museum

[paulb]

and now they want cut the museum. I hope the grants folks make them pay every penny back that they were given. i know lets get them to turn it into council offices.

[Kavi Ugl]

It is, on the whole, a fantastic museum but maybe, just maybe it was built too big and is trying to do too much....?.

Look what the Scallaway museum achieves and compare the size and funding!.

Still it's very sad and shows how dire the financial problem is in Shetland.

http://www.shetlandtimes.co.uk.....uncil-cuts

[unlinkedstudent]

Given that they are under contract to provide set sums for the next few years, my view is that these are cuts they can't make and Civil Court proceedings could be brought against them if they fail to stick to the contract provisions.

Would it kill off visitor numbers if the museum introduced an entrance fee for adults?

I haven't made it yet to the museum but it is on my list of 'things to do'. I loved visiting my local museum as a child and would hate to see the school children here not having this museum to visit as part of their education.
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[Ironwithin]

The amenity trust are just being hysterical, after their empire building they dont want to have to make cuts like everyone else is having to. I would rather cuts there than in other areas.

They should charge to go in the museum to try and get some income.

[tonydog]

40 jobs
how many staff what a joke
more non jobs paid by the council tax
if it cant run off its own back close it , the interveiw on the radio sounded like they were trying to push the council into a corner
well let hope they grow a set and push back

[Kavi Ugl]

I'm listening to Radio Shetland as I type and to be honest some of what's "under threat" are actually just luxuries and need to go.

Promote Shetland and some Architectural Services thing?.

Mind you, the SIC are still not cutting the layers and layers of management and that has to go first.

[Hector's House]

"One option not open to the amenity trust is introducing admission charges, which is prohibited under Scottish laws guaranteeing free entry to public museums"

So how can it "run off its own back"?
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[unlinkedstudent]

[paulb]

unlink go your missing a very interesting visit. i love the old croft house with the grice. just waiting for the daughter to suggest it as a good form of heating the house.

[fionajohn]

don't know if this is already in place but i've been in several museums and the like down on the mainland and most of them had collection boxes for donations.

[piggywiggie]

There is a donation box and the door. Usually has pound coins and notes in it. Surely they can charge an admitting fee of some sort? Scalloway museum does and so does some of the croft house places etc.
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[Longdog]

The museum is ace it would be a real shame if it's functions were limited. The displays are fantastic and the things they put on for kids in the holidasy are great. i'd certainly pay for the activities and events even if they can't charge for general admission to the museum.

What I can't understand is how the Haydock Cafe is run at a loss with the subsidies it gets, it's not as if the prices are cheap and it is always busy whenever I've gone there, often can't get a table.
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[Staney Dale]

It's a dire situation but for Jimmy Moncrieff to charge straight out and say it will have to shut and all the staff made redundant is not the act of a responsible manager. They seriously can't run the place with fewer staff? The scale of the financial crisis has been evident for some time and both him and Brian Smith should have been very aware is could happen to them, not just the Council. There hasn't been much sign of financial restraint at the Amenity Trust.

[Scorrie]

[Longdog]

/\ Must be the Starbucks of Shetland eh!
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[tooney1]

[ll]

The current system where the Council ultimately indirectly rewards multiple eateries to run at a loss without any incentives against privately run competition is completely wrong.

Unless these current arrangements are terminated and franchised out, there is little chance of getting away from the council dependent format that currently exists.

With eateries being one of the few things that does not suffer from online competition in Shetland, it is a great pity that private enterprise is discouraged in this sector by the councils arrangements.

It may be a good time too to look at Promote Shetland? why do we need this when the rest of Scotland can do with a nationally coordinated Visit Scotland?

[MJ]

[ll]

[quote="tooney1"][quote="Staney Dale"]It's a dire situation but for Jimmy Moncrieff to charge straight out and say it will have to shut and all the staff made redundant is not the act of a responsible manager.[/quote]
Yeah sounded like he'd thrown the toys out of the pram there.

One million a year to run the museum seems colossal - that's 83K a month.

Also didn't think it'd be long until Promote Shetland came under the spotlight, since after all it was created after a row with the tourist office, who now seem to be doing better.[/quote]

On these running costs quoted and visitor numbers from statistics, every single visitor is subsidised to the tune of nearly £13 - you could see three films at Mareel for this!?

When Shetland's other museums can be run by small groups year after year, is there something that can be learned here?

I hope the cracks appearing in the back wall of the museum are not going to be costly to cure!

[owre-weel]

[Longdog]

The article in the paper said something like a 12k loss in 2011 and has 13 fulltime and 22 parttime/seasonal staff in haydock. can't find the specifics just now.
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[helliness]

It would be a major loss to Shetland's heritage if the museum was to be reduced in opening hours again! The front of house staff are very friendly and welcoming when arriving to visit the museum. The level of service is fantastic for visitors and locals and provide great workshops for the bairns during the holidays. All the staff are very knowledgeable about Shetland's history and would be a loss if the guided tours were to stop. Also the school tours are fantastic and really get the bairns into our heritage aswell. Never heard a bad word against the museum or its staff. Lets hope Shetland's public and visitors support the museum!
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[breeksy]

[breeksy]

[shetlandpeat]

The museum has several deposits and building all over. I remember visiting a few when my Dad worked there. Some were quite large and full.
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