The museums action movement
National Heritage, the museums action movement, is a charity supporting, encouraging and when necessary criticising, museums and galleries in the UK. It also represents the interests of museum and gallery visitors and other users, and runs a ‘Heritage Watch’ scheme to identify and alert members and others to current threats to our heritage.
It is the only independent body representing these particular national interests. Make your views known on our blog.
Latest News
Wedgwood Collection - pledge from John Caudwell
by Heritage Hound
Staffordshire billionaire, John Caudwell, pledges to save Wedgwood Collection. He said "I passionately believe that the collection should remain intact and in place, and available for public viewing".
"If the trustees don't find any other way of solving the issue, then I will attempt to buy the entire collection and keep it in situ for the foreseeable future, and continue with public access".
"This would be subject, of course, to the outcome of any discussions with administrators, and input of the trustees.
"It is vital that such an important piece of history and heritage remains in the Potteries."
Mr Caudwell's announcement comes after a High Court ruling on 20 December said the collection could be sold to help pay off a £134m pension fund deficit. The pension black hole dates from when Waterford Wedgwood, based in Stoke-on-Trent, went into administration.
The collection, worth £11m to £18m, features art and ceramic treasures spanning over 250 years of history.
Mr Caudwell, who made his fortune through mobile phones, described the court's decision as "grossly unfair".
by Heritage Hound
Staffordshire billionaire, John Caudwell, pledges to save Wedgwood Collection. He said "I passionately believe that the collection should remain intact and in place, and available for public viewing".
"If the trustees don't find any other way of solving the issue, then I will attempt to buy the entire collection and keep it in situ for the foreseeable future, and continue with public access".
"This would be subject, of course, to the outcome of any discussions with administrators, and input of the trustees.
"It is vital that such an important piece of history and heritage remains in the Potteries."
Mr Caudwell's announcement comes after a High Court ruling on 20 December said the collection could be sold to help pay off a £134m pension fund deficit. The pension black hole dates from when Waterford Wedgwood, based in Stoke-on-Trent, went into administration.
The collection, worth £11m to £18m, features art and ceramic treasures spanning over 250 years of history.
Mr Caudwell, who made his fortune through mobile phones, described the court's decision as "grossly unfair".
Architects appointed for new Design Museum at Commonwealth Institute
by Heritage Hound
John Pawson has seen off an impressive seven-strong shortlist to create a new home for the Design Museum inside the Commonwealth Institute in West London.
The practice beat Stirling Prize winner David Chipperfield Architects, Haworth Tompkins, Caruso St John Architects, Stanton Williams, Tony Fretton and Dutch minimalist Claus En Kaan Architecten.
The Design Museum intends to relocate from its current home near Tower Bridge and move across the capital into the Grade II listed, RMJM-designed 1962 landmark on Kensington High Street.
The museum will become the cultural centre of the Parabola - the rebranded name for the proposed redevelopment of the site which is being funded by developer Chelsfield. The contentious 62 home scheme was masterminded by Rem Koolhaas practice OMA and approved last September by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Stuart Lipton of Chelsfield described the appointment as "a very appropriate choice".
The victorious Pawson team includes structural engineers Ove Arup & Partners, Jackson Coles and catering consultants Tricon.
by Heritage Hound
John Pawson has seen off an impressive seven-strong shortlist to create a new home for the Design Museum inside the Commonwealth Institute in West London.
The practice beat Stirling Prize winner David Chipperfield Architects, Haworth Tompkins, Caruso St John Architects, Stanton Williams, Tony Fretton and Dutch minimalist Claus En Kaan Architecten.
The Design Museum intends to relocate from its current home near Tower Bridge and move across the capital into the Grade II listed, RMJM-designed 1962 landmark on Kensington High Street.
The museum will become the cultural centre of the Parabola - the rebranded name for the proposed redevelopment of the site which is being funded by developer Chelsfield. The contentious 62 home scheme was masterminded by Rem Koolhaas practice OMA and approved last September by the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea.
Stuart Lipton of Chelsfield described the appointment as "a very appropriate choice".
The victorious Pawson team includes structural engineers Ove Arup & Partners, Jackson Coles and catering consultants Tricon.
Three museums in Kent threatened by budget cuts
by Heritage Watch
Canterbury Council issued the following statement following press reports that 3 museums in Kent were to close.
...We are proposing to cut our museums’ budget by £112,600 over the next two years. We currently spend more than £1 million each year on supporting our museums.
In our original budget proposals that were issued for consultation last Autumn, we identified savings through the possible closure of the Roman and West Gate Towers museums in Canterbury and changing the use of the Herne Bay museum to become a community and education-focused history space. It has never been our stated intention to close off access to the magnificent Roman Pavement – in fact maintaining access to this Ancient Monument has always remained a priority. Likewise, the important Roman collections were to be protected and available for people to view.
We knew that this would never be a popular proposal but we face a great challenge – having to balance our difficult budget situation with the need to protect our heritage and ensure that Canterbury remains a popular visitor destination and it should not be forgotten that it is unusual for a district of our size to offer as many as six museums.
As a result of the consultation a number of ideas and options for the Roman, West Gate Towers and Herne Bay museums have now come forward from a number of organisations and individuals. During the coming months we will be looking carefully at all these options as well as working closely with important national organisations such as the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council....
by Heritage Watch
Canterbury Council issued the following statement following press reports that 3 museums in Kent were to close.
...We are proposing to cut our museums’ budget by £112,600 over the next two years. We currently spend more than £1 million each year on supporting our museums.
In our original budget proposals that were issued for consultation last Autumn, we identified savings through the possible closure of the Roman and West Gate Towers museums in Canterbury and changing the use of the Herne Bay museum to become a community and education-focused history space. It has never been our stated intention to close off access to the magnificent Roman Pavement – in fact maintaining access to this Ancient Monument has always remained a priority. Likewise, the important Roman collections were to be protected and available for people to view.
We knew that this would never be a popular proposal but we face a great challenge – having to balance our difficult budget situation with the need to protect our heritage and ensure that Canterbury remains a popular visitor destination and it should not be forgotten that it is unusual for a district of our size to offer as many as six museums.
As a result of the consultation a number of ideas and options for the Roman, West Gate Towers and Herne Bay museums have now come forward from a number of organisations and individuals. During the coming months we will be looking carefully at all these options as well as working closely with important national organisations such as the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council....
Southampton City Council backtrack on plan to sell artworks
by Heritage Watch
The controversial plan to sell off Alfred Munnings "After the Race", Rodin"Eve" and "Crouching Woman" has been dropped, with funding for the new £15 million maritime Heritage Centre to be found elsewhere in the budget.
Leisure and heritage boss councillor John Hannides admitted that they had backtracked on plans to sell off parts of the 3,700- piece collection to pay for the museum.
The proposal had been met with outrage in the art world because, had it gone through, not only would it have been a tremendous loss to Southampton's cultural heritage, it could also have set a precedent for other councils to do the same when seeking to raise funds.
Last autumn The Southampton Save Our Collection group campaigned for the protection of the city's art and rallied support from across the country, including the Museums Association and the Tate.
A spokesman for the campaign group 'We congratulate Southampton City Council on its decision to maintain the integrity of its magnificent art collection and for listening to the many people who raised their voice in opposition to the proposed sale of work.' and 'welcomed' the new Heritage Centre, which 'can only add to Southampton's profile as a regional cultural centre and bring visitors to the city'.
by Heritage Watch
The controversial plan to sell off Alfred Munnings "After the Race", Rodin"Eve" and "Crouching Woman" has been dropped, with funding for the new £15 million maritime Heritage Centre to be found elsewhere in the budget.
Leisure and heritage boss councillor John Hannides admitted that they had backtracked on plans to sell off parts of the 3,700- piece collection to pay for the museum.
The proposal had been met with outrage in the art world because, had it gone through, not only would it have been a tremendous loss to Southampton's cultural heritage, it could also have set a precedent for other councils to do the same when seeking to raise funds.
Last autumn The Southampton Save Our Collection group campaigned for the protection of the city's art and rallied support from across the country, including the Museums Association and the Tate.
A spokesman for the campaign group 'We congratulate Southampton City Council on its decision to maintain the integrity of its magnificent art collection and for listening to the many people who raised their voice in opposition to the proposed sale of work.' and 'welcomed' the new Heritage Centre, which 'can only add to Southampton's profile as a regional cultural centre and bring visitors to the city'.
Segontium Fort Museum, Caernarfon faces closure
by Heritage Watch
BBC report: The Segontium Roman Museum in Caernarfon, Gwynedd is on a site which experts call one of the best preserved Roman fortresses in the world. But cash from a five-year funding deal is running out, and the trust says it may not be able to open in the spring.
The Welsh Assembly Government says it hopes a solution can be found to save the centre from closure.
Segontium Cyf, a trust made up of local people, took over the running of the centre from National Museum Wales in 2003. Since then, the day-to-day running costs of the centre have been met through a funding deal set-up by the national museum.
However, the chairman of the Segontium trust, Rhys Prytherch, says that cash is now running out, and they face the very real prospect of closing the museum doors for good in just a few weeks.
Full story http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8342156.stm
by Heritage Watch
BBC report: The Segontium Roman Museum in Caernarfon, Gwynedd is on a site which experts call one of the best preserved Roman fortresses in the world. But cash from a five-year funding deal is running out, and the trust says it may not be able to open in the spring.
The Welsh Assembly Government says it hopes a solution can be found to save the centre from closure.
Segontium Cyf, a trust made up of local people, took over the running of the centre from National Museum Wales in 2003. Since then, the day-to-day running costs of the centre have been met through a funding deal set-up by the national museum.
However, the chairman of the Segontium trust, Rhys Prytherch, says that cash is now running out, and they face the very real prospect of closing the museum doors for good in just a few weeks.
Full story http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8342156.stm
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