Agenda

To elect a Chairman of the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum Management Committee for the municipal year 2023-24.

To elect a Vice-Chairman of the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum Management Committee for the municipal year 2023-24.

To receive any apologies for absence from Councillors.

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 20 March 2023.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution. Further information on the requirements for submitting these is available to view at the following link:-

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeID=151&Info=1&bcr=1

The deadline for the submission of public questions is 4 clear working days before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a statement is midday the working day before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.

This report provides an update on the activities of the Russell-Cotes from 1 March – 30 September 2023.

This has been an exceptionally good period for the museum, with a 14% increase in visitor numbers and in associated income for the first 6 months of the financial year 2023/24.

The exhibition ‘In her own voice: the art of Lucy Kemp-Welch’ has been a critical and commercial success and attracted national coverage.  In addition, improvements to digital marketing, TV coverage and poor weather from July have impacted positively.

The café, events and membership have performed well. The only exception has been the shop. Although profit margins remain good,  its turnover has decreased because of issues with stock purchase and is likely impacted by sensitivities about spending on non-essentials.

Significant concerns remain about the poor state of the building, its continued deterioration and loss and the detrimental impact this has on the irreplaceable and fragile Grade2* historic house, externally and internally, as well as its collections, operations and visitor experience.

To note the new acquisitions to the Collection (material owned and held in trust by the Russell-Cotes Art Gallery & Museum charity in accordance with its charitable objectives) and the loan of material to other institutions (ie public art galleries and museums) and to approve the disposal of items in the Collection which do not meet the Museum’s Core Offer in accordance with the Museums Association Code of Ethics.

The Arts Council England (ACE) Museums Estates Development (MEND) funded project (£974,000) to support the backlog of maintenance issues at the Russell-Cotes is progressing as follows:

·       Replacement of environmental plant and machinery has been completed or commissioned.

o   Phase 1 of the replacement of all mechanical plant for the boilers and air handling units in the historic house have been completed and commissioned. Temporary air handling has been supplied to the Galleries to maintain environmental conditions for GIS.

o   Phase 2 replacing the Air Handling units for the Galleries started on 16 October 2023.

o   Phase 3 replacing plant in the Modern Wing will start in January 2024 and require the closure of the Museum for 4 weeks.

·       The tenders for the restoration of the Conservatory are under consideration.  However, the tenders are significantly higher (£100,000) than budgeted and the project cannot continue without reallocation of budget.

·       Drainage work on the party drains has been carried out in the Royal Bath Hotel by Wessex Water and has been successful so far.

·       CCTV work has yet to be commissioned.

To note the date of the next scheduled meeting.