Times are Tough out there

Times are tough out there...but the show must go on!
This has been a difficult week for the Museum. Like many organisations, we are working remotely with staff communicating via video link and through emails. Like many organisations, we are trying to make ends meet, searching for any financial support to keep us going over this difficult period. So it is with heavy heart that the Trustees have made the decision to furlough three members of staff to enable us to keep our head above water. Luckily, we still have Nick who, as a public sector funded staff member, can still provide a limited Museum service and keep us connected to the outside world.

The visitors that come through our doors keep the Museum afloat and enable us to look after the Collections and provide a service. Until we moved into Alma Block in 2014, our current location, we were lucky to be able to allow visitors to visit us for free.  This all changed and we now have to be more business-focussed, to pay our way. Financially, life is not easy, even though we get a little support from the MoD, and running the Museum with a small team can be difficult. But we remain positive and upbeat, making the most of the wonderful Collections and providing a varied engagement programme. We couldn't do much of this work without our wonderful volunteers who help and assist across the Museum. They are fantastic.

 So from this evening I go onto furlough, joining Matt and Angela who went onto furlough a few days ago.  Nick will be our sole member of staff looking after the Museum and providing our social media to keep the Museum going. And keep going we will. We are determind to come out the other side and re-open the Museum to visitors.

 Meantime, the Curator's blog must go on. So a slight change of name to reflect the fact that I am not working at the moment. How about ' Chatting Behind the Lines - the life and times of a furloughed Curator.' It definately has a certain ring about it...

 Until tomorrow folks.

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