SAVE OUR MUSEUM
Thousands sign petition over city institution
A petition calling for Stirling’s iconic Smith Art Gallery and Museum to be saved from closure has been signed by almost 3000 people in a matter of days.
Under Stirling Council’s proposed budget options the museum could see funding slashed by £242,000 between 2021 and 2023 - a move which supporters say would effectively close it down.
They say the 144-yearold museum has a collection of local, national and international importance and an outreach and education programme which connects with all of the Stirling communities and schools. They add that the loss of the museum would be a “cultural disaster”for Stirling.
Friends of the Smith say the first year of the phased funding withdrawal alone would be enough to make the facility non-viable.
Chair of the Smith Trustees, former Stirling Provost Colin O’Brien, said:“The trustees believed they had a strong and good relationship with Stirling Council but these proposals to end local authority support for the Smith have come‘out of the blue’, with no prior consultation. We are shocked and are holding a special meeting to respond in detail within the consultation period.”
Mr O’Brien said he had only been informed of the proposal by phone on Wednesday afternoon, the day before the budget proposals were due to be published.
He said it was incorrect to refer to the funding as a “subsidy”, adding:“The Smith has an annual agreement with council to provide a range of services in return for a grant.”
Year to year the Smith raises a further £150,000 to £250,000 pounds from various sources, which Mr O’Brien said was likely to be an upper limit within a fairly small community leaving little scope to raise the sort of sums needed if the council cut went ahead. In addition to the base grant, the sum of £20.000 to support the Smith’s education service also seemed to have disappeared, he added.
Mr O’Brien said the proposal must also be “extremely hurtful”to the museum’s director Dr Elspeth King, who plans to retire this summer, adding:“She is in the final months of exceptional and devoted service to Stirling and the Smith. It also insults the many volunteers and staff who devote thousands of hours sustaining the Smith and its services.
“This is a body blow to the Trust as it seeks to recruit the very best possible successor to Elspeth King and may have needlessly damaged our credibility.
“Personally, I don’t believe this proposal will have the support of our elected councillors. It is probably some, perhaps senior, officer‘flying a kite’. I wonder if this person knows the Smith and its work. I suspect not, or he/she would have realised the sensitivity around recruitment at this time.
“The danger for us is that while the proposal may be dropped now, it can return depending on the reaction this time.”
A Stirling Council spokesperson said,“It is important to stress that no decisions have been taken. This is one of a number of budget options which we’re encouraging the public to provide their views on, via the budget consultation. All of the feedback received will be collated and help to inform councillors when they meet to set the budget on February 22.”
The budget consultation ends on February 5 and Smith supporters are urging as many as people as possible to sign the petition at Change.org: http://chn.ge/2F3WYUd and also take part in the council’s online survey and lobby local councillors by email or post. Details and a draft open letter are on the Friends of the Smith website: http:// friendsofstirlingsmith. org.uk/