Whipping up a perfect storm...
by Samuel Jones
There does not seem to be anywhere where these examples are being collected, so we thought we would set up this site to record instances of local authority cultural cutbacks, closures and threats to culture - just place any comment below. Please pass the site address on to anyone who you think will be interested, and post examples when they occur.
Pat Poppy
Dorset CC is cutting back dramatically at the Dorset History Centre, and planning to close one third of its libraries, so much for libraries being protected.
Bridget McKenzie
Southwark Council has axed Livesey Museum for Children. They voted to close it on 20th Feb and it was shut by the 29th. The running costs are only £146k, and they will save very little money by closing it. It looks as if the Council doesn't have the right to sell the building either, which is what they intend to do. We have set up a Friends company/trust and have proposed to run it independently. More information is on http://liveseyfriends.wordpress.com/
Rob Lines
Worcestershire County Council, after 10 years of progress and growing its Arts Service to now include arts marketing services and one of the country's best what's on websites, has lost its entire arts team and looks to be wanting cost savings. The Council has not appointed an interim arts officer and the future looks bleak. No one doubts that their finances are difficult, but culture is so easily cut-able...