Scarborough Art Gallery, The Crescent (CC BY-SA 2.0 Christopher Hall)
North Yorkshire Council says moving museum management back in-house could save £50,000
North Yorkshire Council is considering bringing Scarborough’s museums and galleries management in-house, which it says could save upwards of £50,000 annually.
The council owns Scarborough Art Gallery, Rotunda Museum and Woodend Gallery and Studios, along with their collections. Day-to-day management of the museums has been outsourced since 2005.
Currently the day-to-day management of the buildings is outsourced to the Scarborough Museums Creative and Cultural Trust (SMCCT), who has an SLA with the council.
But the charity has now asked the council to explore the option of bringing the service back in-house.
Sally Gorham, chair of SMCCT, said economic pressures meant handing the service back to the council “offers the best guarantee for the future.”
Options are due to be discussed by members of the council’s Executive next week. The council said it is estimated that the move could provide annual savings of upwards of £50,000. North Yorkshire officers are to continue working alongside the trust and its staff during the period of decision-making.
Transferring the day-to-day running and management of Scarborough’s museums and galleries back in-house would see it incorporated into the council’s wider Culture & Archives service.
Museums and galleries in Harrogate and Skipton including Craven Museum and the Royal Pump Room are among the cultural sites already run by the council.
North Yorkshire Council’s executive member for culture, arts and housing, whose responsibilities include museums, said: “It is vital that we do everything we can to protect and enhance these assets, as well as their collections and the displays on show.
“The council has significant expertise in this area with our culture and archives service currently managing museums, galleries and cultural venues elsewhere across the county.
“Emulating our model in Scarborough represents an opportunity to save taxpayers money and protect the future of the town’s museums and galleries.”
