[OccupySheffield] Your Support is Needed

[David Kirkham]

David Occupy



	
    	
        
            
            	 
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                January 2012
                 
            
             
            	 
                
                 
            
            
            	 
                
                 
            
            
            	 
                
                
                	
                    	
                        
                            
                                 
                                Help us make the case for culture in Sheffield
                                 
                            
                        
                        
                        Public Meeting
                        You might also wish to attend Sheffield City Council’s public consultation event on the budget proposals for Culture and the Environment.  This takes place this coming Monday 30th January, 2pm – 4.30pm at Sheffield Town Hall.  Telephone 0114 2735417 for more information about this event.
For up to date information and join the online campaign click here
Amy Brighton, Fundraising Coordinator
E: amy.brighton at museums-sheffield.org.uk / :01142782610
                        
                        



 
                        
                         
                        
                        
                        Dear Friends
The Arts Council decision not to support Museums Sheffield bid for funding is a devasting blow to Sheffield.  In ACE’s words ‘the implications for Museums Sheffield are dramatic, and will undermine the significant capital and revenue investment of the last 13 years’. 
Government and Council investment since 1998 has enabled us to dramatically improve our sites, our care of the collections and our exhibitions and learning programmes to become one of the highest performing and most popular museum services in the country.  Audiences have grown from 200,000 in 1998 to 1.2 million in 2011.  ACE judged that our bid was of a very high quality and that our work, especially with children and young people and with audiences in Sheffield and throughout South Yorkshire is ‘outstanding’. 
As England’s fourth largest city, Sheffield already receives significantly less ACE funding than other big cities; in 2012/13 for example Sheffield will receive only £4.62 per head compared to the £20.32 per head allocated to Leeds or £13.06 for Nottingham.  This decision is a tragedy for the people of Sheffield and South Yorkshire and demonstrates huge disparity and inequality in government support for cultural activity.  ACE confidence in Sheffield is vital for the future of the city as it fights its way out of the current economic recession.  This decision sets us back at least a decade.
Museums Sheffield is responsible for the Millennium Gallery, Graves Gallery, and Weston Park museum.  While we hope that no museums or galleries will close, and that we can protect existing opening hours and free entry, the quality of service offered to visitors will decline significantly.  Large scale staff redundancies, major reductions in exhibition programmes, and scaled down learning provision for schools, families and adults are all now inevitable.
ACE need to know the impact this lack of funding will have on the people of Sheffield, and the wider cultural and business sectors.  You can express your views to Arts Council both nationally and regionally. The best way to do this is to email Alan Davey, Chief Executive at ACE via his PA maria.hampton at artscouncil.org.uk  with your thoughts.
Thank you for your support
ACE spend per head of population

Leeds £20.32

Nottingham £13.06

Sheffield £4.62

 
                        
                    
                
                
                 
            
            
        
        
            
            	
                	
                    	
                            
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