Dear Arachnids -
As a former professional fundraiser for an institution of higher
learning, may I suggest contacting Westminster and asking to speak to
someone knowledgeable about the Textile Conservation Centre. I suspect
that it would be possible to establish a charitable foundation whose
sole purpose is to receive financial support from individuals and groups
to further the work of the Centre. In this way, gifts could be
protected from going into the general funds of the University, and
donors would be assured that their gifts are going to the purpose for
which they have been given. With such a foundation in place, many small
gifts could add up to significant support. Further, with an
organization handling the money, textile-related businesses might be
persuaded to provide major funding as a means of furthering their own
interests.
If, as it sounds, the University is no longer interested in preserving
the Centre, then a slightly different plan has to be put into effect...
but still, the key "movers and shakers" of the effort would be "the
Friends of TCC"... individuals who raise money and look for solutions
to keeping the center open. The Royals are always involved in pet
projects - can't you convince one of them to take this on?
Clay
Clay Blackwell
Lynchburg, VA, USA
[EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
Those of you on Arachne who were kind enough to show an interest when I told
you of the threat of closure to the Textile Conservation Centre, formerly at
Hampton Court and now based at Southampton University, may be interested to
hear the Government's response:
"Public funding for higher education will have increased by 30% in real terms
between 1997 and 2010. Southampton University is receiving its fair share of
the total level of government funding and now operates on a total annual
budget of some £325 million. Within that total, it is solely responsible for
deciding on its mission and strategy including which departments and centres
it
opens, closes, expands or contracts, taking account of competing priorities
and
student demand. The Government notes that the University has paid tribute to
the
significant achievements of the Textile Conservation Centre before and since
becoming part of the University and it supports the work of the University and
the Centre to look at solutions to the problems which have been identified
but it is not the Government's role to override the decisions of the
University
on this issue."
So "not interested" from Westminster and it obviously depends on whether the
University itself decide the Centre is important enough to give them a big
enough share of funds to remain open. Probably not, or they wouldn't have
thought of closing it in the first place. Or do we still need to shout louder
than
the supporters of the other departments who are after the same purse.
Jacquie in Lincolnshire
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