Cuts begin to bite at Sheffield’s museums

Museums Sheffield sign

Museums in Sheffield responded this week to budget cuts by making staff redundant and cutting opening hours.

The changes came into effect over the May Day Bank Holiday after Sheffield City Council reduced its grant to Museums Sheffield by 12%.

Between nine and 13 people have been made redundant from the Museums Sheffield’s staff.

There will be reductions in exhibition programming and marketing budgets for the coming year.

The Museums have also been advertising their new opening hours.

Nick Dodd, Chief Executive of Museums Sheffield said: ”Museums Sheffield and the Council have agreed a plan that keeps all the museums and galleries open. We have achieved this by removing the opening hours from the beginning and the end of the day when we have fewest visits.

Mr Dodd also added: “Sadly, because the opening hours are declining we are looking at a number of posts being made redundant.”

Dodd said that “they hoped that in the autumn Museums Sheffield will be able to bid for additional national funds in recognition of its importance as a core museum within England and particularly in the city and region”.

Museums Sheffield is the trading name of the independent Sheffield Galleries & Museums Trust, which was established in April 1998.

It manages the four museums in Sheffield which are funded by Sheffield City Council, Museums Libraries and Archives Council and Arts Council England.

The new opening hours from May 2 are:-

Millennium Gallery
Mon-Sun 10am-4pm (exhibitions open 11am-4pm)

Weston Park
Mon-Fri 10am-3pm, Sat-Sun 11am-4pm
Open 11am–4pm every day during school holidays and Bank Holidays.

Graves Gallery
Thurs-Fri 10am-2pm, Sat 11am-3pm
Open 11am–3pm Thurs–Sat during school holidays. Closed on Bank Holidays.

Bishops’ House
Open Mon-Fri for pre-booked groups only.