THE BOWES Museum is in a much stronger position financially than it was three years ago, thanks to the efforts of an 1,800-member charitable trust that helps support it.
Museum trustee Jonathan Peacock thanked members of the Friends of the Bowes Museum (FOBM) at their annual meeting for their continued support.
He said: “We are immensely proud of what you have achieved for us. With nearly 2,000 members the Friends of the Bowes Museum makes it one of the biggest groups of its kind and you have supported us over the many years. Raising over £750,000 in the last ten years has been a huge component in our success over the last few years. It is an incredibly achievement.
“The museum is in a much stronger position than it was three years ago and we have managed to get money back into reserves. A recent grant by the Arts Council has given a further £400,000 to go into reserves and we are grateful for that too.”
Joanna Tait, honorary chairwoman of the FOBM, said membership had dropped slightly due to Covid-19 but hope with the museum back open for business new members will sign up. She added the committee had continued to meet throughout the pandemic using Zoom. She was delighted to welcome so many members for their first face-to-face meeting since 2019.
Ray Morris, honorary treasurer, said one of the “inevitable impacts” of Covid-19 restrictions had been the inability to donate the usual £50,000 to the museum. But he said FOBM had provided financial support for specific items to the tune of £23,048.
He said: “We spent £10,000 on the quilts exhibition and put £8,000 towards the refurbishment of the wonderful entrance gates because that is the first thing that visitors see.”
A further £3,000 was spent on the purchase of scales owned by John Joseph Merlin, who created the museum’s Silver Swan’s mechanism. A £2,048 contribution was also made so a Van Dyck portrait of Mrs Olivia Boteler Porter could be framed.
The pandemic resulted in a £7,500 shortfall, but Mr Morris said measures were being considered to reduce costs including handing out membership renewals by hand rather than via post.
Anyone interested in becoming a Friend of the Bowes Museum, which provide unlimited free entry into the museum as well as a discount in the shop and cafe, as well as a free copy of the quarterly Bowes Arts magazine, can visit www.thebowesmuseum.
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