Council considers running museums as charitable trusts

Nottingham City Council is considering operating its museums and galleries under a charitable trust model.

Commissioners were appointed in February to assess how the council should run its museums services, following the reopening of Nottingham Castle after the independent Nottingham Castle Trust went into liquidation.

According to local press, the assessment suggested the creation of a development trust and exhibition trust, which would be used to supplement the council in running the museum's service.

During a Communities and Environment Scrutiny Committee meeting held in July, a council officer said Nottingham could mirror operations in Leeds and Manchester, which both operate development and exhibition trusts that are wholly-owned by the council and help bring in extra funding and tax relief.

The officer said control, transparency and oversight from the council is “imperative”, adding “there is no intent to replicate the Nottingham Castle Trust model”. 

The council’s museums service currently runs Wollaton Hall, Newstead Abbey, Nottingham Industrial Museum and the Museum of Nottingham Life, alongside Nottingham Castle.