William Morris Future
Today, Coxsoft Art attended a round-table discussion in Walthamstow on future developments at the William Morris Gallery and Vestry House Museum, on the invitation of Lorna Lee, Head of Libraries, Museum and Gallery, and Clive Morton, Head of Culture and Leisure Services. Both officials convinced me they wish to protect and develop the Gallery and Museum - obviously within Council budgetary constraints and staff restructuring - and to encourage wider use of the facilities. They were adamant that the changes to opening times which will take effect in September are not the "thin end of the wedge" as protesters have feared. Opening at weekends is a logical step that should be more convenient for most visitors, and it will also allow the hosting of weekend events. Lots of promising ideas were discussed. We'll have to wait to see what transpires. I've illustrated previous blogs on this subject with Faith and Hope. Time for Charity.
posted by Unknown @ 29.6.07
4 comments
4 Comments:
I don't know who you are, Coxsoft, but you should be wary of believing what Lorna Lee and Clive Morton tell you without independent confirmation.
Did they make clear that the William Morris Gallery curator, Peter Cormack, who has a world-wide reputation as an authority on Morris, is losing his job? That opening hours are being slashed? That without a professional curator any chance of Lottery funding is placed in peril? That Clive Morton, now a senior official for Waltham Forest, is a former Labour Council leader, and an intensely political figure? That the budget cuts basically match Lorna Lee's enhanced salary in a post that was not formerly thought necessary? That the Council Leader, Clyde Loakes, has been branded a bare-faced liar in public by the Chair of the Friends of the Gallery for denying that the Friends had offered funds to postpone the cuts? That it is seriously proposed to use the gallery as a wedding venue? That the Council resorted to a variety of lies and underhanded tricks to stop local campaigners from meeting members of the Audit Commission during their recent visit? That more than 10,000 people locally and worldwide have signed an online petition against the cuts?
If you want to hear the real story about what's going on, please go to
www.keepourmuseumsopen.org, or contact antiscrap@googlegroups.com, who will give you a briefing.
Don't be taken in!
Best wishes,
one of hundreds of local campaigners
Hi, Anon
Thanks for your comment. I have been following the William Morris Gallery saga almost from the word "Go", and I have campaigned on its behalf. If you search my blog for "William Morris Gallery" you'll find most of my previous posts on this issue. I've been a severe critic of the cuts; I signed the petition at the keepourmuseumsopen website and receive its newsletter. So I do know some of the political shenanigans that have been going on. One councillor has been voted out as a result of putting his foot in it.
The reason I was invited to the round-table discussion was that I made a number of positive suggestions to the Council. This is what they want, rather than warfare.
My own borough of Redbridge is faced with cuts and "staff restructuring", so I know what they're being forced into. It isn't just a local issue. It's all down to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and there are probably worse local authority cuts to come next year! NHS cuts too. (Redbridge is losing its only accident and emergency hospital this year.)
I wish there were a simple solution, such as vote for a different party at the next general election, but who knows how bad it would be under the Tories?
In the meantime, pressure needs to be kept on the Council, but its officials do need constructive ideas. Carrot and stick both have their place.
Well Coxsoft, if you know how to run a museum of the stature without a curator I would be amazed. removing the curator is the kiss of death to the museum.
Every time they hold a wedding there they will close the building to public access
The leader of the council has suggested that we do not need museums, and by refusing to appoint a chief executive he is wasting more money than he is saving with the cuts at the museum.
But I expect the tea and buscuits were nice.
cheers, Martin
Hi, Martin
Thanks for identifying yourself. I have another Anon. giving me stick on unrelated issues.
It was tepid water and biscuits actually, because the room was too hot for anything warmer. And it didn't compensate for a total of more than 3 hours travelling on that Friday when bombers tried to hit London again.
The whole point of local authority "staff restructuring" is to save money by getting one person to do the work of two or even three people. This is viewed with cynicism by all the Redbridge staff I know. It's a case of wait and see. Also, look at the new titles that appear. I know at least one librarian whose title has been given to another librarian, even though he is still in charge of his section, but he must now seek approval from his new boss for anything he wants to do. It's a hint to look for a new job. He's looking. When he goes, they'll wait 6 months or a year before replacing him, and the staff he leaves behind will be expected to work twice as hard to make up for his loss! This is the reality of local authority cutbacks. I don't agree with it, but I see it for what it is: a Government "inititaive", not local scheming.
I suspect this is the unfortunate position the WM Gallery curator found himself in. Was he sacked or merely downgraded, as was the librarian I mentioned, and he told them to get lost? I don't know. If you have heard directly from him, please let me know.
Another problem with local authorities is that staff aren't allowed to say anything negative about their employer. This is part of the employment contract, and it's a sackable offence to tell unplalatable truths about the Authority. Where does this leave whisteblowing? Up the creek without a paddle. If you find somebody with his fingers in the till, you must report that to your boss, but exposing the incompetence, the wasting of time and money that goes on in local authorities is taboo. Again, I don't agree with this, but it's what staff must live with or get out. As many staff are also local ratepayers, you can imagine the conflict of interests this creates!
Here's another harsh reality. Curating a museum is no longer about expertise in the given field. It's all about filling in forms to gain Lottery grants! The lady who set up the Redbridge Museum wasn't local and knew little about the Borough when she started her job, but she knew how to fill in the complicated forms to gain grants. So she was very successful. Without her, the Museum probably wouldn't have got off the ground. Again, don't accuse me of supporting this new style of curating; I'm just facing the facts.
So, without arguing against you or the campaign, which I still support, or agreeing with everything the Council has done or said, I do take a practical view.
You may be interested to learn that one of my minor suggestions has already been acted upon. I pointed out that the Wallpaper Download page mentioned Internet Explorer 5 - we're now into IE7 - and I asked when was this page last updated. The 5 has gone.
I made a lot more suggestions than updating the website, but it's good to know that one of my suggestions has been acted upon. It proves that somebody at the Council is heeding positive advice.
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