A major UK art charity has launched an urgent appeal to help museums around the nation recover from the devastating impacts of COVID 19.
Art Fund has unveiled the Together for Museums initiative, which aims to raise £1 million to directly help museums in tackling the current challenges and evolve operations for the ‘new normal’.
The organisation has said it is welcoming public donations of any size and from just £15, donators will be treated to unique objects and pieces of art designed by acclaimed artists – including Lubaina Himid, Anish Kapoor and Michael Landy.
A limited print by Lubaina Himid, exclusively designed for Together for Museums
The scheme coincides with Art Fund’s recently released study, which highlighted the devastating worries and outlook for the British museum’s sector in the present and near future.
The report showed:
October visitor numbers down to just 25 per cent compared to visitor figures for October 2019
77 per cent of museums are experiencing significant financial losses
33 per cent of closed museums think they will reopen in the near future
60 per cent of museum and gallery employees are worried about job security
The study also showed that 90 per cent of museums recognised they need to ‘adapt and innovate’ their current offerings to aid survival – with the Together for Museums initiative supporting the institutions enrich online presences and adjusting current on-site operations to ensure a COVID safe experience.
Introductory video for the Together for Museums innovative
Art Fund has released sobering data which shows the urgent need for the funds. Early this year, Art Fund made £2.25 million of emergency funding available to support museums amid the pandemic, in which they received a total worth of £17 million in applications. In the end, the charity was only able to support 17 per cent of applicants.
As of today (December 3) almost £330,000 has been raised for the Together for Museums initiative – as they move closer to the £1 million target.
Jenny Waldman, Director at Art Fund said: “Over the last six months it’s been hugely inspiring to see innovative ideas from museums to adapt and evolve, but heartbreaking that we cannot support them all. This terrible pandemic, which separates us from our loved ones but has brought us closer in support of our local communities, has taken museums to a make-or-break point.
Adding: “Single-handedly, we cannot solve this crisis – but together, we can make a huge impact. We are urging everyone who loves and uses museums to come together now, to help so many more museums thrive.”
Donations can be taken here.
Photos kindly supplied by Art Fund
Elsewhere, Museum of Illusions Chicago has opened with next-generation brainteasing exhibits.
