Thousands support campaign to save People's History Museum
The People's History Museum. Photo by Bernard Randall |
In 2010 the Coalition government announced that it would cut
funding to a number of museums across the UK. Among them is the People’s History Museum in Manchester which
faces 20% cuts by 2015.
The museum contains a collection of printed material, physical objects and photographs which celebrate the lives of working people and documents the history of democratic movements in Britain over the last 200 years.
The museum contains a collection of printed material, physical objects and photographs which celebrate the lives of working people and documents the history of democratic movements in Britain over the last 200 years.
Its
staff have been seeking alternative sponsorship but with the cuts fast
approaching there are concerns that they may not be able to make up the
shortfall in time.
Melissa Bassil, a supporter of the museum who created an
online petition on the website 38degrees.org told Equal Times the government should seriously consider reversing the
cuts.
“Not only does the People’s History Museum tell our history
but it can help inspire future generations to realise that they can get
together, they can make a difference and workers shouldn’t be fighting each
other for scraps at the bottom they should be uniting and making a difference.
“We can afford to support to support all our cultural
institutions and the vast majority of people wouldn’t notice the difference in
their pockets. I do hope it [the petition] creates enough interest so that they
will look at their decision again.”
The petition, titled ‘Restore
funding to the People’s History Museum’, was launched two weeks ago and has
received over 7000 signatures. Bassil is aiming to reach 10,000 signatures at
which point the petition will be presented to Ed Vaizey, the Minister for
Culture Communications and Creative Industries.
Among those supporting the campaign is Len McCluskey,
general secretary of Unite the Union, who recently wrote an article
in the Guardian strongly criticising
the government.
“The
proposed funding cut for the museum is a blatant attempt by the Tory party to
rewrite history in its own image, to stop future generations from learning what
their great-grandfathers sacrificed in the name of their country,” he wrote.
“…We
must defend the People’s Museum from the Tory-led government’s malicious and
politically motivated attack, and safeguard the one museum dedicated to telling
the story of us all.”
McCluskey’s
article followed a report in the Independent newspaper in which the museum’s deputy curator,
Cath Birchall, suggested funding had been cut in response to an exhibition showing
how the social conditions of working people were transformed by the First World War. The
government, she said, failed to “see the importance of a national museum
that shows the effects of the war on ordinary people...”
However,
the government denies its motives are ideological and the museum has
subsequently distanced itself from these claims. Katy Ashton, director
of PHM, told Equal Times the museum
is now working to gain revenue from other sources such as commercial activities
and donations, but is grateful for the overwhelming public support the campaign
has garnered.
“It’s been a phenomenal response in terms of the number
people who have got behind it and we really appreciate that support and we’re
really keen for people to continue to support the museum in any way they see
fit.”
“The Museum has a real connection to ordinary
people’s lives. The stories that we tell are about ordinary working people and
how those people have fought for something they believe really strongly. We’re the only museum in this country which
is about the development of democracy and people feel very passionate about
supporting a story which is to do with people power.”
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