MUSEUMS Sheffield could be in line to
receive £1.5 million in funding - which would allow it to continue hosting
major touring exhibitions and preserve more of its current work.
The Star understands talks were ongoing
yesterday about the funding, which would be paid in three £500,000 instalments
over three years from September.
The idea is believed to be looked on
‘favourably’ by the Arts Council - which only weeks ago prompted
public outcry in Sheffield by rejecting a bid for £1.4m a year over the next
three years.
Artist Pete McKee, Chocolat author
Joanne Harris, Jon McClure from band Reverend and the Makers and politicians of
all parties all spoke out against the decision to give Sheffield the lowest funding
of any large city - and a fifth of the sum Leeds will get.
Pete McKee held a
‘Shefftopia’ picnic in the Millennium Gallery to highlight the need
for continued funding and to protest over the Art Council decision.
Museums Sheffield chief executive Nick
Dodd said today a new grant would be ‘great’ - but added he was
‘cautious’ about any proposed offer.
“It would improve the things we
can do for the people of Sheffield,” he said.
“It’s good to know the Arts
Council is taking all the protests seriously and prepared to come to the table.
“But because we don’t know
the rules, we don’t know whether things like exhibitions, events and
programmes will be included.”
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, who
last week attended a meeting between the Arts Council and Museums Sheffield to
help lobby for funding, added: “I know how important Sheffield’s
museums and galleries are, that’s why I made sure we got the Arts Council
back round the table with Museums Sheffield last week.
“I wanted to ensure Sheffield is
treated fairly in comparison with other cities. We got a very positive
reception from the Arts Council and I hope we will see real progress
soon.”
Museums Sheffield’s current
£800,000 a year Arts Council funding runs out in March, leaving a grant from
Sheffield Council as its main income - enough to cover only heating and
lighting, and wages of front of house staff, at the Millennium and Graves
galleries and Weston Park Museum.
From: http://www.sheffieldtelegraph.co.uk/lifestyle/museums_in_talks_to_win_vital_1_5m_arts_funding_1_4244660
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