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National Media Museum's future in doubt as visitor numbers plunge National Media Museum's future in doubt as visitor numbers plunge
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The number of visitors to Bradford’s National Media Museum has plummeted by 40% since the recession, raising concerns over its future.The number of visitors to Bradford’s National Media Museum has plummeted by 40% since the recession, raising concerns over its future.
An analysis revealed that visitor numbers dropped to 441,000 in the year to July, down from 737,681 in the same period in 2008. The museum had 441,000 visitors in the year to July, compared with 737,681 in the same period in 2008, according to analysis of government statistics by the Yorkshire Post.
The West Yorkshire museum, which came close to closure in 2013, was described as a “northern cultural treasure” by the Bradford South MP, Judith Cummins. The MP for Bradford South, Judith Cummins, said the museum, which came close to closure in 2013, was a “northern cultural treasure” and she had sought assurances about its future from the new culture secretary, Karen Bradley, last month.
Cummins said she had sought assurances about its future from the new culture secretary, Karen Bradley, last month: “Encouragingly, she offered her written assurances that the future of the National Media Museum remained bright under her watch. “Encouragingly, she offered her written assurances that the future of the National Media Museum remained bright under her watch,” Cummins said. “I and others believe it will continue to deliver outstanding cultural experiences for the people of Yorkshire, provided central government continues to invest in its future.”
“I and others believe it will continue to deliver outstanding cultural experiences for the people of Yorkshire, provided central government continues to invest in its future.” In February it emerged that a world-famous photography collection was being moved from the Bradford museum to the V&A in London. The move was condemned by local politicians as “an appalling act of cultural vandalism”.
The new figures, published by the Yorkshire Post, come seven months after the National Media Museum decided to move a world-famous photography collection to the V&A in London. The museum’s board opposed the move but was overruled by the museum’s London-based owner, Science Museum Group. SMG receives about £40m a year in funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
The Royal Photographic Society, whose collection has been based in the National Media Museum since 2003, said it had reservations about the move, which was condemned as “an appalling act of cultural vandalism”. A spokesman for the National Media Museum said its most recent annual figures showed an 11% increase in visitors year on year. Visit England recently described it as the sixth most-visited attraction in Yorkshire and the Humber, the spokesman said.
The move was also opposed by the National Media Museum’s board, but they were overruled by the museum’s London-based owner, Science Museum Group. SMG receives about £40m a year in funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
A spokesman for the museum said its most recent annual figures showed an 11% increase in visitors year on year. Visit England recently described it as the sixth most-visited attraction in Yorkshire and the Humber, the spokesman said.
He added: “In February we had one of our most successful half-terms in recent years when we partnered with Horrible Science. In 2017 we will be unveiling a new brand for the museum along with our £1.8m Wonderlab gallery, which we’re very confident will be a major draw for us and increase visits.”He added: “In February we had one of our most successful half-terms in recent years when we partnered with Horrible Science. In 2017 we will be unveiling a new brand for the museum along with our £1.8m Wonderlab gallery, which we’re very confident will be a major draw for us and increase visits.”
Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford city council, said in February that she “profoundly regretted” the loss of the photography collection and that it showed the government’s northern powerhouse initiative as “empty rhetoric”. Susan Hinchcliffe, the leader of Bradford city council, said: “In 2016 visitor numbers increased for the first time in years but from speaking to the museum they still have plans to do more. The new gallery opening early next year will boost visitor numbers further. People need to see constant investment and new activities and exhibitions to keep coming back for more.”
She said on Monday: “In 2016 visitor numbers increased for the first time in years but from speaking to the museum they still have plans to do more. The new gallery opening early next year will boost visitor numbers further. People need to see constant investment and new activities and exhibitions to keep coming back for more.”