One of the major attractions to the city of Sheffield as a place to live in was the amount of potential the city itself has. For me, the amount of creative talent here, and the ideas and plans for the city seemed ever more exciting. Will this soon be in decline with 'Museums Sheffield' inevitability closing?
Museums Sheffield's application for £1.4m per year for the next three years has been refused. Museums Sheffield must now manage a devastating 30% reduction in its budget from 1 April 2012. “This is a huge disappointment for the city and Museums Sheffield. We know Sheffield had a very strong bid and should have been recognised for its cultural offer....”Julie Dore, Leader of Sheffield City Council.
This decrease in funding will have a big impact on Museums Sheffield, bearing in mind, Museums Sheffield controls Millennium Gallery, Graves Gallery, and Weston Park Museum. Its thought that just because the funding has been reduced there are no plans for the museums or galleries in the city to close, but isn't this inevitable if the funding is decreasing over the next 3 years? It's set for 45 jobs to be cut, meaning a large scale staff redundancy. As well as that, there will be major reductions in exhibition programmes, and less learning trips provided for schools.
The next exhibition that will take place, is believed to be it's last. Bearing this in mind, as well as the cut of the city's major cultural offering, I decided to ask the thoughts of passer bys, if and how they will be affected...
“I often spend my lunchtime wondering around and sitting in the cafe. I love to see the new inspirational pieces of work and the things in the gift shop. I want to buy everything there!” Lola 28yrs, Sheffield.
“Hearing that the next exhibition will be the last is really upsetting. I would have hoped the work remains the standard as it is now, but not such hope anymore... Activities and workshops will no longer exist? That is so disappointing. I always thought the idea of school visits was a good opportunity for children to have a fun day out yet learn quite a lot.” Mary 53yrs, Rotherham.
Museums Sheffield is a big part of the city, bringing and providing the culture it has. I believe people won't notice what they've lost until its gone. Especially with the Millennium Gallery, so many people walk through just as a gateway, a quick way, to get somewhere. Maybe once this has gone, people will realise it wasn't just there for a easier way to get somewhere else.
Museums Sheffield, following the decline of there application for the next 3 years, have now become in negotiation with the Arts Council to provide a short term funding scheme to ease a transition of cuts.
To add to that, with the amount of disappointment caused by the refusal of the application for Museums Sheffield, there is a plan to protest against the Art’s Councils decision on Sunday 12th February. A sit in picnic will be held at the Millennium Galleries in Sheffield from 12pm until 3pm. It is encouraged that everyone who is unhappy with the decision, joins the protest with a picnic basket and a pen, as Shefftopia will be holding a big drawing demonstration at the event.
This Sunday! 12-3pm! Millennium Gallery! Fingers crossed it isn't the end yet.
No comments:
Post a Comment