Jobs at risk as museum funding bid snubbed

Sheffield and Hull Museums had funding applications turned down, while museums in Leeds and York were successful, it was announced yesterday.

Sheffield Museums had applied to the Arts Council for £1.4m per year over three years and chief executive Nick Dodd said that they would be seeking to appeal the decision to turn down the funding request.

Mr Dodd said: “We do not even know if there is an appeals procedure, but we want a decent explanation from the Arts Council about why they have made this decision that lets down over one million people who come to our museum every year.

“Not getting the funding means a potential loss of 45 posts at the museum, most of which will be in education, exhibitions – the people behind the scenes.

“It puts the size and the quality of all our exhibitions in the future, at one of the region’s most successful venues, at serious risk.”

Sheffield City Council leader Coun Julie Dore said: “This is a huge disappointment for the city. Sheffield should have been recognised for its cultural offer.”

Sheffield Museums previously received £800,000 funding from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council annually, but last year the Arts Council assumed the responsibility of handing out funding to the nation’s museums from MLA. Eligible organisations could apply to the Arts Council for funding.

A total of 29 organisations applied for the funding pot of £20m per year for the next three years, with 16 receiving a share, including Leeds Museums and Galleries and York Museums Trust. Hull City Council, applying with East Riding of Yorkshire Council and North Lincs also missed out.

Arts Council Yorkshire regional director, Cluny Macpherson, said: “We had to make some really difficult choices for audiences.”