Open Letter to Birmingham City Council – Budget Consultation Feedback

Subject: Open Letter to Birmingham City Council – Budget Consultation Feedback
From: Lunar Society
Date: 6 Aug 2015

Dear Sir/Madam,

I was heartened to read that Birmingham City Council Leader Sir Albert Bore has pledged to support museums, galleries and ballet in the current period of austerity.

I note that his enlightened views are reflected in the Council's Green Paper, Responding to the challenge, looking to the future, which accords a high priority to Arts and Museums. However, I am aware that the Council is experiencing a budget crisis and must make unprecedented levels of saving across its services.

On December 10, as part of Birmingham City Council's wider spending review, it has been proposed that the Trust will receive a reduction of £850K in funding from April 2015.

I am writing to urge that the cuts imposed on Birmingham Museums Trust should be reduced. Birmingham has the largest civic museum service in England, with a collection of international significance and a growing reputation for combining academic and artistic excellence with learning, outreach and community engagement. As a new charity with a recently appointed Chair and Director, it is still in the process of establishing itself on a sound business footing. It would be extremely unfortunate if the long-term health of this important institution were to be permanently damaged by the need to make budget reductions.

I should like to make the following points in support of my case.

The Lunar Society has worked in partnership with the Trust to hold significant events on important historical and heritage issues, including launching the Lunar Heritage Trial, learning from our past to support future growth. We are particularly keen on enduring Soho Museum is protecting as this provides an excellent opportunity to for local people to learn from the great history of the area which heralded the Industrial Revolution, it is also a great attraction for visitors from the UK and internationally.

I would urge you to re consider your decision and allow the Trust to develop an alternative funding strategy.

Kind regards

Waheed Saleem BSc FRSA MGP, Chairman, Lunar Society

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