Tory plan for pop-up museums in suburbs
BIRMINGHAM should turn empty shops in suburban high streets into pop-up museums to take culture out to the people.
That is the new election pledge from the city’s Conservative group who have also guaranteed free admission to the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery if they win control of the council on May 3.
Conservative group leader Robert Alden said that they would make more use of the city’s cultural and historic collections, most of which are in storage, and allow them to be more widely available.
It would also help council-owned liven up shopping parades with empty units, he added. Cllr Alden said: “Only a small percentage of the council’s collections are on display at any one time and many communities in Birmingham simply don’t get to see them.
“These collections were often left to the city explicitly for the residents of Birmingham to be able to enjoy and so we will open up access to our culture and heritage by creating a programme for ‘pop-up’ museums in our local high streets.
“This also has the added benefit of helping to drive visitors to our local high streets helping support them as well.”
Cllr Alden stressed that the plan would not include the city’s multi-million pound paintings or priceless ancient artefacts which would need to remain secure from damage or theft.
He also suggested the costs would be covered by working with Birmingham Museums Trust to raise more money through commercial activity such as selling food, hosting corporate events, sponsorship or renting artwork to businesses.
Birmingham residents would also be guaranteed free admission to the Museum & Art Gallery for the next four years, he added.
The council has previously introduced charges for community museums like Aston Hall and Soho House.
The Museum Trust last year launched a £40 million fundraising campaign ahead of a major refurbishment and redesign of the building.
It is also planning a new shared cultural exhibition centre with the Birmingham Royal Bal- let (BRB) and is looking to replace its Collection Centre in Nechells. Its plans include: Working with communities to shape new displays; Improved accessibility; A new children’s museum; A community gallery; Increased learning facilities; Restaurant fronting the street ; Conference spaces. BRB is expected to transfer its historic archives and collections to the new site, making them publicly available for the first time in the new culturally themed galleries.
It is estimated just one per cent of the museum’s collection is on display at its various historic sites around the city.