Member News
26th January 2011
The Visual Arts and Galleries Association bemoan the "scant reassurance" given by government over the funding of the National Museums and Galleries.
VAGA welcomed Lord Sheldon's question in the House of Lords on 25 January regarding the government's plans for ensuring that National Museums and Galleries receive sufficient funding to sustain their current high standards. The responses from the government provided scant reassurance.
Increasing private giving has been positioned as the cornerstone of the government's policy for the arts, however a question on whether the government would reconsider extending tax incentives to include lifetime giving was deferred as a question for the Treasury. One from Lord Myners was answered with the statement that "meetings and projects" had been "set up" to encourage philanthropy. The critical question from Baroness Bonham-Carter as to the government's commitment to public funding for museums and galleries was left hanging.
Baroness Jones of Whitchurch rightly noted that local authority cuts would "inevitably take their toll" on collections. The government response regarding the continuation of Renaissance in the Regions gave no mention that the revised programme will have fewer direct regional beneficiaries, leaving many smaller museums to apply to a new challenge fund – the details of which are yet to be published.
Likewise no mention was made of the fact that the Arts Council, whilst assuming responsibility for the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council functions with very little money earmarked for administration, will itself be undergoing another restructure in order to make a further 50 per cent efficiency savings.
Lord Clancarty pointed out that cuts to education and outreach are already taking effect in Liverpool (where over 18,000 people signed a petition in support of the museums' services). Future government plans may well be too late for many museums and galleries and those who enjoy them.
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