Cuts bite hard in Liverpool

Job losses, the closure of display galleries, fewer exhibitions and the introduction of admission charges are just some of the measures being considered by National Museums Liverpool in response to funding cuts. The organisation needs to save £3m over the next two years and has warned staff that one in four jobs could be lost. Fifteen months ago it had to close its National Conservation Centre to visitors and over the past year has lost 34 jobs. Dr David Fleming, Director of National Museums Liverpool, has said that further job losses are unavoidable and a voluntary severance scheme has been offered: “Our museums have just had their most successful year ever with record-breaking visitor numbers – exceeding three million people in 2011. But… it is not possible to make the required savings without taking action that will have a significant impact on our visitors and staff.” A recent survey looking at economic impact and social responsibility found that National Museums Liverpool was worth £78.8m to the local economy. Fleming added: “Visitor figures will fall and this means fewer people spending money in the city’s restaurants and hotels. The irony is that our museums are a key reason why visitors are drawn to Merseyside yet we have no option but to scale down what we do”.