Challenges remain despite increased funding for parts of the sector and a commitment to capital investment in Rachel Reeves first Budget.
Announcements relating to increased investment for National Museums and Galleries and the need for capital investment in cultural infrastructure were welcomed by sector bodies following the first Labour Budget in 14 years.
But operating costs continue to rise and challenges across the wider sector remain, particularly for the UK’s struggling civic museums.
Responding to yesterday’s announcements AIM Director Lisa Ollerhead, said
“Recognition of the sector’s need for investment is encouraging news for AIM members. We’re particularly keen to get into the details of any additional capital investments in cultural infrastructure, especially if it offers continued and essential support for maintenance.
However significant challenges remain in managing operating costs. While support for low-paid workers is welcomed, increases to the minimum wage and employers’ National Insurance contributions add further pressure to already extremely tight budgets. With limited options to offset these rising costs, we look forward to collaborating with funders to explore ways they might adapt their support to meet these new demands.
In the near term, we’ll be writing to DCMS alongside other museum bodies to express our appreciation for the positive steps while reinforcing the sector’s ongoing needs as we prepare for the upcoming Spending Review.”
AIM will be working on unpacking the Budget detail over the coming days, sign up to our enews or follow our socials for the latest.
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