31/10/2001

Regional museums in England face closure and losing historic objects unless, according to the Daily Telegraph, they get an urgent government cash injection. Some $ 380,900,000 (€ 427,500,150) is needed over five years to reverse their condition, says a report by Resource, the British government’s advisory body on museums, libraries and archives. While the government spends about $ 356,682,568 (€ 400,231,436) on the 13 main national galleries and museums, which are largely London-based, the regional collections survive mainly on a similar figure from local authorities divided between 1,800 institutions. The Victoria & Albert Museum alone receives $ 46,250,500 (€ 51,869,376). Sir Nicholas Serota, director of the Tate, blamed 40 years of underinvestment and said that the amount required was a drop in the ocean for a government that has always emphasised education. (James Goulder)