Submissions
27 September 2006
WRITTEN EVIDENCE FROM EQUITY TO THE CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT SELECT COMMITTEE:
CARING FOR OUR COLLECTIONS
INTRODUCTION
1. Equity is a trade union representing 37,000 performers and creative personnel who work across the whole spectrum of entertainment. As a result, our interest in cultural property and access to the archives of our cultural heritage relate mainly to the entertainment industry. In particular, Equity is concerned about the planned closure of the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden, which will deprive the nation of a valuable cultural asset.
BACKGROUND
2. The UK is one of the world's centres for the performing arts and the West End of London is at the centre of our theatre culture. As a result Equity has always supported the existence of a separate Theatre Museum in Covent Garden. Moreover, the collections that are housed at the Theatre Museum - specifically provided by the British Theatre Museum Association and the Friends of the Museum of the Performing Arts - were provided on the understanding that they would be part of a separate museum. It is therefore a concern that so much of the collection and materials are already stored away at the South Kensington site of the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A).
3. Moreover, we were alarmed at proposals earlier this year, which were put before the Trustees of the V&A - as the owners of the Theatre Museum. These proposals recommended the closure of the Covent Garden site, the transfer of some of the collection to the V&A Museum in South Kensington and a significant proportion of the collection being put into storage. This followed the decision of the Heritage Lottery Fund to refuse the museums bid for £2.5m of funding for a second time.
4. There was significant and vocal opposition to the planned closure from a number of performing arts bodies including Equity, the Save London's Theatres Campaign and The Stage newspaper, as well as a number of prominent performers. Support for the Museum was also demonstrated by the 41 MPs who signed Early Day Motion 1823, which stated:
"That this House pays tribute the Theatre Museum in Covent Garden, which is London's only gallery devoted to the performing arts and which hosts one of the best theatre collections in the world; notes that the Heritage Lottery Fund has rejected its £2.5million bid for funding for a second time; is gravely concerned at reports that that trustees of the museum are planning to close the collection and calls upon the Government to intervene to save this valuable cultural asset."
5. Moreover, a further six signatories backed this Motion and specifically called upon the Trustees of the V&A to defer their decision until the matter had been debated in parliament and considered by the Select Committee (EDM 1823A1).
CONSULTATION - CARING FOR THE COLLECTION
6. Following the demonstration of widespread support for the Theatre Museum and concern for its future, the V&A undertook a consultation process entitled the Theatre Museum Review (April 2006).
7. Equity responded to this consultation, to support the continuation of a Covent Garden site; wider access to the collections; better use of the National Video Archive of Performance; support for educational work done through the current site; and a more active role in raising funds for its own activities. We also welcomed the approach of the Royal Opera House as a possible partner in a new and improved museum.
8. However, it would now appear that the fate of the Theatre Museum had already been determined prior to the consultation process. Furthermore, it would appear that the decision to close the Covent Garden site, with little or no commitment to display the collection in an alternative venue, was made without the scrutiny of parliament, either through a debate in either House or specifically the consideration of this Select Committee. This is despite the specific reference to the establishment and existence of a theatre museum in the Heritage Act, and the responsibility of the V&A to "administer the Theatre Museum".
9. In addition, the outcome of the consultation and the nature of the responses that were received by the V&A have not been made public, despite the fact that it is likely that vast majority of these responses would have been arguing for the continuation of a separate and distinct museum for the performing arts.
10. Therefore, Equity was dismayed at announcement by the Theatre Museum on 25 September 2006, which effectively announced that it will be closed down permanently in January 2007, following the failure of a the only proposal being consider for developing the Covent Garden site in partnership with the Royal Opera House.
CONCLUSION
11. The V&A should reverse the decision to close the Theatre Museum and be asked to publish proposals for a new and improved museum for performing arts. In particular, it should also provide more detail on the proposed financial partnerships it has been exploring, with a view to developing specific options for future and ongoing funding. This may include the establishment of a charitable trust.
12. The Committee should also recommend to the Department of Culture Media and Sport that it supports the existence of a Theatre Museum in the medium term, by exploring options for a grant in aid - either administered and funded by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council or through a separate and distinct funding stream administered by the V&A and strategic partners.
13. The V&A should be required to publish the outcome of its consultation on the future of the Theatre Museum and explain to the Select Committee how this assisted the decision making process.
27 September 2006
For further information contact:
Matthew Payton
Research and Parliamentary Officer
Equity
Guild House
Upper St Martin 's Lane
London WC2H 9EG
020 7670 0260
Site Navigation: