Glasgow’s museum collections face a “loss of skills, knowledge and essential care”, a union has warned, as plans to save £1.5m could see 37 posts lost.
UNISON has said the city’s museums and community outreach programmes are being “hammered” by cuts, as the impact of the council’s budget decisions start to emerge.
Christopher Robertson, the union’s Glasgow Life convener, said: “Our museums need more investment, as do many other Glasgow Life venues and services, not less.”
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A spokesman for Glasgow Life said collections will receive “careful and considered care” and savings are being made by “reducing, rather than losing” services.
UNISON has reported 37 posts out of 128 are to be lost in an attempt to save £1.5m in the museums and collections section run by Glasgow Life. The jobs include curators, conservators, outreach assistants, digital photographers and technicians, the union said.
Members believe the decision will result in “a loss of skills, knowledge and essential care of Glasgow’s world-renowned museum collections” and future exhibitions will need “increased use of private conservation contractors” at “substantial additional cost”.
They said the “culling of expertise in caring for the collections will put the objects treasured by visitors at risk”.
A statement from UNISON members said: “The museum conservation department is being reduced by 40%. Public programmes will be vastly reduced as a result.
“The proposed cuts are focussed on staff who care for the collections, who worked through Covid to deliver the Burrell Collection and to re-open other museums including People’s Palace and St Mungo’s, and who are now working on the Mary Quant exhibition.
“The cuts threaten the preservation of the city’s collection, access to them, the potential for exhibitions and the reputation of the city.”
It added the proposals will “impoverish the quality of museum experiences”. “Losing those who move objects and design and build the displays and exhibitions which keep local people coming back, will result in dull and stagnant spaces.
“Cuts to the learning team will mean that free facilitated weekend activities for families will be greatly reduced, and successful dementia and autism friendly programming and programmes of Interfaith dialogue will be put at risk”
The plans will also “mean the end of The Open Museum, the community outreach service”, the union statement added. “The cuts risk a shift from a treasured, dynamic public service towards spaces of elite privilege.”
Mr Robertson said: “We need politicians in this city who will stand up for Glasgow Life services, not pass on the funding attacks from the Scottish and UK Governments.
“Our museums need more investment, as do many other Glasgow Life venues and services, not less. We call on Glasgow city councillors to reverse these cuts to our museums and collections.”
In response, the Glasgow Life spokesman said: “Glasgow’s collection receives careful and considered care and this is going to continue.
“The savings Glasgow Life is making this year adds up to around 9% of the annual service fee it receives from Glasgow City Council.
“The plans agreed in February ensure we will not have to close any venues. Wherever possible we have identified ways of making savings by reducing, rather than losing, Glasgow Life services, programmes and events; retaining the potential to rebuild them in the future.”
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