Museum Funding Campaign

The Waterways Trust would like to thank everyone who has supported their campaign to secure Government funding for the inland waterways collection and free museum entry.

The campaign has impacted on the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and in a debate on 29th October 2007, the DCMS recognised the status of the collection, however despite clear sympathy for the cause, the prospects of securing government funding in the short term are very limited. This was confirmed in a meeting with James Purnell MP, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.

The DCMS has said that it will continue to invest in regional museums and galleries by awarding an increase in funding to the ‘renaissance in the regions’ programme to help museums in England revitalise their collections, reach new audiences and strengthen their educational work.

The Waterways Trust is therefore focusing its energies on working closely with the Museums, Libraries & Archives Council and hope to create greater value from this relationship for the inland waterway collection, although this will not provide the transformation in financial terms for the National Waterways Museum that had been hoped for.

The Trust will continue to monitor the situation and should an opportunity arise to reignite the campaign we hope we can count on your support.

Thank you