Yorkshire Post

Museum must keep national status, says MP

- KATE PROCTOR WESTMINSTE­R CORRESPOND­ENT Email: kate.proctor@ypn.co.uk Twitter: @KateProcto­rYP

A RESHUFFLE of Government Ministers must not weaken the pressure on a Bradford museum’s trustees to ensure it retains its national status, a Yorkshire MP said.

The National Media Museum (NMM) has been under the spotlight since February when the Science Museum Group decided to move its collection of 270,000 photograph­s to the Victoria & Albert Museum in London and change the museum’s focus to science and light as part of a £7.5m investment.

With criticism that transferri­ng the Royal Photograph­ic Society collection – which is regarded as world class – was tantamount to cultural vandalism from local politician­s, the Government has been asked to help ensure Bradford’s voice is heard and they get to keep a museum of national importance.

Yet after Theresa May’s reshuffle in which the longest-serving Arts Minister in British political history, Ed Vaizey, was replaced by Matt Hancock earlier in July, Bradford South MP Judith Cummins hopes the Government does not now drop their interest and support in their case.

In a letter to Culture Secretary Karen Bradley, who took over from John Whittingda­le, Ms Cummins wrote: “In recent months the once bright future of the National Media Museum has been sadly overshadow­ed by the shock announceme­nt by the Science Museum Group that the Royal Photograph­ic Society will be transferre­d south.”

She said Mr Vaizey had been helpful and when he met with MPs in June she alleges that he conceded communicat­ion about the change in direction for the museum could have been handled better.

She also sought assurances from the Government that they would ensure that the National Media Museum had a future in the city.

She wrote: “I left the meeting on June 8 feeling increased confidence that the people of Bradford could assured that their treasured NMM was indeed safe in the city and importantl­y, that it would be adequately supported by this Government.

“In the wake of the reshuffle I wish to invite you to restate your Department is committed to supporting the work of the NMM in the months and years to come.”

The Science Museum Group will meet with MPs in September for another update on their plans.

So far the London-based board led by Dame Mary Archer has

The once bright future of the NMM has been sadly overshadow­ed. MP Judith Cummins’ letter to new Culture Secretary Karen Bradley

said it will transfer objects by technology pioneers Sir William Herschel, Sir Charles Wheatstone, Guglielmo Marconi and Sir John Fleming to Bradford and the Daily Herald archive of three million images.

The Victoria & Albert Museum has offered to digitise the collection.

The new name of the museum has also been the subject of much dispute with MPs adamant that it must contain the word “national” in, as the National Media Museum was set up originally in 1983 in honour of the city’s national influence on film making.

In 2009 Bradford was also awarded the Unesco City of Film Award for its cinematic heritage and museum staff say they will still mark the city’s impact on film, photograph­y and television.

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