How the threat to museums has changed over time

Few will have missed the alarming number of museums reported as being at risk of closure in the past year. The museum sector has long faced challenges, but recent headlines paint a picture that feels distinctly different from those we have grown used to seeing.

Long before Heritage Thinking Differently was conceived, I founded a Facebook page in 2011 called Save Our Museums (UK). This was my response to a growing crisis: an increasing number of regional museums were facing closure, many seemingly victims of the UK Government’s austerity measures. My concern was that these threats were often reported only in the local press, leaving the public largely unaware of the scale of the issue on a national level. To bridge this gap, I set up a Google Search Alert to track these stories and ensure they reached a wider audience. My suspicions were confirmed—there were far more museums at risk than were being publicly discussed.

Now, over 13 years later, I still receive daily alerts from Google. Over time, I observed a shift in the pattern of closures. After an initial wave of museum losses, the number of reports began to decline, leading me to believe that the most vulnerable institutions had already succumbed. Those that survived seemed to adapt, exploring new ways of working and securing their futures. The news cycle reflected this evolution—rather than outright closures, reports detailed cuts to staff, reduced opening hours, and the introduction or increase of admission fees. During this period, my posts on the Save Our Museums (UK) page became less frequent.

However, in the last couple of years, the trend has reversed, and the stories have taken on a new urgency. This time, the institutions facing peril are not just small regional sites but major museums in key cities and tourist hotspots. The landscape of museum closures has shifted dramatically.

In the past year alone, I have shared reports highlighting threats to institutions in Cardiff, Edinburgh, Birmingham, Leeds, Derby, and Nottingham, as well as numerous towns across the UK. These are not the same kinds of closures I reported in 2011. Among them are potentially devastating cuts to prestigious institutions like The People’s Story in Edinburgh, Birmingham Museums Trust, and the National Museums of Wales. These are museums that weathered the storm of austerity but now find themselves on the brink.

Back in 2011, I was careful to share news coverage without adding personal commentary, as I often lacked insight into the business models, local politics, or management of these institutions. In some cases, I wasn’t even certain of their geographical locations. Now, however, the conversation has changed. Many of the museums at risk today are among the most respected and well-run institutions in the UK, with funding arrangements I am much more familiar with. The implications of their struggles are deeply concerning.

In June this year, the Museums Association reported that two-thirds of museum directors had expressed serious concerns about funding shortfalls. This data, drawn from Art Fund’s annual Museum Directors Research Report, was particularly striking because it came at a time when many institutions were experiencing an increase in commercial income. By October, the English Civic Museums Network had issued an open letter to the government warning of financial crises in multiple cities. This was followed by a rare and urgent media appeal from the Director of Derby Museums Trust, calling for emergency funding to prevent closures.

Over the past 13 years of tracking these issues, one thing has become clear: the nature of the threat has evolved, and no institution is immune. Research from Mapping Museum Lab, as reported by ICOM, reveals that 525 museums have closed in the UK since 2000. While this has coincided with a period of growth in the sector, the overall picture remains troubling.

I have no doubt that those making these difficult financial decisions do so with heavy hearts. Museum professionals have every reason to take pride in their institutions, and many have worked tirelessly to modernise, embrace entrepreneurial strategies, and forge stronger connections with their communities. Yet despite these efforts, we are now seeing beloved institutions facing unprecedented financial peril.

What is particularly worrying is the risk of normalisation. If large, high-profile museums are deemed vulnerable, what does this mean for smaller, less visible sites? As a former museum director, I understand that adversity can drive resilience and innovation. However, I also recognise that there is a tipping point—beyond a certain level of strain, even the most resourceful institutions may struggle to survive.

I will continue to share regional news stories about museums at risk on social media, and I hope you will help spread the word. If you’ve visited my website before, you’ll know that I specialise in helping institutions Think Differently and explore ways to generate greater organic income. If you believe I can be of assistance to your site, I’d welcome the opportunity to have a conversation.

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Save Our Museums (UK)

For those who haven’t yet seen my recent announcement regarding the future of Nick Winterbotham’s strategic planning program, I encourage you to take a look at my latest blog, along with other short reads on key industry topics.

Paul Baker

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