Today’s announcement by the Government Department for Culture Media and Sport (DCMS) confirming funding from the Museum Renewal Fund is both welcome and timely for all of us working in regional civic museums.
Hampshire Cultural Trust (HCT) is delighted to have been awarded £1,177,430 from the fund, and we are also pleased to see many of our peers across the country receiving support at this critical moment. We are grateful to DCMS and Arts Council England for recognising the urgent needs of the sector and providing essential funding that will ensure museum services in Hampshire are not reduced at this time.
While the Museums Renewal Fund offers vital relief this financial year, it will not address the ongoing core funding challenge we face at HCT. Over the past decade, local authority funding for museums has fallen by nearly 40% in real terms, and HCT is preparing for a further 40% reduction in core support from Hampshire County Council by 2027 - one of the largest planned reductions to funding for local culture in England. Rising costs and the impact of the cost of living on visitor spending add further pressure, meaning the future of Hampshire’s museums, heritage and arts venues remains under serious threat.
The creation of HCT has safeguarded more museum and arts services for our communities than would otherwise have been possible. We are grateful to DCMS for supporting us through the Museum Renewal Fund to help manage the immediate pressures we face but we now need sustained backing and strategic investment to remain resilient in the long term.
HCT is committed to working nationally through the English Civic Museums Network to find a stable funding solution for regional museums. The creation of a Hampshire and Solent mayor is also an opportunity to put culture at the heart of local priorities. Local museums are not a luxury, they connect people with the history, heritage and creativity that shape communities and inspire future generations. With the right support, HCT will ensure that Hampshire’s museums and arts services continue to inspire and connect people for many years to come.