Former NPO details legacy work as closure finalised

Cornwall Museums Partnership (CMP) has shared details of its work that will continue as it closes its doors after completing the Arts Council England (ACE)-funded transition process.

In January 2023, ACE withdrew CMP’s conditional offer of National Portfolio Organisation funding for 2023-26. The organisation went on to receive £406,800 from ACE's Transition Programme, designed to either help cultural organisations adopt new operating models or wind down.

After a strategic business and funding review concluded CMP could not move to a new operating model within the transition programme timeframe, the organisation has used the grant to conduct a "positive closure" involving the continuation of a number of projects.

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The partnership's Safe Access project, in partnership with Queer Kernow, will become part of the Association of Independent Museums' (AIM) portfolio. CMP’s Jenna Marrion will move to AIM to lead the project, which will be supported by funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the Young Foundation.

Meanwhile, the St Ives Digital Town Trail will be further developed and delivered by Leach Pottery, thanks to funding through the government’s Town Deal Programme.

CMP’s work with Carefree Cornwall will be further developed by the Museum of Carefree and the Culture Card projects, while Cornwall’s Museum Development Office, Stephanie Clemens, will become a member of the Cornwall Council Culture Team.

CMP’s closing statement says its board is “proud” to have achieved the evolutionary objectives set when the decision to close was made, adding it has created a “blueprint for others in the cultural sector who are either facing similar challenges, or who may do so in the future”.

“We committed to making this exit an evolution, and to it being as positive, proactive, and human-centred as it could be. Importantly we set out to provide a positive legacy, and where possible, to find new, fitting, ‘adoptive homes’ for CMP’s invaluable work,” said CEO Tamzyn Smith.

An ACE spokesperson added: “Over the past 10 years, CMP has laid firm groundwork for the local sector. We are pleased to have supported a thoughtful closure programme through Transition Funding and will continue to support museums in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly for the long-term benefit of residents and visitors to the South West.”