The impact of coronavirus on the cultural sector could see the closure of a number of small museums across the country, according to arts bodies.
The bulk of the country’s 1,600 independent heritage establishments and museums are held within the capital. Attractions such as these will make the majority of their money through charging entrance fees, no longer a viable option during the Covid-19 pandemic which has forced them to shut their doors.
Andrew Lovett, the chair of the Association of Independent Museums, has said that a number of museums will "just run out of cash and go to the wall", potentially at the cost of their collections.
He continued: "Their incomes have collapsed straightaway... They also don't have huge cash reserves or working capital.”
Lovett also believes that museums may have to downsize as a result of coronavirus, resulting in job losses across the board.
Establishments including the Florence Nightingale Museum and the Charles Dickens Museum, have voiced concern that they will not be able to financially survive following the pandemic.
Lovett did praise the government’s job retention scheme, in the belief that it saved many attractions for the time being.
While funding from the National Lottery Heritage Emergency Fund and Arts Council England are available, the majority of this money is going to those who are regularly funded by the bodies.
Establishments are entitled to apply for loans, however, AIM has noted that the majority of independent museums are not in a position to do so.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport’s spokesperson said that: "We are committed to supporting our world-class museums and arts sectors including through the unprecedented government package to help businesses, workers and organisations in these challenging times."
