The online petition to support the William Morris Gallery which was begun in California on March 1st has surpassed 10,000 signatures! Its many heartfelt and articulate comments make encouraging reading. BUT, we still need many more names to have an impact on Waltham Forest Council. Please tell all your friends and contacts to sign if they haven’t already. www.petitiononline.com/savewmgRecently, Leader of the Council Clyde Loakes categorically stated to a Committee Member of the Friends of the William Morris Gallery that the Council have no intention whatsoever of reversing any of their decisions about the drastic cuts and restructuring to be imposed on the William Morris Gallery and Vestry House Museum. The staff of both museums have now been in excruciating limbo since January 4th and are still waiting for basic information about their employment. Is this fair?
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It has been reported that the Council have taken the rather bizarre and costly step of introducing a ‘mystery shopper’ system whereby highly paid consultants are sent with hidden cameras to spy on the already demoralised museum, gallery and archive staff. Would the money not be better spent on keeping the facilities open? Ms Lorna Lee, who has just been promoted to Head of Libraries, Museum, Gallery and Archives, may well be able to shed some light on this issue. lorna.lee@walthamforest.gov.uk
In what could be a positive move by the Council, Cllr Naz Sarkar was voted out as the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Arts and Culture last week, to be replaced by Cllr Geraldine Reardon.
Cllr Sarkar firmly believed in and promoted these cuts, it is thought Cllr Reardon has far more respect and understanding for arts and culture.
New contact details have been added to the site.
About 300 people lined up behind the local Woodcraft Folk, who led the procession from Vestry House to the town square in Walthamstow. The message on handmade banners rang loud and clear: celebrate our history, defend our heritage. This was the slogan under which we all gathered on Saturday 5 May on the green outside Vestry House Museum.The inspiration for the day was Morris himself and the old socialist caravan, and the drawings of Walter Crane that brought together the celebration of May Day with the slogans for fellowship, justice and commonwealth (Crane’s work can be seen at the WMG). Before setting off from Vestry House we heard song, folk tunes, speeches and poetry. Many came in wonderful hats, carrying flowers, children and drums. The mood along the way was welcoming and sympathetic with many wanting to know more about the severe cuts about to be imposed on both Vestry House Musuem and the William Morris Gallery.
The council has completely underestimated the number of local people who not only know and enjoy the museums today, but hold good memories of them in the years of their growing up. There is also a new, multicultural generation who want to keep the museums open well into their future. This day all were united.
The procession was loud, joyful and determined to keep up the fight until the threatened cuts are removed. And then we’ll get campaigning for more resources and the development of both museum and gallery.
Campaigners for the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow donned forensic boiler suits today to protest outside Waltham Forest Town Hall, declaring it Britain’s first ever heritage crime scene.
Charging the council with slashing the gallery’s funding, smuggling in casual staff to replace the specialist curator, and strangling this world-famous museum, crime scene investigators marked out the scene. At one stage, protesters cordoned off the fountain in front of the Town Hall’s entrance, prompting council staff to come out onto the steps.
‘Today’s protest was about people fighting to keep an important local and national asset going,’ said Dr Ian Dungavell, Director of the Victorian Society. ‘All too often, funding cuts cause the steady decline of our museums until there is nothing left to save. Waltham Forest Council must realise that it won’t be allowed to get off scot-free.’
Print res images available at:
www.keepourmuseumsopen.org.uk/press