Derby Museums’ petition prompts council rethink
Councillors acknowledge that the service "changes lives", but cuts still possible
Derby City Council is looking for ways “not to make cuts” to Derby Museums after receiving a petition signed by more than 6,600 members of the public highlighting the impact the service has on people’s lives.
The council is proposing to cut the museum trust’s budget by 25% in 2015-16. At a council debate yesterday, the Labour-run council voted to amend the wording of its budget proposal to read: “Council believes that Derby Museums change lives.
“Council agrees to support the Labour administration in its ongoing campaign for a fair deal for Derby from the Tory-led government, as it seeks to find ways to not make cuts to the museums’ current funding.”
Although the amended motion does not confirm that the council plans to reduce the cut, Tony Butler, the director of Derby Museums, said: “The motion that was passed was amended as a result of the petition, which specifically talked about how museums change lives.
“I’m pleased that the council have recognised the good work of the museums and given an indication that they would like to seek to reduce the cut.
“We’ve had a huge amount of public support and it is really good that people have recognised the value of museums to the community.”
The Museums Association has been running an ongoing campaign, Museums Change Lives, to encourage museums to focus on impact and highlight their social value to funders and stakeholders.
“It's good news that Derby council has acknowledged the positive social impact that museums can have for their communities,” said the MA’s director Sharon Heal.
“This is a tough time for local authority museums and many face significant cuts that will hamper their ability to provide services to the public. Museums can influence decision makers if they campaign with the public to advocate their value to society.”
The council will make a final decision on the proposed cut in the first week of March.
Also during the debate, Paul Bayliss, the former leader of the council, suggested selling a £1m Lowry painting, Houses Near a Mill, from Derby’s collections and reinvesting the money in the city’s cultural offer.
Butler said he would oppose any move that violated the MA code of ethics and warned that disposing of the painting would risk the trust losing Accreditation and access to funding streams.
“Lowry ended his days in Derbyshire - in Glossop - and people really love this painting. It is going on permanent display when we redevelop Derby Silk Mill,” said Butler. “We have a code of ethics that we follow and if it is disposed of for financial gain I would oppose that. Bear in mind what happened in Northampton.”
Correction
30.01.2015
The article originally quoted Tony Butler as saying that Lowry ended his days in Derby. This should have said Derbyshire and has been corrected.
The council is proposing to cut the museum trust’s budget by 25% in 2015-16. At a council debate yesterday, the Labour-run council voted to amend the wording of its budget proposal to read: “Council believes that Derby Museums change lives.
“Council agrees to support the Labour administration in its ongoing campaign for a fair deal for Derby from the Tory-led government, as it seeks to find ways to not make cuts to the museums’ current funding.”
Although the amended motion does not confirm that the council plans to reduce the cut, Tony Butler, the director of Derby Museums, said: “The motion that was passed was amended as a result of the petition, which specifically talked about how museums change lives.
“I’m pleased that the council have recognised the good work of the museums and given an indication that they would like to seek to reduce the cut.
“We’ve had a huge amount of public support and it is really good that people have recognised the value of museums to the community.”
The Museums Association has been running an ongoing campaign, Museums Change Lives, to encourage museums to focus on impact and highlight their social value to funders and stakeholders.
“It's good news that Derby council has acknowledged the positive social impact that museums can have for their communities,” said the MA’s director Sharon Heal.
“This is a tough time for local authority museums and many face significant cuts that will hamper their ability to provide services to the public. Museums can influence decision makers if they campaign with the public to advocate their value to society.”
The council will make a final decision on the proposed cut in the first week of March.
Also during the debate, Paul Bayliss, the former leader of the council, suggested selling a £1m Lowry painting, Houses Near a Mill, from Derby’s collections and reinvesting the money in the city’s cultural offer.
Butler said he would oppose any move that violated the MA code of ethics and warned that disposing of the painting would risk the trust losing Accreditation and access to funding streams.
“Lowry ended his days in Derbyshire - in Glossop - and people really love this painting. It is going on permanent display when we redevelop Derby Silk Mill,” said Butler. “We have a code of ethics that we follow and if it is disposed of for financial gain I would oppose that. Bear in mind what happened in Northampton.”
Correction
30.01.2015
The article originally quoted Tony Butler as saying that Lowry ended his days in Derby. This should have said Derbyshire and has been corrected.