:57:30

Replying to moss

ah all part of the dumbing down plot. I'm sure the staff that get left behind can just, like, take over in those departments they know nothing about. Geology, archaeology, natural history, (and as in Bristol) antique pianos - it's all the same really, just dust them now and again. Probably.

If they do need anyone to look after the thylacine though I'm first in the queue right.

gah

this new Museum of Bristol mentioned is all news to me. Sometimes I wonder if I am living under a stone.

nigelswift Mar 26, 2009 15:46:22

Replying to moss

And then there's the impact of the Heritage Lottery Fund being raided...
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23666025-details/Historic+gems+threatened+by+halving+of+Lottery+funds/article.do

Littlestone Mar 26, 2009 21:00:19

Replying to moss

So it is with museums being hit by the withdrawal of the 'Rennaissance Scheme' that the government was running up to a short while ago...

http://www.mla.gov.uk/what/programmes/renaissance

Ach, that's bad, but here's a bit of good news - http://www.chelmsford.gov.uk/index.cfm?articleid=13576 Happy to report that building work on the Museum extension is well under way, is looking good and on track to be completed at the end of this year. One of the old galleries already includes an audio/visual introduction to the Chelmer (Springfield) Cursus so hopefully that will stay - if not improved on.

thesweetcheat Mar 26, 2009 21:10:33

Replying to moss

Very sad about the Truro Museum, which has always had an excellent prehistory display - until recently it also had a great bookshop, selling exciting prehistory titles, but last time I went in the autumn it was all shut.

And Rhiannon, what's wrong with living under a stone? Assuming it's an almighty capstone and comes with all mod-cons.