Council proposes Changes TO THE Museum in 2026
Museums everywhere are facing unprecedented financial strain. Caring for historic collections is expensive, and maintaining the buildings that house them - often listed, like ours, and centuries old - adds even more financial pressure. Local authorities nationally, who have long supported culture and heritage, are having to make difficult decisions as budgets tighten and Gloucester City Council, which owns and operates Museum of Gloucester, is no different.
Here in Gloucester, our Museum team look after the city’s, and much of the county’s, heritage. The Museum of Gloucester is custodian to nearly a million objects, many of national significance like the Birdlip Mirror or the Gloucester tabula set. Entry is free because we believe everyone should have access to the story of our city. Tens of thousands of you come through our doors each year, and we are proud to share this history with you.
But we are at a crossroads. Our building on Brunswick Road needs upgrading, and the cost of cataloguing, conserving, and storing our huge collection grows every year. Now, due to the current financial position of Gloucester City Council, changes have been proposed to try and make savings here. It’s been proposed that from April 2026 we should open four days per week rather than six. We’ve reviewed visitor patterns to find the two quietest days to avoid compromising the experience for most visitors.
Please be assured that our team’s commitment to caring for Gloucester’s heritage is unwavering. We are running significant projects, supported by industry peers and the National Lottery Heritage Fund, including:
Continuing the decant, conservation and storage for objects held at the Folk of Gloucester.
Relocating the Discovery Centre project to the Museum of Gloucester, continuing the vital work of unboxing, recording, and re-storing our archaeology collection – you can visit this from December.
In response to the financial pressure many local authority-supported Museums are in, DCMS created the Museum Renewal Fund to help museums cover essential operating costs. We’ve been extremely lucky to receive a generous grant from the fund. This essential support gives us breathing space to keep serving the public and explore how your Museum can evolve for the future.
But grants alone won’t secure the long-term future of this museum. If you value what we do - if you believe in preserving Gloucester’s story for generations to come – please come and visit us, and please consider making a donation. Every contribution helps us care for the collection and keep the Museum open for all.
You can donate online here or in person during your next visit. Together, we can ensure the Museum of Gloucester remains a place of learning, discovery, and pride for our city.
Thank you all for your support.
The Museum of Gloucester team