Web addresses:

For information about what may be happening to Broadfield House Glass Museum, Britain's world class museum of British 19th and 20th Century glass, go to :-

www.dudley.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums--galleries/glass-feasibility-study

to see a PDF of the consultants submission to Dudley council.

Stop press. Dudley council have just announced that Broadfield House will NOT CLOSE, for further details go to :-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blackcountry/content/articles/2009/01/15/broadfield_house_feature.shtml

The latest information

On Tuesday 7th July the chairmen of both The Glass Circle and The Glass Association had a long meeting with Peter Middleton of L & R Consulting when all the issues concerning concerning a possible move of the contents and staff of Broadfield House, together with many of the historical records was discussed in depth. This is part of our ongoing effort to make sure that any decision is made taking all of the relevent facts into account.

Both chairmen left the meeting impressed by the experience and attitude of the consultants.

As of the 8th of June the Dudley MBC have appointed L & R Consulting, of Liverpool, to carry out a feasibility study .

Broadfield House Glass Museum

A threat to close Broadfield House Glass Museum has been temporarily shelved by its local council paymasters after a short but aggressive campaign led by the museum’s friends and other glass lovers. The menace was contained within a Dudley Municipal Borough Council policy document published on January 2, shortly followed by a meeting at Broadfield House when council officials informed staff that the museum would close by March 2010 and that all except its curator, Roger Dodsworth, would lose their jobs.

As the news began to spread, council members modified its stance, declaring that it simply wanted to make a cut of £120,000 in the museum service's annual budget [Dudley MBC has three museums], and/or to move the museum to Stuart Crystal’s former site at the Red House Cone, some two miles down Stream Road (A491) towards Stourbridge town centre. See the letter at the end of this document.

Broadfield House, founded in 1980, is widely regarded as Britain’s national glass museum of English Glass. The Victoria & Albert Museum holds substantial glass collections of 6,000 pieces, dating from the dawn of glass making, c3000BC, to the present day, and the National Glass Centre, Sunderland, plays an important role in training and as an exhibition centre. Broadfield House has generally concentrated on the 19th and 20th centuries with particular emphasis on Stourbridge’s role as Britain’s foremost glass making area between c1800-2000, and attracted record visitor numbers last year, up from 11,000 in 2007 to 15,000. A proportion of Broadfield’s best exhibits are on long-term loan arrangements that could be undermined by the current instability.

The threat of closure galvanised support backing the museum’s friends, led

by Barbara Beadman and John Sanders, their chairmen past and present. A local newspaper poll on the issue resulted in 95% support for Broadfield House and local television news carried the story with prominence.

‘Whilst we are completely against closing the museum, moving it to the Cone site is a logical suggestion and we’re not against it in principle,’ said its curator Roger Dodsworth. ‘There is a lot of space at the Cone and if we are provided with long-term security of tenure, it could make an excellent site. It could give us more space for better displays and provide a better service to visitors. However, we are concerned that the move might have to happen in a very short time scale and that we wouldn’t receive the funds that would be necessary to finance it.’

However, fearing that the council’s agenda remained fixed on closure, an internet-based campaign soon began bombarding council members with protests. A petition established on the museum’s behalf quickly attracted 1500 signatures:

   [www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/broadfield-house-glass museum.html]

Faced with an onslaught of protest, much of it pointing out the impracticalities of the Cone site and the ill-considered nature of its plan, the council backtracked, postponing any decision until its meeting on March 2. At this point it appears that the closure proposal will be side-lined in favour of a feasibility consultation.

Dudley Council bought a 99 year lease on the Cone site in 2001, with its permitted uses defined as a: ‘Visitor Centre showing the history of glass making in the vicinity, managed workspace for craft, studio glass production, business support unit, display area and furnace/kiln and ancillary thereto uses reflecting and enhancing the primary use of the Premises, but in any event no retailing without the consent of the landlord’. However, as John Sanders, a retired solicitor and Founder Chairman of BHGM’s Friends points out: ‘The word "museum" does not appear anywhere in the lease, and any glass from outside the vicinity is excluded. It would require a lawyers' field day on costs to clarify and re-draft the lease!’ Glass Circle Chairman, John P Smith notes that ‘a Visitor Centre showing the History of Glass Making in the area’ is a museum in all but name, and you cannot show local history properly without putting it into nation-wide context.

The issue of the nearby car park is also problematic. John Sanders has been investigating and reports: ‘The Trust/Charity named as its Registered Proprietor at the Land Registry is regarded by the Charity Commissioners, to whom I was on the telephone this very morning, as being struck off because no returns have been submitted since 2001. The correspondent/contact recorded at the Charity Commission until 6 February 2009 was ‘Ms Sally Orton’. Again, this could be very costly to change or correct.’

The above named Sally Orton is a Dudley MBC Department of Urban Environment official who was present when BHGM staff were told in January that their jobs would disappear in April 2010. It has since transpired that Ms Orton will take the chair of the feasibility study unless it is an outside the council study using independent consultants.

The Glass Association, founded around the museum, is obviously concerned. Bob Wilcock, editor of its Cone magazine, said, ‘I question whether we need a campaign to forestall the move per se, but rather to push for maximum exploration of the opportunities that arise from this seemingly unfortunate proposal; we ought to get a better result if we are seen to be with Dudley, unless and until it becomes clear that they really don't want to preserve the heritage and are simply doing a blind cost-cutting exercise without any regard for the consequences.’

The Glass Circle Committee has also discussed the matter. Chairman, John Smith, observed, ‘It is a pity that Sunderland is designated as 'The National Glass Museum' because 'National' museums enjoy different and more generous funding arrangements than local authority museums. Broadfield House has never  been an ideal site as it is rather inaccessible and its space for expansion is limited.’

‘It is probably easier for Dudley Council to justify funds for a moved museum rather than upgrading an existing one. Even so, the cost of building, showcases, lighting, security, etc. for a new museum would be certainly counted in millions, when disabled access and health and safely are accounted for, with a time scale of 2-3 years. Moving Broadfield House to a secure Cone location will not be a cost saving exercise for the council, but it could produce a world class museum in the newly identified ‘Glass Quarter’ and become a major visitor attraction for the Midlands. That is our preferred option, with total closure simply out of the question. We are pleased that Dudley MBC are shortly to commission a feasibility study before making any binding decision. The Glass Circle will be making representations to the consultants employed by the council.’

The Stourbridge News, on line, published an article concerning the current situation on Wednesday 11th March, go to

http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/4194385.TV_star_dubs_cllr__Homer_Simpson_of_Culture_/

to read a local take on the possible closure.

 Below is an open letter from the leader of Dudley MBC from Duncan Lowndes, Assistant Director of   Culture and Leisure, on Tuesday 10th February 2009 written for the museum staff:

Given the level of public interest regarding the future of the Glass Museum at Broadfield House it is important to clearly state the Council’s current position on this issue. Particularly in view of recent discussions at the Council’s Select Committee on Regeneration and Culture and the subsequent press coverage.

The current position is, that the Council is exploring the feasibility of amalgamating its two glass heritage facilities, thereby creating a single prestige site with enhanced facilities.  Clearly the practicalities of doing this, the costs involved and timescales needed to bring such a transformation in service provision have yet to be fully assessed. These issues will be the subjects of a comprehensive feasibility study.

The Cabinet Member for Environment and Culture has publicly stated that no decision on the future of the Glass Museum at Broadfield House will be taken until the results of the feasibility study are known and has further stated that she would not be party to any decision that would lead to the loss or downgrading of the collections/exhibitions currently housed at Broadfield House.

I sincerely hope that the above clarification is sufficient to ease concerns that have been aired as regards the Council’s intentions and aspirations for its glass heritage.

Below is a press release from Dudley MBC dated 24th February 2009:

Broadfield House

Frequently asked questions

1. Is Broadfield House closing?

No decision has been taken to close Broadfield House and there will be no decision before the outcomes and recommendations of a robust feasibility study has been completed.

This study will include consideration of security issues, display facilities, accessibility to the public and professionals, other on site facilities and overall cost effectiveness. The study will also involve consultation with the glass industry and local people with the intention of reporting findings and recommendations to the council’s cabinet in October 2009.

2. What is the council’s vision for displaying its glass collection and

heritage in the future?

The council’s aspiration is to enhance our museums’ service, to create an excellent visitor experience that is appropriate to our renowned glass collections.

A robust and professional study will seek to test the feasibility of relocating glass collections from Broadfield House and elsewhere to the Red House Glass Works Museum, known locally as the Red House Glass Cone.

Currently Red House attracts in the region of 22,000 more visitors a year than visit Broadfield House therefore our aspiration is to capitalise on these visitor numbers to increase access to these wonderful collections to as many visitors as possible.

The historic cone at Red House combined with on site glass blowing demonstrations linking through to the superb collections of finished glass should bring to life the art of glass making for visitors of all ages and in turn increase awareness of a significant part of the areas heritage. 

3. What will happen at full council on March 2 2009?

At its meeting on March 2 full council will be asked to approve the budget. This includes projected spending over the next three years as part of the medium term financial strategy. This strategy does include an estimated saving of £120,000 in the museum’s service.

Full council’s decisions on the budget and the medium term financial strategy will not supersede or influence the decision on Broadfield House as no decision has been taken to close Broadfield House nor will there be a decision before the outcomes and recommendations of a robust feasibility study has been completed.

If the feasibility study concluded that it will not be possible to deliver the council’s aspiration one for an enhanced facility at the Red House Glass Works Museum site and that Broadfield should not close the council would then need to decide, as part of the medium term financial planning process, whether to seek that level of estimated saving from elsewhere within the total council revenue budget.

4. What are the timescales for the feasibility study?

Identification and appointment of museum accredited consultants through to undertaking

and completion of the study leading to final reporting is estimated to run from mid February 2009 to October 2009.

The study’s recommendations will not be limited to the relocation of the collections and will be used to inform the future development of the Red House Glass Works Museum in years to come and the council’s management and display of the collections more generally. The study outcomes will also provide validated feasibility data essential for any future lottery or other external bids.

If the feasibility study met the key criteria for the relocation of the glass collections there would also be a sizeable capital receipt from the reuse or sale of Broadfield House that could be partly earmarked to reinvest in Red House or used towards match funding for external grants.

5. What are the visitor figures for Broadfield?

In 2007/08 total visitor figures were 12,000.

6. What are the visitor figures for Red House Glass Works Museum?

In 2007/08 the total visitor figures were approximately 34,000.

7. What will happen to staff at Broadfield House if glass collections are

relocated?

If the feasibility study criteria is met and a formal council decision made staff would be redeployed either at Red House Glass Works Museum or other locations within the council as part of the council’s redeployment policy. If criteria are not met staff would stay at Broadfield House or at other locations within the terms of their respective current terms of employment contract.

8. Will there be any public consultation?

Public consultation will be an integral part of the feasibility study and a consultation programme will be published by the consultants.

9. Have consultants been appointed to carry out the feasibility study?

The intention is to appoint accredited consultants by early April 2009 with the aim of final reports and recommendations being made to the council (cabinet) in October 2009.

10. Where would money come from to improve facilities at the Red House

Glass Works Museum?

Any capital investment that may be required as a result of the feasibility study would be sought from external funding or from part of any capital receipt that may accrue from the potential sale of Broadfield House.