Culture and Sport Committee

10.00am, Tuesday, 25 October 2016

Museums and Galleries Update

Item number Report number Executive/routine Wards All

Executive Summary

This is the 2nd annual Museums and Galleries Update Report detailing the ways in which the service provided by Culture is maximising income streams across its venues, services and activities. The 1st Update report was presented to this Committee in November 2015. This report details the progress made in developing new income streams through income diversification, innovation, partnerships and business development, to meet the service’s existing and future income targets. The report also details the changes to the service as part of the Council’s Transformation Programme. The annual net revenue spend of £1.8m on Museums and Galleries represents approximately 0.19% of the Council’s revenue budget. Data from the Local Government Benchmarking Framework shows that the cost per visitor in 2014/15 was £1.69. The average across all 32 local authorities was £3.53. Spend per visitor is lower than any other major Scottish city authority. A total of 916,000 attendances were recorded in 2014/15. Satisfaction with the Council’s Museums and Galleries was again recorded as higher than for any other Scottish local authority over 2014/15. (Appendix 1)

Links

Coalition Pledges P24, P31 Council Priorities CP6, CP9, CP12 Single Outcome Agreement SO1

Report

Museums and Galleries Update

1. Recommendations

It is recommended that the Committee: 1.1 notes the Museums and Galleries service continues to provide a high quality customer service and maximises income; 1.2 welcomes the progress made in response to the Council’s Transformation Programme.

2. Background

2.1 The long term modernisation programme which began in 2008 is still underway, based on prioritisation, re-positioning, partnership development, property rationalisation (through alternative uses) and income generation. Targets are provided in the Museums and Galleries Service Plan 2013-2018. 2.2 There is a continuing focus on income generation and recognition that the visitor is the main priority and that excellent customer service is essential. In common with the rest of Culture, the Museums and Galleries service achieved Customer Service Excellence accreditation in December 2014, and is undergoing assessment to retain this accreditation in Autumn 2016. 2.3 Partnership continues to be a key priority. It allows the service to use limited resources more effectively while reducing revenue spend. A new externally funded post of Volunteer Co-ordinator has been appointed to develop volunteering across the service. Opportunities exist for individuals to get involved across a range of activities – conservation, costume interpretation, documentation, archaeology, gardening and gallery interpretation. Over 70 people are now actively involved in the service. 2.4 Income maximisation is central to all aspects of service delivery and is integral to service excellence. As well as earned income through retail, ticket sales, venue hire and catering, the Museums and Galleries service makes applications to a range of trusts, foundations and grant-making bodies to support projects, acquisitions, capital improvements and staffing. Successful awards have included £100,000 of Scottish Government funding for the redevelopment and redisplay of the ground floor of the Museum of Childhood.

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Baseline Income Target 2014/15 2015/16 2016/17 2017/18 595,597 639,097 682,097 714,097 Additional income 43,500 43,000 32,000 required to meet budget savings Table 1: Income and Savings Targets 2.5 Income and savings are on target to be achieved this financial year. 2.6 The Scott and Nelson Monuments continue to be the service’s most significant source of income, other sources include: 2.6.1 retail; 2.6.2 catering; 2.6.3 admission charge at 2.6.4 the public programme 2.6.5 venue hire 2.6.6 donations 2.6.7 property rentals: 2.6.8 admission charge to fee paying exhibitions at the 2.7 The 2014/15 Local Government Benchmarking Framework shows that the cost per visitor in 2014/15 was £1.69. The average across all 32 local authorities was £3.53. Spend per visitor is lower than any other major Scottish city authority. A total of 916,000 attendances were recorded in 2014/15. Satisfaction with the Council’s Museums and Galleries was again recorded as higher than for any other Scottish local authority over 2014/15

3. Main report

3.1 Throughout the year the Museums and Galleries Service has focused on the following areas to ensure income and savings targets are met: 3.1.1 The re-tendering of the cafe contract at the City Art Centre and the introduction of a new cafe operator, and the planned introduction of a new catering offer at Lauriston Castle 3.1.2 A new donations strategy 3.1.3 The introduction of a new retail outlet at the Writers Museum 3.1.4 Diversifying the use of the 5th Floor at the City Art Centre 3.2 The service has also focused on areas that have produced high levels of income. The Nelson Monument is attracting an increasing number of visitors, partly due to the opening up of the ground floor rooms to the public but also due to increased

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activity on the Hill with the operating from the Old . From April to September 2016 income achieved was £80,526 compared with £52,213 for the same period the previous year. The increase in the entrance fee by £1 has also improved income and if the visitor levels can be sustained this will contribute to the overall income target for the service. 3.3 A new initiative is being launched to attract local audiences to the Scott and Nelson Monuments - ‘Monumental Challenge’. Ticket holders will be entered into a prize draw if they climb 430 steps to the top of the Scott and Nelson Monuments. Those who succeed between 8 October and 8 December 2016 could win a package of exclusive experiences, including Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street party tickets with private access to the for the best fireworks view of the city. 3.4 New developments in venue hire have included hosting the Jazz Festival at the City Art Centre and holding our first wedding event. The new approach of diversifying the use of the 5th Floor at the City Art Centre for use by a range of organisations and individuals will generate additional income. 3.5 Scottish Government funding of £100,000 via Museums Galleries has been secured to redevelop the ground floor of the Museum of Childhood. The new redisplays and interpretation of objects relating to early infancy and childhood will be the first stage the revitalisation and upgrading of the Museum of Childhood. The new displays will be designed to attract children and families, and engage local audiences in a fun and interactive way. 3.6 Funding has been secured for the redevelopment of the Old City Observatory on Calton Hill in partnership with the Collective Gallery. The contractor for the £3m Phase II development has been appointed and work will begin in November 2016 with an expected completion date of September 2017. 3.7 A new lighting scheme was installed at the Scott Monument and launched in September this year. The new lighting highlights the architectural beauty of the structure bringing a new prominence to one of the City’s greatest landmarks. It is anticipated that the new lighting will help attract new visitors. 3.8 The donations strategy has resulted in a significant increase in income. In 2014/15 £8,016 was achieved through donation boxes. In 2015/16 this increased to £21,281. This was achieved through re-positioning the boxes, engaging staff in encouraging visitors to donate and the introduction of ‘spot light’ tours across galleries.

Council Transformation Programme

4.1 As part of the Council’s Transformation programme, and following extensive consultation with staff and feedback from visitors and users, the service has implemented a change to opening hours. The new opening hours went live on 1st October 2016. All venues will close on Tuesdays – the Museum of Childhood and City Art Centre, our highest profile venues, will close on different days, as will the

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Peoples’ Story and Museum of Edinburgh. The Scott and Nelson Monuments will operate as existing. City Art Centre: Open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday (Closed Monday and Tuesday) Writers Museum: Open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday (Closed Monday and Tuesday People’s Story Museum: Open Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday (Closed Monday and Tuesday) Museum of Childhood: Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday (Closed Tuesday and Wednesday) Museum of Edinburgh: Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday (Closed Tuesday and Wednesday) Queensferry Museum: Open Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday (Closed Tuesday and Wednesday) 4.2 The impact on visitor numbers and income will be monitored. It is anticipated that opening all venues on Saturday and Sundays will offset the closures during the week. The changes will be monitored over the coming year and a future report will be brought to this committee on the impact of the changes.

4. Measures of success

4.1 A continued increase in visitor number, increase in spend per visitor and achievement of income targets 4.2 Achievement of the relevant objectives of the Culture Plan.

5. Financial impact

5.1 There are no financial impacts from the recommendations in this report

6. Risk, policy, compliance and governance impact

6.1 There are no compliance or governance impacts arising from this report’s recommendations. The risk is that changes to the opening hours and new initiatives working in partnership to modernise the historic assets operated by the Museum and Galleries service within Culture do not result in increased income and visitor numbers.

7. Equalities impact

7.1 The Museums and Galleries service offers free access to its venues and permanent collections, and via its Outreach Service, a free service to local communities. Outreach programming is designed to actively reach out to harder to Culture and Sport Committee – 25 October 2016

reach communities and to foster inclusion in line with the public sector duties of the Equalities Act 2010.

8. Sustainability impact

8.1 In common with other parts of Culture, the service is participating in a project to reduce carbon emissions by 2020 and to ensure waste is kept to a minimum.

9. Consultation and engagement

9.1 Consultation on the Museums and Galleries Service plan for 2013-18 was previously undertaken with staff, stakeholders and the general public. The redevelopment of the ground floor of the Museum of Childhood is being informed by extensive consultation with stakeholders, users and visitors. Feedback with shape the stories and the interpretive approach to ensure the gallery meets the needs of visitors and users.

10. Background reading/external references

All of the Business Bulletins presented to the Culture and Sport Committee to date, plus the specific reports listed below.

Report to the Culture and Sport Committee of 30 November 2015: Museums and Galleries Update

Report to the Finance and Resources Committee of 13 May 2015: Culture and Sport: Income Generation in Museums and Galleries

Report to the Culture and Sport Committee of 16 December 2014: Update on Edinburgh Museums and Galleries Service Plan 2013 - 2018

Reports to the Culture and Sport Committee of 21 October 2014: ; Museums and Galleries Volunteering Programme.

Report to the City of Edinburgh Council of 21 August 2014: Proposed Acquisition of Custom House, Leith

Report to the Culture and Sport Committee of 19 August 2014: Update on the Outreach Programme.

Report to the Culture and Sport Committee of 27 May 2014: The Travelling Gallery

Report to the Culture and Sport Committee of 11 March 2014: Redeveloping the Museum of Childhood

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Report to the Culture and Sport Committee of 20 August 2013: Consultation on the Edinburgh Museums and Galleries Service Plan 2013 - 2018

Report to the Culture and Leisure Committee of 23 October 2012: Museums and Galleries Update.

Reports to the Culture and Leisure Committee of 28 June 2011: Proposed Relocation of the Collective Gallery; Phase One of the Museums Hub; East of Scotland Museums Partnership.

Reports to the Culture and Leisure Committee of 26 April 2011: Update on Museum Outreach Activities in Newhaven; Old Observatory House, Calton Hill. Culture and Sport Committee

Reports to the Culture and Leisure Committee of 14 September 2010: Museums and Galleries Interim Staffing Restructure; Museums and Galleries New Website.

Reports to the Culture and Leisure Committee of 27 April 2010: Developments at the City Art Centre; Nelson Monument Visitor Attraction Rating; Museums and Galleries: Retail Income and Performance.

Reports to the Culture and Leisure Committee of 17 November 2009: Trinity Apse: Lease to Scottish Book Trust to Create Scotland’s First Literary Quarter; Old Observatory House, Calton Hill.

Report to the Finance and Resources Committee of 27 October 2009: Trinity Apse: Lease to Scottish Book Trust to Create Scotland’s First Literary Quarter

Reports to the Culture and Leisure Committee of 23 June 2009: Edinburgh International Science Festival at the City Art Centre; Future Care and Preservation of Old City Observatory Instruments.

Report to the Culture and Leisure Committee of 6 May 2009: Newhaven Heritage Museum - Update.

Reports to the Culture and Leisure Committee of 3 February 2009: Newhaven Heritage Museum; City Art Centre – Environmental Improvements.

Reports to the Culture and Leisure Committee of 16 September 2008: Update on Newhaven Heritage Museum; Progress Report on the Development of a Business Case for the Museum and Arts Hub.

Report to the Culture and Leisure Committee of 5 February 2008: A New Future for the City’s Museums and Galleries.

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Paul Lawrence Executive Director of Place and City Strategy and Economy Contact: Lynne Halfpenny, Director of Culture E-mail: [email protected] | Tel: 0131 529 3657 Contact: Frank Little, Cultural Venues Manager (Museums and Galleries) E-mail: [email protected] | Tel: 0131 529 3994

11. Links

Coalition Pledges P24 - Maintain and embrace support for our world-famous festivals and events P31 - Maintain our city’s reputation as the cultural capital of the world by continuing to support and invest in our cultural infrastructure P40 - Work with Edinburgh World Heritage Trust and other stakeholders to conserve the city’s built heritage Council Priorities CP6 – A creative, cultural capital CP9 – An attractive city CP12 – A built environment to match our ambition Single Outcome S01 - Edinburgh’s economy delivers increased investment, jobs Agreement and opportunities for all

Appendices Data from the Local Government Benchmarking Framework 2014/15

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Appendix 1 Data from the Local Government Benchmarking Framework 2014/15