Bury Art Museum's future is to be scrutinised as the council faces making savings of £29m. The Grade II listed building which dates from 1901 also houses the library as well as galleries and a sculpture centre.
A council report says an appraisal of options for the building is being made. It says: "Bury Council recognises the important role that culture plays in the community and economic development," adding it is "intended" that the current site of the museum will be included in the cultural quarter of a masterplan for Bury town centre as a "creatives space".
But it adds: "The museum operates from a listed building which is in a state of disrepair and visitor numbers have regrettably reduced and not yet recovered post Covid." The report says a reduction in its budget of £250,000 is being considered for the year 2024/25.
The museum stages public exhibitions, has an educational role, and stores an impressive art collection. The report says: "It is proposed that the opportunity of a new cultiral strategy is taken to complete an options appraisal of the museum and associated service." The building needs major repairs to the roof.
In 1897 a competition was held for the design of a new art gallery building for Bury and the winners were Messrs. Woodhouse and Willoughby, Architects, of King Street, Manchester. The foundation stone was laid by on April 29th 1899. A dedicatory plaque including the Wrigley family crest and the arms and motto of the borough can be found to the right of the Moss Street entrance.
In his book 'The Buildings of Lancashire", architectural historian, Sir Nikolaus Pevsner, described the art gallery as "probably the best building in Bury". Its grand design includes original mosaic floors and a stone staircase leading up to the first floor galleries. The stained glass throughout the building is by the Manchester based artist Walter J Pearce and is largely still the original glass.
Councillor Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture and the economy, said: “Bury Art Museum is a treasured part of our heritage at the heart of the town’s culture quarter. We are considering creative ways through which we can reduce the running costs of the service and building, but which will also support our ambitions in a new culture strategy which will be published before the end of the year. The next step is an options appraisal to look at the current and future use of the building to understand how we can reduce costs and/or drive income, while also supporting creative talent in our borough to thrive.
“This is against a background of harsh financial reality. We are having to make savings of £29 million, due in large part to soaring inflation and fuel bills, and increasing demand for services for the most vulnerable. This comes after a decade of austerity, during which the Government has stripped more than £100 million from our funding. This means we are having to look at every service we provide in order to balance the budget.
“We have launched a public consultation with local residents and businesses, because we want to hear their views before we set the budget next year. I would urge everyone to take part in the survey - go to www.onecommunitybury.co.uk and have your say.” The council is already palnning to cut 75 posts across all departments.
Russell Bernstein, leader of the Tory group on Bury Council, said: "I look forward to the consideration of the options appraisal work which I hope will help shape the cultural offering in the town on a basis which can be more cost effective."
In the past the museum has generated cash by loaning out some of its most impressive artworks to galleries in other countries - including a work by J M W Turner to a gallery in France.
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