Museum to reduce opening days and staffing levels

A museum says it is having to reduce the number of days it opens and its staffing levels due to a rise in operational costs.

The Museum of Cambridge said it would move to a four-day schedule from 30 March. The site is currently open to the public six days a week during school term time.

The independent charity said it would also reduce its staffing levels by a third to "bring costs down".

Alex Smaridge, director of the museum, said: "Although this is something we would rather not have to do, increasing closure days at this time gives us an opportunity to act strategically and focus on what we do next, to ensure the long-term future."

The museum said it would be opening Friday to Monday, with it additionally opening on Thursday's during school holidays.

The site's activities are supported by the city council's community grants programme, as well as the Cambridgeshire Community Foundation.

Roger Lilley, chairman of trustees at the museum, added: "The Museum has worked very hard coming out of the Covid-19 pandemic to ensure its future, but in the face of increased costs, the board of trustees agree that this is the right moment to assess our strategy."

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