89% of UK adults think museums are important to UK culture, with nearly half (47%) saying they are very important. Three quarters (76%) of UK adults think having a local museum add value to their area, and the same percentage think museums should receive at least half of their funding from government.
Nearly half of those surveyed (47%) said that museums in the UK should be mostly or entirely funded by government. Only 3% said museums should be entirely funded by private investment or income generation.
The survey also found that:
- 48% of UK adults visit museums at least once a year, with 35% of adults visiting twice or more. 51% of those with children said that their children visit museums at least once a year.
- 89% of UK adults think museums are important to UK culture, 47% think they are very important and only 7% think they are not important.
- According to the UK public, the most important functions of a local museum are for education purposes, to preserve the past, and to connect with local history (62%, 59% and 56% respectively).
- 54% of UK adults would feel disappointed and 41% would feel sad if their local museum were to close. 19% would be angry and 16% frustrated.
- When asked specifically about funding of local museums, 74% said local government should provide at least half of their funding, with 45% saying that local government should provide most or all of their funding.
- When asked if they think public funding for local museums has gone up or down since 2022, 44% of people correctly identified that it has gone down, with only 9% thinking it has stayed the same and 4% thinking it has gone up. In real terms, net current expenditure on museums and galleries by local authorities decreased by 11% – from £206.27m in 2021/22 to £183.05m in 2022/23 – according to a report published by Arts Council England in January.
