Southampton looks to transfer museums to trust status
Council in negotiations with Hampshire Cultural Trust
Southampton City Council is looking to transfer the running of its three museums into an independent trust.
In 2013, Southampton council pulled out of Hampshire Cultural Trust, which was set up with Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council to manage museum services.
A report produced by Hampshire City Council at the time said that integrating Southampton’s museums into the trust were not "achievable for Southampton in the current economic climate”.
But the council has confirmed that it is now looking to transfer the SeaCity Museum, Southampton City Art Gallery and Tudor House and Garden into Hampshire Cultural Trust.
A spokeswoman for Hampshire Cultural Trust said negotiations with Southampton council were at an “early exploratory stage”.
“We are very happy to support Southampton City Council's alternative governance options appraisal,” she said, “We are working with the council to examine an option for delivery involving Hampshire Cultural Trust.”
According to a report in the Daily Echo, a local Southampton newspaper, Conservative councillor John Hannides said in a council debate that the three museums were “very heavily subsidised” by the council.
He also reportedly warned that “unless we do something more than we are doing now I’m afraid we will be overseeing their demise”.
In 2013, Southampton council pulled out of Hampshire Cultural Trust, which was set up with Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council to manage museum services.
A report produced by Hampshire City Council at the time said that integrating Southampton’s museums into the trust were not "achievable for Southampton in the current economic climate”.
But the council has confirmed that it is now looking to transfer the SeaCity Museum, Southampton City Art Gallery and Tudor House and Garden into Hampshire Cultural Trust.
A spokeswoman for Hampshire Cultural Trust said negotiations with Southampton council were at an “early exploratory stage”.
“We are very happy to support Southampton City Council's alternative governance options appraisal,” she said, “We are working with the council to examine an option for delivery involving Hampshire Cultural Trust.”
According to a report in the Daily Echo, a local Southampton newspaper, Conservative councillor John Hannides said in a council debate that the three museums were “very heavily subsidised” by the council.
He also reportedly warned that “unless we do something more than we are doing now I’m afraid we will be overseeing their demise”.