Tullie House Trust

Trust status given go-ahead

(Date of issue: Tuesday, 14 December 2010)

Carlisle City Council has agreed, in principle, to transfer the operation of Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery to a new charitable trust.

The decision to go ahead is subject to the completion of the legal framework which includes the Partnership and Funding Agreement.

A report to Council members outlined the potential opportunities and risks of moving to a charitable trust. It also included an independent business case, commissioned by the City Council, which sets out the advantages of a trust, how the relationship between Carlisle City Council and a new trust would work, costs and risks and an indication of what the trust would look like.

In July 2009, the City Council agreed that work should begin to assess and prepare the case for the establishment of a trust for Tullie House.

The trust approach will provide long-term benefits for the Museum such as increased access to sources of funding and a more flexible approach to be more creative and innovative in delivering the Museum’s services whilst the buildings and collections would remain with Carlisle City Council.

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

“I am pleased that the operation of Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery will now be transferred to a trust as it is a very important part of the cultural offer not only in the city but also in the North-West. Tullie House is the jewel in the crown of Carlisle and we want it to be the leading and most influential arts and cultural institution in Cumbria.

“There are great advantages of this transfer, we have considered the financial implications and it means that we retain the collections and buildings but the Trust can develop the museum’s services and access new sources of funding. This decision means that the City Council has ensured a positive future for one of the city’s most important assets and will continue to serve Carlisle’s residents.”

Following this decision to go ahead, the trust could be put in place by spring next year.

A Shadow Trust Board has been established, chaired by Roger Cooke, who was appointed in April 2010. The Shadow Board will work with City Council officers and members of the Executive to finalise the legal agreements covering the establishment of a charitable trust, lease of the buildings, the management of the museum’s collection and the transfer of staff.

Roger Cooke, Chairman of the Shadow Trust Board, said:

“The Shadow Board are delighted that the City Council has confirmed its intention to transfer the staff and operating activities of Tullie House to a new charitable trust. The Trust will build upon the outstanding work of Carlisle City Council who has firmly established Tullie House as one of the country’s leading cultural institutions. We will now move quickly to form a permanent Trust Board and our overall aim, working with Tullie House’s highly knowledgeable staff, will be to ensure that Tullie House continues to thrive. We will also ensure that Tullie House is well-run and that the Trust is financially sound.”