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| Bradford museum board 'very strongly opposed' moving photo collection | Bradford museum board 'very strongly opposed' moving photo collection |
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| London grandees agreed to move a world-famous photography collection from Bradford’s National Media Museum to the capital despite opposition from the West Yorkshire museum’s board, it has emerged. | London grandees agreed to move a world-famous photography collection from Bradford’s National Media Museum to the capital despite opposition from the West Yorkshire museum’s board, it has emerged. |
| The National Media Museum (NMM) advisory board feared that the move would be seen as “the ‘jewels’ of the collections being taken to London”, according to minutes published by the Science Museum Group. | The National Media Museum (NMM) advisory board feared that the move would be seen as “the ‘jewels’ of the collections being taken to London”, according to minutes published by the Science Museum Group. |
| It is understood that many board members were “very strongly opposed” to the switch when it was presented to them “as a fait accompli” last November. | It is understood that many board members were “very strongly opposed” to the switch when it was presented to them “as a fait accompli” last November. |
| Despite their reservations, the transfer of more than 400,000 objects from the Bradford museum to a new “international photography resource centre” at the Victoria and Albert Museum in Kensington was signed off by SMG trustees in December. | Despite their reservations, the transfer of more than 400,000 objects from the Bradford museum to a new “international photography resource centre” at the Victoria and Albert Museum in Kensington was signed off by SMG trustees in December. |
| The announcement in February prompted accusations of “cultural vandalism” from local politicians. | The announcement in February prompted accusations of “cultural vandalism” from local politicians. |
| On Wednesday, Bradford politicians said the newly published minutes proved that the decision was taken by a “London elite” with little consideration for the cultural impact on the north of England. | On Wednesday, Bradford politicians said the newly published minutes proved that the decision was taken by a “London elite” with little consideration for the cultural impact on the north of England. |
| Judith Cummins, the MP for Bradford South, said: “The Science Museum Group’s unelected, unrepresentative and unaccountable board of trustees are showing a complete disregard for the wishes of local people here in Bradford. | Judith Cummins, the MP for Bradford South, said: “The Science Museum Group’s unelected, unrepresentative and unaccountable board of trustees are showing a complete disregard for the wishes of local people here in Bradford. |
| “The latest minutes show that they have not only ignored local people and the 27,000 people who signed the recent petition, but they have also ignored MPs and ironically their very own advisory board, who expressed ‘reservations’ about the transfer of the collection back in December 2015.” | “The latest minutes show that they have not only ignored local people and the 27,000 people who signed the recent petition, but they have also ignored MPs and ironically their very own advisory board, who expressed ‘reservations’ about the transfer of the collection back in December 2015.” |
| SMG, which owns the NMM, receives about £40m a year in funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. | SMG, which owns the NMM, receives about £40m a year in funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. |
| “It’s completely wrong that they should be able to ride roughshod over the legitimate fears and wishes of local people and their representatives, but mark my words, we won’t stand for it,” Cummins said. | “It’s completely wrong that they should be able to ride roughshod over the legitimate fears and wishes of local people and their representatives, but mark my words, we won’t stand for it,” Cummins said. |
| “Where is Bradford’s representation? There must be greater transparency in decision making and a review into the board of trustees’ membership to ensure much greater diversity and local accountability.” | “Where is Bradford’s representation? There must be greater transparency in decision making and a review into the board of trustees’ membership to ensure much greater diversity and local accountability.” |
| Simon Cooke, the leader of the Conservatives on Bradford council, said the transfer of the Royal Photographic Society collection was indicative of a wider problem. | Simon Cooke, the leader of the Conservatives on Bradford council, said the transfer of the Royal Photographic Society collection was indicative of a wider problem. |
| “This is not a single problem – it’s a broader issue about the extent to which the government’s commitment to high-quality cultural provision in the north of England is actually carried through by the people the government appoint,” he said. “It’s a London elite, there’s no other way of looking at it.” | “This is not a single problem – it’s a broader issue about the extent to which the government’s commitment to high-quality cultural provision in the north of England is actually carried through by the people the government appoint,” he said. “It’s a London elite, there’s no other way of looking at it.” |
| Cooke criticised John Whittingdale, the culture secretary, who on Tuesday refused to intervene in the transfer over concerns that it would be seen as “micromanaging”. | Cooke criticised John Whittingdale, the culture secretary, who on Tuesday refused to intervene in the transfer over concerns that it would be seen as “micromanaging”. |
| “I don’t think this is about micromanaging – this is fundamentally the principle of museums and them having a national focus, not a London focus. I’m quite disappointed about the lack of willingness to engage here,” Cooke said. | “I don’t think this is about micromanaging – this is fundamentally the principle of museums and them having a national focus, not a London focus. I’m quite disappointed about the lack of willingness to engage here,” Cooke said. |
| “It’s about the principle that we’re creating a new centre in London, rather than take the opportunity to create a fantastic centre in the north of England. It’s wonderful if you’re in London or can afford to go there.” | “It’s about the principle that we’re creating a new centre in London, rather than take the opportunity to create a fantastic centre in the north of England. It’s wonderful if you’re in London or can afford to go there.” |
| In the minutes from the SMG meeting in London on 2 December 2015, the trustees attempted to counter opposition to the move by pledging “significant new investments” in the NMM with an interactive gallery and an upgrade of the Imax cinema. | In the minutes from the SMG meeting in London on 2 December 2015, the trustees attempted to counter opposition to the move by pledging “significant new investments” in the NMM with an interactive gallery and an upgrade of the Imax cinema. |
| It said: “The proposed transfer was based on sound principles of collections stewardship; the preferred recipient [the V&A in Kensington] had greater capacity to care for the transferred collections and enable greater accessibility than was the case at NMM. | It said: “The proposed transfer was based on sound principles of collections stewardship; the preferred recipient [the V&A in Kensington] had greater capacity to care for the transferred collections and enable greater accessibility than was the case at NMM. |
| “Overall, it is a positive story regarding the future direction of NMM with its focus on Stem [Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths] and communications needed to be managed.” | “Overall, it is a positive story regarding the future direction of NMM with its focus on Stem [Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths] and communications needed to be managed.” |
| The publication of the minutes came after the Conservative former cabinet minister Eric Pickles described the decision to move the collection as ridiculous and said it had been taken by southern elites. The former communities secretary, who was a councillor in Bradford when the museum opened, urged ministers to “closely examine” the decision. | The publication of the minutes came after the Conservative former cabinet minister Eric Pickles described the decision to move the collection as ridiculous and said it had been taken by southern elites. The former communities secretary, who was a councillor in Bradford when the museum opened, urged ministers to “closely examine” the decision. |
| The proposal to move the images and change the museum’s name were first mooted in 2013 as part of plans to “revision” the NMM away from arts and more towards science. | The proposal to move the images and change the museum’s name were first mooted in 2013 as part of plans to “revision” the NMM away from arts and more towards science. |
| The museum will have its name changed in 2017 to reflect this change in focus and has been awarded £7.5m for a revamp. The museum’s name was changed in 2006 to the National Media Museum, from the National Museum of Film, Photography and Television. | The museum will have its name changed in 2017 to reflect this change in focus and has been awarded £7.5m for a revamp. The museum’s name was changed in 2006 to the National Media Museum, from the National Museum of Film, Photography and Television. |
| The SMG had not returned a request for comment at the time of publication. | The SMG had not returned a request for comment at the time of publication. |