National Museums Liverpool suffer cuts

The National Conservation Centre has officially closed its doors to the public.
The institute, which is part of National Museums Liverpool, suffered as part of the governments latest round of cuts and opened for the last time on the 17th December 2010.
The centre, which relies on almost 95% Government funding, was ear-marked initially as a potential money-saver in George Osborne’s spending review.
Spokesman for National Museums Liverpool, Dickie Felton highlighted the desire within the company to save jobs.
“Our aim is to keep the jobs of the wonderful people who work for us” he said.
Mr Felton went on to explain how the institution never expected to close its doors just a couple of years ago.
He said: “Unfortunately that’s just the way things go. When you see the economy taking a hit like we have, then you always fear the worst for places like us.
“One of our key mandates is to allow free public entry and that won’t change, but as we rely so much on government funding and grants, it’s hard to keep your head above water.”
One shining light through the murky world of spending cutbacks is that the Whitechapel building will still operate behind closed doors where the crucial work is done.
Although the National Conservation Centre was only created in the 90’s, its life span to the public looks short lived. Whether there is a future for the centre, is up to the board of trustees to find out.
Dr David Fleming, NML Director said: “We bitterly regret having to close one of our venues to visitors but this is the harsh reality of government cuts. If you cut public spending there is pain for the public.”
The NCC has staged exhibitions for the last 14 years, and the closure of the public area released 10% of the space available to the rest of conservation department.
Dr Fleming said that the team of executives had ‘scrutinised’ every aspect of National Museums Liverpool to make savings but decisions like the one being made cannot be avoided.
He said: “We said that a 15% reduction in our funding would have grave implications for us being able to maintain our world class museums and galleries. We are now seeing the impact in terms of a venue closure, following the loss of a number of posts through a voluntary severance scheme”.
Dr Fleming stressed that despite budget cuts, all the remaining venues will remain free, which includes threatened locations such as Sudley House and The Piermasters House.
Staff at Sudley House were relieved to avoid cuts, and Lisa Dalton, who works part-time on the reception at the listed building said: “Me and the rest of the guys are delighted to hear our jobs were safe but we’re very sorry for those who won’t be so lucky at NCC”.
Phil Redmond, Chairman of National Museums Liverpool, said: ““The National Conservation Centre’s conservation department itself is not in danger and neither is the Museum of Liverpool, but to safeguard these projects we have to make harsh choices elsewhere.
“While this action is regrettable, the Board of Trustees endorsed what is a pragmatic solution to a very difficult problem: how do we maintain the best offer we possibly can with reduced resources?”
Many of NML’s alternative ventures have been cancelled because of the cuts, along with development funds by outside agencies.
Affected activities are the Find Your Talent Programme, which was penciled in for the cut in June, as well as plans for a new Titanic Gallery at Merseyside Maritime Museum, which is to be scaled down.
Proposals to redevelop Canning Dock were abandoned after the North West Regional Development Agency was abolished.
‘Reveal – the hidden stories of objects’, which was a permanent display at the National Conservation Centre, will be moved to the World Museum, so it can still be viewed.
The £72m opening of the new Museum of Liverpool will escape the reductions although it’s budget for special exhibitions will be reduced significantly.
According to Organogram and staff pay data for National Museums Liverpool, each member of the board earn between £351,358 and £200,000, which is paid between six executive directors.
Outside of the National Conservation Centre, Jeff McLean, who visits occasionally said: “They have the cheek to ask for cash donations, volunteers, whilst they cream off the cash that’s supposed to be used to showcase the donations of previous benefactors.”
Others, are more sympathetic. Bill Holden, who last visited in July said: “A real shame this - we have visited a few times by ourselves and with the grandkids and found it very interesting - still - someone has to pay for the bankers mistakes and, as usual, it's Joe Public.”
One of the lasting effects will be to the reputation of the city. Only three years ago Liverpool was named Capital of Culture but the newest developments will be seen as a contradiction to the promise that filled the city previously.