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Written question asked by Christopher Pincher (Independent (affiliation)) on Monday, 5 September 2022, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Friday, 9 September 2022 (named day). It was answered by Nigel Huddleston (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 September 2022 on behalf of the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

Museums and Galleries

Question

To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will make an assessment of the potential merits of providing capital funding to support the establishment of local art galleries including in Tamworth.

Answer

The Government’s position towards the creation of new museums, as set out in the action plan following The Mendoza Review: an independent review of museums in England, is that public funding should only support the creation of new museums in areas and communities with a demonstrable need for them. Instead we have focused on investment in existing museums and galleries through capital programmes such as the DCMS / Wolfson Museums and Galleries Improvement Fund and the Museum Estate and Development Fund, and our direct sponsorship of fifteen museum arm’s length bodies (encompassing 48 museum sites).

Arts Council England is our arm’s-length body providing wider support and funding for museums and galleries, and its Museum Development services can provide guidance to organisations on how to open a new museum. They can help develop thinking on how the proposed museum fits within the ecology of arts, culture and heritage in the local area, including determining the scale and interest of the potential audience, and advise on potential avenues for capital funding.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
47516
Session
2022-23
Subjects
Capital investment Museums and galleries Tamworth
Link
View this Written question on www.parliament.uk