NRM

And the valances are being trial fitted on one side of 4489 as I type.

Let's be positive, there's a lot of good stuff going on at the NRM and with our collection (and the A4s!).

 

The A4 reunion has always had my vote Anthony so no complaints from this quarter and I know I'm far from alone.

 

Anthony, would you & your colleagues please keep up the good work. I for one am delighted with the 6x A4 gathering - yes, it costs, but in the grand scheme of things the rewards, such as a higher profile across the world, are there to be had. Yes, the saga with the A3 has dragged on, & the reasons with it have been released. No point in anyone raking things over again, in my opinion. It's a pity that certain journalists in particular are still trying to stir things up for the NRM over the A4s & the A3, & doubtless the Japan trip will now give them an excuse to have another go...

I'm the first to admit that there have been one or two things in the recent past that I wasn't convinced about, but I'm in agreement with the old adage that 'you cannot please everybody all the time', & there's nothing at present that I feel the urge to get on the soapbox about.

Any news on the proposed return to steam of 2500, by the way? She would look great on York-Shildon shuttles.

Mark

 

But there is no money in the pots hence the appeals.

 

Very much looking forward to heading up there too.

 

I've just been for a mooch round a couple of galleries in the v&a as I had an hour to kill in South Kensington. They're asking for a £3 donation too, but there was no problem in my not doing so today.

 

In 2011 there were 732,256 visitors to the NRM, yet in that financial year only £300,000 was collected in £3 donations. That is 1 in 7 of the visitors donating £3. To me that is poor. What does it say? Is the policy wrong? I have seen the large collection boxes at the NRM with plenty of £1 coins in them interspersed with £5 and £10 notes. I wonder if Mr Coulls could give a figure as to how much was donated by this method in the year up to May 2010? When I attended the NRM on a visit to Search Engine during the October half term this year, the queue for entry was massive at 11.00am. I also noted that no extra staff were deployed to deal with this large number of visitors. When I left the museum at approx 12 noon , the queue was horrendous, with potential visitors turning on their heels and not bothering. Well, now I know why. It was down to what is obviously a failed entrance policy. I and many other people would be offended by being asked for money before actually entering the museum, when it is free to enter. Many people will donate, but there are correct ways of doing it.The quicker you get people into the NRM, the quicker they will start spending money on food, drinks etc,especially those with children. Hopefully they will enjoy their visit and donate accordingly.
Mr Coulls if you wish to pass a copy of this post to whoever at the NRM, feel free to do so.

 

The last two times I've been there (including last week), I've simply walked in through the doors and smiled at the guys on reception, who just about had time to ask me if I'd been before as I walked past them. Was I meant to stop and have some sort of welcome conversation?

 

My nearest comparable museum - Steam, in Swindon - charges £6.60 for adults. So I'm wondering what the problem is here - surely a voluntary £3 is considerably better than a compulsory £6.60?

Tom

 

Which is the way it should be Steve. If visitors want information from the reception desk, they will go and ask. Any donations come later.

 

Anyone with a real interest in the future of the NRM, or indeed keeps their eyes open on a visit, is well aware that 2 of the leading corporate supporters are Central Japan rail and West Japan rail, both classed in the top category hence the visit.

 

I'll freely admit that I'm a curator and not fully conversant with how Front of House works on a day to day basis - but I have seen what both Steve and
Std Tank describe on different days.

We need to raise money in a diversity of ways, and across the Science Museum Group, visitors are asked if they would like to make a donation on entry - as they are at York Minster and the Castle Museum. Our Core Funding is closely linked with visitor numbers and we need to log folks in the tills at the entrances. On busy days this can cause a queue - as it does at the Minster and the Castle Museum (and I've been in those queues earlier this year with small children). We do also ask if folk would like to donate at that point, and if they wish to Gift Aid their donations.

Whilst not knowing figures off the top of my head, the donation per head has risen brilliantly to something like 70p per head from 25p in the time we've been doing it (less than a year) - and we did try the donations on the way out, and it just didn't work, people were in a hurry to go home, make tea, get to a restaurant etc and thus by asking nicely on the way in, the rest of their day is theirs. There is no obligation to give.

This is also the way at Shildon, and across the country at many other museums and tourist attractions - and is unlikely to go away in the light of whatever the next spending review in the spring brings for us.

Yes, there are also donation boxes at both NRM sites, but we have found the personal approach very effective. If you want more, I'll speak to the Head of Visitor Services in the New Year and get back to you (he is an occasional reader of NP but doesn't post).

 

Thank you very much for your post, Anthony.

 

As Std Tank says, thanks for your post, Anthony. I'm quite happy to donate but, as a point of principle, if it seem to be a sort of voluntary entry fee to what is a free museum, I won't do it, especially as I'm already paying with my tax. I don't mind being asked, but not to have someone standing there waiting for me to do it; that is why I suggest giving an envelope on the way in and requesting the donation be left on the way out. That way, those that can't afford it aren't embarrassed and those that can, might give a little, or a lot.

 

Due to work I had to spent a week in York this summer, and managed to visit the museum 4 times mainly to use the search engine facility,( that service is worth the double the donation they ask on its own) I payed the £3 each time and did not feel hassled or pressured in to handing over money, the staff in the main hall where friendly and very knowledgeable about the exhibits and when faced with questions they could not answer pointed you in the direction of somebody that could.
I visit a lot of museums both here and abroad and many of them could learn from NRM so lets stop criticising them and enjoy what we have because we could so easily loose it
Cheers
Colin Green

 

During the visit to the Saitama musuem, it may be worth packing 4 vacuum hose pipes... the museum in Japan has 2 UK built locomotives, one being the first locomotive in Japan. Both have vac pipes fitted, but are missing their hoses on the front/rear, it's a small present but much easier to obtain in the UK than in Japan.

 

Born and bred on the GN so I'm a Gresley man through and through but having been involved with a Bulleid for coming up to 37 years, you start to get to like them after a while. But you're right, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity for most people to see six A4s together. Those lucky enough to have bashed Top Shed or Haymarket in steam days will have seen such a wonderful sight but many, many more - especially younger folk - won't have. Bring it on.

 

I have put forward my views on this topic elsewhere but not on here. So very simply these are those.

Admission charges for the National Museums and Galleries has in the past been a political football. Introduced by Heath, abolished by Wilson, re-introduced by Thatcher, abolished by Blair is I think the correct sequence. We now live in a time when the public finances are under severe strain and things are not going to get any better for a very long time - if ever. Thus, is it really justifiable for the Government to fund free admission to the National Museums and Galleries? My view is that it is not, especially, as has been touched on in the thread, comparable smaller local government supported museums such as STEAM charge admission in order to offset costs. The sooner politicians have the gutts to re-introduce charges the better. We expect to pay admission charges at Beamish, Crich, STEAM, Chatham, Tiverton, etc so why not at the National Railway Museum where we used too anyway!

Since admission to the NRM became free again I personally have felt the 'front of house' experience to be intimadatory - Please queue to be registered - Would you like to but a guide book? - Would you like to make a voluntery contribution? etc. Surely it is possible to gain an accurate count using electronic wizardry as people walk in without them even knowing.

Another downside of current Government policy in my opinion is that the National Museums and Galleries have been forced into a position where they need to make as much as they can from other commercial activities. Thus, the criticisms of over priced catering, car parking and Thomas tac.