THE Horniman Museum and Gardens, perched on a hill just off the South Circular, is one of the jewels in South London’s crown. It has graced Forest Hill for more than 100 years. Reporter Kate Gould spoke to museum director Janet Vitmayer about exciting plans to make its gardens a top-notch attraction...
SET in 16 acres of landscaped gardens, the Horniman Museum was founded by Victorian philanthropist and tea trader Frederick Horniman in 1901.
His vision to bring the whole world to Forest Hill has largely been realised, as today the museum proudly boasts a multitude of treasures in its natural history and anthropology collections.
But it is the fabulous and extensive gardens that are the current focus of attention for Horniman staff.
The gardens are often overlooked by visitors, which is why excitement is building ahead of work starting in January on a £2.3million makeover.
Museum director Janet Vitmayer says the overhaul is designed to bring the museum and gardens closer together and make them work in harmony.
She said: “The gardens project is hugely exciting and is the final phase of the project where we unite the museums and gardens physically so visitors can get from one to the other easily.
“We hope what we do in the gardens will draw people into the museum and vice versa, therefore developing the stories of our collections and exhibitions and linking the museum to the garden in a much better and more cohesive way.”
The museum’s rooms are full to the brim with all kinds of weird and wonderful objects, including a giant stuffed walrus and a 100-year-old albatross.
The plans for the gardens will see the renovation and relocation of key features, with views opened up and access and pathways improved.
The sunken garden will be refurbished to incorporate a water feature, along with a new specialist plants area.
A musical play area is planned – to represent the Horniman’s collection of instruments – as well as the creation of a community food garden.
Ms Vitmayer said: “The animal enclosure will be improved and will include a wildlife garden with mini-beasts, which will be great fun.
“There will also be a new pavilion created for the community, allowing us to have more activity-based things to do for all the family.”
As for the bandstand, Ms Vitmayer said: “I always regarded it as an eyesore, but it will be reglazed and brought back to its original splendour, which will be fantastic.
“The views from the terrace will also be opened up and there will be more trees planted and better seating.
“I hope when it’s complete the average stay of visitors will rise from its current two hours to something approaching a full day, as it should become more of a day-out destination.”
Despite the challenging economic climate, raising cash for the ambitious project has been possible, which Ms Vitmayer believes is a testament to the museum’s popularity.
This means only £50,000 remains to be raised from the initial £2.3million target.
The museum, which had 750,000 visitors in the past year, counts TV gardener Joe Swift, comedian Arthur Smith and even legendary naturalist Sir David Attenborough among its supporters.
Ms Vitmayer said: “I walk through the gardens and museum every day and I love being in an environment full of such amazing things.
“At the moment my favourite is a giant albatross, which was in our substantial stored collection but is now out on display.
“He’s very impressive, but fun, and a huge magnet for children. He is about 100 years old.
It’s fantastic to have such a strong offer for the public.
“The museum and gardens are varied, interesting and fun, and this project will make them even more so. It’s going to be brilliant.”
A carol concert is being staged at the Horniman Museum and Gardens to help raise the final £50,000.
The event will take place on Sunday, December 12, from 3pm to 6pm, with the concert starting at 5pm in the bandstand area.
The afternoon will also feature lots of family-friendly entertainment, including Christmas crafts, charity stalls and Santa’s grotto – and the museum cafe will also be open.

Source - article in the South London Press today.

Brockley Central is reporting that the Horniman (along with seven other museums) will lose all funding from Central Government in 2015 and would be expected to be funded by the local council or the private sector.

This evening I tried to understand the finances of the museum, which seem to suggest the government currently contributes £4.5m per year to the Horniman. It seems unlikely that, when trying to save £60m, Lewisham council would be able to cover such a cost and this would place the future of the Horniman in real danger.

It will be very sad indeed if this iconic muesum is forced to close, yet with the Government money drying up, I feel many many muesums will either close of be forced to start charging admissions to get in

thank you. I cancelled by mistake the source at the end as the article was too long.

Apologies for my mis-spelling of museum

don't worry. It is the contents which is important.

Another Article taken from Sydenham Society today regarding the Horniman Museum
Quote:

Horniman Museum central government grant scrapped. Museum becomes responsibility of “local community”
Posted on 17. Nov, 2010 by Syd Soc in Community, Parks

The Department of Culture, Media and Sport has announced that from 2015, eight museums including Horniman are to lose their government grant. The department has said that these museum are “local” not national museums and should therefore find suitable sponsors to ensure a sustainable future or be supported by local councils.
In a statement, a DCMS spokesperson confirmed that the funding of all its sponsored museums was secure until the end of 2014-15. “We are now exploring whether the department’s non-national museums may be more effectively sponsored through other bodies or programmes in the longer term. As part of the transfer arrangements the department will seek to be satisfied that new sponsors can offer a sustainable future for these museums.”

One of the museums on the list, the People’s History Museum in Manchester, has said that it may have to abandon its policy of free entry from 2015 as a result of these cuts.

The eight museums on the list are: Horniman, the Geffrye Museum, Museum of Science and Industry Manchester, the National Football Museum, the Tyne and Wear Museums, the Design Museum, the People’s History Museum and the National Coal Mining Museum.

Unquote
Mr. Horniman must turn himself in the grave!.

Brighter news from the Londonist on the issue...

http://londonist.com/2010/11/funding_cut...museum.php

I'd encourage anyone who regularly uses the museum and gardens who doesn't already (and can afford to) to make a monthly gift to the Horniman. We give a very modest sum but every little helps.

Details of how to make a donation can be found at http://www.horniman.ac.uk/more/how.php

Another good news from This is Local London Website:
Quote:
FOREST HILL: Horniman Museum plays down fears of closure
2:10pm Wednesday 17th November 2010

Print Email Share Comments(0) By Nina Massey »

THE Horniman Museum has responded to internet rumours suggesting it faces closure in four years time.

Speculation has been rife on websites such as brockleycentral.blogspot.com and Twitter that as a result of the Comprehensive Spending Review, the Horniman has been listed as one of eight non-national museums to lose funding from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), forcing it to close.

Concerned blogger Oliver Lewis wrote on Twitter: “I used to love going to the Horniman as a kid. It’s a travesty that it is losing its funding.”

Meanwhile, nostalgic museum visitor Bridget Minamore, tweeted: “My family couldn't afford or get the time to take me to fancy central London museums. Horniman was a huge part of my childhood. Save the Horniman."

But a museum spokesman has now responded to the gossip saying: “We would like to thank everyone who has expressed concern, but would like to assure them that we will not be closing."

"There appears to be a lot of false speculation on the internet.

“Our funding is ring-fenced until 2015. We have been assured that we will not be cut loose then, and so there are no alarm bells ringing.”

An official statement from the museum in London Road, Forest Hill, added:“Discussions regarding the Horniman are at an early stage and no decisions have been taken.

“DCMS hopes to make an announcement by March next year as to any new sponsor."

A DCMS spokesman said:"We aim to identify alternative sponsors for these museums by April 2011.

"There is no question of cutting these museums adrift without any financial support in the unlikely event that no new sponsorship arrangements can be found."

Unquote

The latest News .Horniman Museum One of Eight earmarked by the Con/Dems for withdrawal of Gov Funding and handing over to local Community with the distinct possibility of Closure on the horizon.
So what now do the Lib/Dem supporters of Forest Hill have to say to that?

It looks like 'distinct possibility of closure' might be a little wide of the mark, see the other thread which quotes a museum spokesman has now responded to the gossip saying:

Sorry Mike

I missed that one.

It appears a False Alarm was rung on Facebook ?

Go to http://www.artlyst.com

and read what is said regarding this matter.

My overall reading of this situation is that the Ring Fencing will last until 2015 after which alternative funding will have to be found.
Someone is going to have to find future funding fast .5 years is no time and will be on us in a flash.
Regardless of who says what.Funding will be withdrawn and we cannot disguise that fact.

I'm not sure that funding will be withdrawn in 2015, although that was my concern yesterday. Since then we have had the statement from Horniman:

Whilst there may not be any alarm bells yet, we do need to carefully monitor to situation to make sure that the spending cuts do not damage such a wonderful local amenity.

I thought most of their funds came from investment trusts set up by Mr Horniman?