Birmingham's cherished museums and galleries are facing a severe financial crisis, prompting an urgent public appeal for support. The Birmingham Museums Trust has launched a major new campaign to raise £2 million within the next two years, stating the city's cultural heart is at a 'critical crossroads'.
A City-Wide Call to Action
The campaign, titled 'Your Museums. Your Move', is a direct call to the people of Birmingham, businesses, and organisations to help secure the future of the city's cultural assets. The Trust cares for a collection of one million objects across sites including the iconic Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, Thinktank science museum, Aston Hall, and the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter.
Co-chief executives of Birmingham Museums Trust, Sara Wajid and Zak Mensah, delivered a stark message upon the campaign's launch. "We are very grateful to receive regular funding from Birmingham City Council and Arts Council England, but the reality is that for every pound we receive we must raise the same again to keep the doors open," they stated.
The Financial Reality Behind the Exhibits
The scale of the challenge is clear: only half of the costs involved in caring for the venues and the vast collection are covered by public funds. This means that for every pound of public money spent, another pound must be found through donations, commercial sales, and fundraising efforts.
While short-term relief came from the Museum Renewal Fund, enabling extended opening hours and other community-backed activities, this funding is strictly temporary. The lifeline must be spent by the end of January, highlighting the precarious nature of the current financial situation.
Why This Campaign is Vital for Birmingham's Future
The 'Your Museums. Your Move' initiative is framed as an essential investment in Birmingham's identity. The Trust's ambition is to create a world-class museum service that plays a central role in making Birmingham a great place to live, work, and visit.
With the slogan 'it takes a city to save a story', the campaign underscores that the future of these cultural landmarks is a shared responsibility. The goal is to ensure Birmingham has museums that inspire pride, serving as vital spaces for learning, remembering, and imagining for generations to come.
