Options appraisal for Bury Art Museum

Residents are being urged to take part in consultations about the future use of Bury Art Museum.

An options appraisal of the building and service is currently being carried out as part of plans to cut £29 million from the council’s budget.

Bury Art Museum building comprises the art gallery museum and sculpture centre. The art gallery was specially built to house the Wrigley Collection, given to the borough in 1897 and it opened in 1901. It has since incorporated many pieces of contemporary art, and part of the building was recently converted to become a sculpture centre to showcase works in that medium.

However, extensive repair works are required, particularly to the roof of the building at a cost of £1 million. Consultation with a conservation architect has begun and a grant application for these repairs is in progress.

Councillor Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture and the economy, said: “Bury Art Museum, which is at the heart of the town centre’s culture quarter, is a vital part of our borough’s heritage and we want to build on the past century of history with a bright new future for the building and the collections it houses.

“However, we do face a harsh financial reality and this year alone we do need to make cuts to the council’s budget of £29 million. This is largely due to soaring inflation and fuel bills, as well as increasing demand for services for the most vulnerable, but we have already experienced a decade of austerity. Over the past 12 years, the Government has stripped more than £100 million from our funding and this means that we are now having to look at every service we provide in order to balance the budget.

“We are therefore considering creative uses for the building to understand how we can reduce costs and/or drive income, while also supporting creative talent in our borough to thrive. An options appraisal is being undertaken to explore how we might achieve £250,000 of savings and will consider measures such as: greater commercialisation, expanded digital provision, partnership delivery, and repurposing the museum space.”

Cllr Morris added: “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 in Bury with an interest in culture and the arts to get involved in this consultation - go to www.onecommunitybury.co.uk/bury-art-museumand have your say.”

• The gallery is having a day of events for families on 26 November as a way of encouraging people to visit and engage with the consultation.