Proposed council funding cuts could ‘significantly impact’ Birmingham’s position as a leading city for arts and culture, trust warns.
The Birmingham Museums Trust has warned the potential of £500,000 in proposed budget cuts currently being discussed by the council could result in the closure of some of the city’s most important heritage and culture venues.
The proposed cut in funding is in addition to a previously agreed £250,000 reduction, creating what the Trust described as a ‘serious £750,000 shortfall’.
In the past 10 years, the fee paid to Birmingham museums by the council has been reduced from £7m to potentially £2.4m if the cuts go ahead.
Ellen McAdam, director of Birmingham Museums Trust, said: ‘We understand that the city is in a difficult position, but with cuts as severe as these we have no option but to look at reductions in service across all of our sites.
‘We want to ensure that Birmingham remains a leading city for arts and culture, and continues to thrive. Birmingham Museums Trust is one of the city’s success stories and we believe that it is vital that Birmingham’s great museums and collection should continue to receive the investment they need so that we can build on this achievement.
‘In the face of continued funding reductions, our visitor numbers and earned income are growing strongly and we continue to deliver the council’s museum service and care for the city’s great collection to a high standard.’
Cllr Ian Ward, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, said: ‘We are consulting on proposals to a reduction in the money given to Birmingham Museums Trust as we are at a point where cuts to council funding from central government leave us no option but to draw up such proposals.’
