Museum trust warns of ‘critical juncture’ after failed funding bid

York Museum Trust has warned that it is at “a critical juncture” and unable to afford urgently needed repairs following a failed £5m funding bid to Arts Council England, according to the BBC.

A report from the trust, which manages the Yorkshire Museum, York Castle Museum and York Art Gallery, revealed that its current cash reserves cover less than two months of operational costs and that with “continued deficits”, it is reliant on a £1m council credit letter offering support “as a last resort”.

The trust’s deficit at the end of the financial year will increase to £111,000 from £54,000 in 2023/2024. It receives £300,000 annually from York City Council and has set a budget for the coming year of £321,000,

“The council and the trust are working together to look at the trust’s funding model to ensure all venues can continue to meet the expectation of visitors and protect the generation of income,” said the report, which also noted the trust was unable to afford improvements including urgent repairs of the Yorkshire Museum’s roof.

Visiter figures fell overall across the three venues from 406,014 in 2023/2024 to 386,500 in 2024/2025. However, numbers at the most popular site, York Castle Museum, were forecast to increase to 234,650 by the end of the financial year, up from 209,235 in 2023/2024.

York Castle Museum shut temporarily in 2023 after reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) was found in 2023, with a partial closure in place until autumn 2024. The report noted that works to address RAAC are expected to last 10 years.