The charity which manages some of Birmingham’s best loved museums – from Weoley Castle Ruins to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery – is seeking public support after failing to secure emergency funding from Arts Council England (ACE).
Birmingham Museums Trust says it has lost 60% of its income – from it’s cafes, ticket sales, shops etc – due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has set up a crowdfunding page which has so far raised almost £7,500.
The full statement from Birmingham Museums Trust:
Unfortunately, we have been unsuccessful in our application to the Arts Council England (ACE) Emergency Response Fund. This fund had a very specific purpose to help organisations survive through to the end of September 2020.
We continue to work closely with all our stakeholders and major funders, including the City Council and ACE who provide regular funding every year to help us deliver our work.
There is no doubt that this is a very challenging time for Birmingham Museums Trust, as it is for many cultural organisations. The impact of closing our doors and the decreased footfall expected over the coming months ahead leaves us in a very difficult position. Our priority must be to secure the long-term financial sustainability of the Trust so we can be there for our audiences for many years to come, but we will need support to do this.
The announcement of the Government’s support package for the sector is very welcome news. This industry makes a significant contribution to the economy and impacts many people’s lives – it must be protected. We await more details on this funding, but we hope to benefit in some way. This will be crucial for us to rebuild for the future.
At this stage we face a very uncertain future. We are asking the public to support us if they can. There are more details about how you can donate to help us at this difficult time here www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/support-us .
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