Nottingham Castle Trust liquidation

AIM statement on Nottingham Castle Trust liquidation

As an organisation dedicated to boosting the value which heritage, art and history brings to all our lives, the Association of Independent Museums is concerned by the recent closure of Nottingham Castle.

We hope and expect this to be a short-term albeit essential measure, enabling the financial and operational stress Nottingham Castle has clearly been experiencing to be addressed. These are structural issues and it will require fresh, experienced thinking to create a new and viable business plan – independent heritage sites must find the right balance of being a museum, charity, and visitor attraction.

In the short to medium term, Nottingham Castle will need to draw on public sector support to redefine its position in a competitive visitor economy. It is right to note that the country has invested significantly in Nottingham Castle over recent years: firstly, through the major transformation project supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and more recently through the Culture Recovery Fund.

We hope that Nottingham Castle will reopen for the benefit of visitors and local communities in good time. It is crucial to safeguard its collections and historic site, and especially to re-employ as many staff as possible whose livelihoods have been put at risk.

As an advocate for independence, we also hope Nottingham City Council will consider establishing a new charitable trust to operate the Castle in due course: this is a model that, with strong leadership and governance, and focused on welcoming visitors to the best heritage experience, can and does work across the UK.