Museums seek crisis funding to help them survive the post-lockdown world

Bosses say they will need long-term financial support to offset the impact of the pandemic, with visitor numbers expected to be substantially down on normal levels when venues reopen after lockdown.

The Tyne and Wear Archives & Museums (TWAM) strategic board heard on Friday morning that the organisation was in active talks to secure urgent grant funding.

TWAM manages South Shields Museum and Arbeia Roman Fort as well as the Discovery Museum, the Hancock Museum, Hatton Gallery, Laing Art Gallery, Shipley Art Gallery, and the Stephenson Railway Museum.

Newcastle councillor Ged Bell warned that many venues could collapse if government did not step in to cover their funding shortfall.

He said: “We need to make an ask collectively as a culture sector across the country, but also regional and sub-regional. There is a need for the government to assist us here or I feel that a lot of cultural offers across the country could actually fall by the wayside.”

TWAM finance chief Jackie Reynolds warned that, on top of the fact that all of its venues are currently shut and unable to bring in revenue, the organisation will face significant additional costs post-lockdown.

That could include extra cleaning, staff, and protective equipment to ensure that proper hygiene and social distancing measures are in place.

Current estimates suggest that TWAM will face a budget deficit this year of £167,240 if its sites were to reopen on September 1 – but that would more than double to £341,010 if the closures were lifted on July 1 due to the cost of running venues while visitor numbers are low.

Director Iain Watson said they were “talking actively” with the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Arts Council over their emergency funds, which are aimed more at organisations that are in immediate crisis and cannot pay staff at the end of the month.

He said: “The point that many of us are making is that there will be a second wave to this as we move through the year, move back into venues, get the costs associated with moving back into venues, but are not generating the income.

“We are making a very strong case to Arts Council, to the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and to DCMS that there is going to need to be support for the whole range of cultural organisations – not just on a very short term basis, but as we move on throughout the year. We have got a lot of support from those organisations in terms of trying to move that forward.”

Coun Bell said that the region’s museums “rely very much on the kind generosity of visitors to the venues and donations”.

He also suggested that local firms could be asked to produce branded facemaks that could be given to visitors once the museums reopen to help boost public confidence.

Mr Watson said that, as well as lower visitor numbers, he also expects school museum visits will have to be cancelled but could be replaced by online learning sessions for pupils.

NewcastleGateshead Initiative chief executive Sarah Green also raised concerns over a loss of income from venues not being hired out for business meetings.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world. But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you

How to subscribe to the print edition

It’s easy to subscribe to your local newspaper. We have arranged a special 20 per cent off subscription offer for people to take advantage of. Visit www.localsubsplus.co.uk, choose the newspaper title, the type of subscription and enter your details.