It is interesting reading the reactions and the suggestions in response to the possible closing of the Textile Conservation Center. I know that the political systems in the UK and the US are very different. Here in the US if we were interested in preserving an institution of this sort, we would contact our representatives on the state and/or federal level. Is this kind of action effective in the UK? I love Clay's suggestion of support on a private basis, too.
It seems as if so many of the wonderful cultural institutions that have been built up in the last few decades and before -- museums not least -- are endangered at this time. Truly alarming. Best, Carolyn Carolyn Hastings > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf > Of [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 12:56 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: [lace] Textile Conservation Centre - update > > 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 > > - > To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: > unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] - To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
