Agenda item

(Indicative timing 2:05 – 2: 50pm)

Attending for this item were the:

·         Assistant Director for Communities

·         Museums Manager

·         Head of Libraries, Archives and Archaeology

·         Chairman of the Board of Trustees for Severn Arts 

·         Arts Director, Severn Arts 

·         Cabinet Member with Responsibility (CMR) for Communities

The Panel had requested an update on Worcestershire County Council’s Strategy for Museums, Arts and Culture as part of its Work Programme.

Members were provided with an overview of each service area, the main points highlighted were:

• The County Museum based at Hartlebury Castle had half a million artefacts which included the world’s best collection of Gypsy caravans.
• Research showed that visits and participation in the museum services contributed to people living longer, improved communication and reduced isolation.
• The education programme focussed on Key Stage 2 children and included children and young people who were home educated, looked after children (LACs) and refugee families and provided a less formal learning environment.
• The priorities of the Joint Museums 5-year Strategic Plan included a priority to grow and diversify funding and resilience. Currently, the Service was funded via Worcester City Council as well as earned income and external funding. Further work was being done to reduce reliance on contributions and increase self-funding.
• Hartlebury Museum and the Collections Centre storage unit both come to the end of their leases in the near future and an options appraisal and business model would go to Cabinet in 2023.

During the discussion, the following main points were made:

·         In terms of attracting visitors to the Hartlebury Museum, the Panel was informed that surveys were undertaken to identify the audience of the museum to help increase the user numbers of this service. However, it was acknowledged that there were some barriers to Hartlebury Castle given its location and lack of public transport, as well as admission charges being in place. Work was being done to enable some discounts to be introduced to encourage visitors who would not normally go to museums. Outreach work was also be undertaken to encourage visitors.

·         A Member suggested that transport was an issue in the County for getting to the Hive in Worcester.  Officers acknowledged the transport difficulties and were working more with partners and Worcestershire Children First to organise school trips and community visits.

·         Partnership working was key to accessing an audience the service would not normally reach, and it was acknowledged that despite a dramatic fall in national museum attendance, data showed that within Worcestershire, visitor numbers had increased, with actual visitors almost 100% of pre-Covid-19 figures.

·         The Arts Director referred the Arches Project in Worcester which had impacted positively on the footfall in Worcester City town centre.

·         In response to a question regarding taking the service out into town centres, high streets, implementing roadshows etc. it was confirmed that Worcestershire’s computer bus had been purchased and was now the Music Box. Redditch Creative People and Places provided workshops at various workplaces as well as the Rural Touring Programme which went out to village halls. The Assistant Director for Communities confirmed that there was more to be done but all needed to be costed and budgets considered.

In summarising the discussion, the Chairman made the following main points:

·         It was acknowledged that this report was an update and that the footfall figures for September were pleasing. It was important however, to measure success.

·         It was agreed that a schedule of events for the Hive would be provided to the Panel.

·         The Panel would receive a further update in November 2023 which would include more data on the services provided, success measures and details about the impact of the service.

The CMR for Communities acknowledged the fantastic increase in visitor numbers for April to September but was concerned about the impact of the cost of living crisis on these numbers continuing to increase. The CMR confirmed that entrance fees would be reviewed to ensure that they were affordable and would hope to see visitor numbers continuing to increase.   In addition, there would be a drive on the marketing offer to showcase the County’s assets such as the Commandery, Worcester.