Museum Update (Nov)

12^th November 2024

We are approaching a critical period for the Museum. The draft budget for 2025 – 26 is published in mid-December, followed by a public consultation. The budget will be approved by the full Council in late February/early March 2025. The Council’s financial position is perilous. RBWM commissioned an independent review by CIPFA (the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy). It has recently concluded that RBWM are – in effect – on the brink of bankruptcy. Read more here.

Over the next few months, we hope to make a robust case for further funding and impress upon Councillors (and senior RBWM officers who draft initial proposals) the importance and value of the Museum. Change is inevitable, and we must look for creative ways of working in a challenging financial situation.

A meeting in late July with Councillors, senior officers, volunteers, and staff was encouraging. An Action Plan was created, and progress has been made on tasks such as making the Ascot Room more attractive, the ’Adopt an Object’ initiative, ‘tap and donate’, and improving the retail offer etc. However, some key issues remain.

A key meeting is scheduled for 15th November, bringing together Jack Rankin MP, Councillor Jack Douglas (Cabinet Member for Communities & Leisure), and senior Council officers to discuss local priorities. I’ve been invited to participate and will address several critical issues – chiefly, reopening the Museum for at least 2-3 days per week. While background work is ongoing, it’s challenging to rally community support when the Museum remains limited to just 4 hours a week, down from its former 5-day schedule. We also urgently need to recruit new volunteers, explore how they can help extend opening hours, and consider sustainable funding models for the Museum’s future. If you’re interested in volunteering, please click here!

The Museum team is working diligently to secure external funding, a challenging task as many museums face similar financial pressures. Although their bid for the £50k Art Fund ‘Reimagine’ grant was unsuccessful, the strong feedback and high scores indicate promise for future applications. They have since applied for £5k from Museum Development South East under the ‘Museums At Risk’ category and are awaiting the decision. Recently, they received £500 from the same organization to support income-generating projects, including a tap-and-donate system and a new ‘Adopt an Object’ initiative, with more details coming soon!

The Museum has been busy on Tuesdays! Windsor Castle is closed, and the guard change attracts many visitors looking for somewhere interesting. Volunteers are being very proactive in encouraging visitors to take a guided tour.

The team continue to network with partners to identify best practices and to help with future planning. They continue to move objects salvaged from the flood back into the museum store, as well as answering the many enquiries received weekly. RBWM is funding some consultancy work to take place in the next few months.

We were delighted to host a group of 35 visitors from an international bank based in London a few weeks ago. They enjoyed an introductory talk by Len Nash in the Council Chamber and then visited all the first-floor rooms where volunteers were on hand to assist. The feedback was excellent!

Len and I attended the Open Day organised by our friends at the Windsor Local History Group (WLHG) on Saturday 2nd November. It was well-attended including the Mayor Simon Ward and Jack Rankin, MP. We enjoyed engaging with the many local people there.

Gerald Hyder

Chairman, Friends of the Museum