Tullie House Trust

Plans gets go-ahead from City Council Executive

(Date of issue: Tuesday 14 April 2009)

Carlisle City Council's Executive has agreed to progress its ambitious plans that could see the management of Tullie House Museum & Art Gallery transferred to a trust.

The Executive heard at their meeting this afternoon (Tuesday, 14 April), that Eperia Ltd, acknowledged experts in the area of museum trusts, recommended the transfer of management, as it would offer more opportunity to develop the service.

The City Council would continue to own the museum buildings and collections. The governance of the day-to-day work, however, would be independent of the Council and would be overseen by a Board of Trustees.

External funding, such as government grants, not available to the City Council, will be accessed by the trust.

The trust could be similar to the City Council's partnership with Carlisle Leisure Limited (CLL) that resulted in the city's leisure and sporting facilities, including The Sands Centre, being managed by CLL but the buildings still remaining under the ownership of the City Council.

Leader of Carlisle City Council, Cllr Mike Mitchelson, said:

"The Executive feel that a trust would provide the best service for Carlisle and be in a better position to acquire external funding. Tullie House is the jewel in the crown of Carlisle. We want to put it in a position where it can enhance its facilities and what it offers.

"Carlisle Leisure was set up as a not-for-profit trust and that is a success story that works well. In partnership with the council, it has delivered enhanced sports facilities for residents."

The Executive’s recommendation to move forward with the transfer of the museum’s service to a trust will need Full Council approval to allow it to progress. This will be discussed at their meeting in July this year. If this is approved, the trust could be put in place by autumn next year.