Latest news with #AbbeyHouseMuseum
Yahoo
04-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Museum to stay open as council budget finalised
A Leeds museum which was threatened with closure under council budget proposals will now stay open after a "passionate" response from the public. Abbey House Museum in Kirkstall opened in 1927 and is known for its replica Victorian streets and vintage penny slot machines. Leeds City Council ran a consultation on the future of the museum as it tried to address "unprecedented financial pressures" - but said plans to close the attraction had now been withdrawn. Final budget plans for the coming year include £67m in extra funding but the council said the impact of rising costs, pressures and demand for services means it needs to save £103.8m overall. The budget will be presented to the council's executive board next week and to the full council on 26 February. It includes an increase in council tax of 4.99% and a review of children's centres and transport services for children and families. The council said it would introduce a "pay as you feel" admission charge at Leeds City Museum, Leeds Art Gallery and Leeds Discovery Centre, and is considering charging for entrance to Kirkstall Abbey. It will also hand over the running of Middleton Leisure Centre to a third party. The extra £67m of funding means the proposed 10% funding cut for neighbourhood networks in Leeds will not be required, and there will be no reduction made to wellbeing and youth activity funding. The council said as well as keeping the museum open, possible changes to bowling green provision in the city are to be further consulted on, with the aim of looking at ways to raise income and reduce the number of proposed closures. The council received nearly 10,000 responses to its consultation about the museum. Councillor Salma Arif said the feedback had been "incredibly passionate". "The overriding sentiment has been that people across Leeds clearly recognise the unique social value of our museums and galleries to their communities and local heritage." She added: "What we need now is for people channel the passion and enthusiasm they have demonstrated during the consultation into visiting and engaging with the site as much as possible over the coming months so we can all work to support its future." The museum will remain open as usual. The current exhibition is called Story Time and includes a huge variety of historic books and games, each exploring the magical world of children's stories. However, a council spokesperson said: "Savings still need to be made, and alternative options to secure to the savings required are currently being reviewed." Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here. Campaigners slam plans to shut 100-year-old museum Consultation starts on 'much-loved' museum future Museum visitors react to pay-as-you-feel idea Friends of Leeds City Museums Leeds City Council
BBC News
04-02-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Leeds Abbey House Museum saved from closure
A Leeds museum which was threatened with closure under council budget proposals will now stay open after a "passionate" response from the public. Abbey House Museum in Kirkstall opened in 1927 and is known for its replica Victorian streets and vintage penny slot City Council ran a consultation on the future of the museum as it tried to address "unprecedented financial pressures" - but said plans to close the attraction had now been withdrawn. Final budget plans for the coming year include £67m in extra funding but the council said the impact of rising costs, pressures and demand for services means it needs to save £103.8m overall. The budget will be presented to the council's executive board next week and to the full council on 26 includes an increase in council tax of 4.99% and a review of children's centres and transport services for children and families. The council said it would introduce a "pay as you feel" admission charge at Leeds City Museum, Leeds Art Gallery and Leeds Discovery Centre, and is considering charging for entrance to Kirkstall Abbey. It will also hand over the running of Middleton Leisure Centre to a third extra £67m of funding means the proposed 10% funding cut for neighbourhood networks in Leeds will not be required, and there will be no reduction made to wellbeing and youth activity council said as well as keeping the museum open, possible changes to bowling green provision in the city are to be further consulted on, with the aim of looking at ways to raise income and reduce the number of proposed closures. The council received nearly 10,000 responses to its consultation about the museum. Councillor Salma Arif said the feedback had been "incredibly passionate"."The overriding sentiment has been that people across Leeds clearly recognise the unique social value of our museums and galleries to their communities and local heritage."She added: "What we need now is for people channel the passion and enthusiasm they have demonstrated during the consultation into visiting and engaging with the site as much as possible over the coming months so we can all work to support its future."The museum will remain open as current exhibition is called Story Time and includes a huge variety of historic books and games, each exploring the magical world of children's a council spokesperson said: "Savings still need to be made, and alternative options to secure to the savings required are currently being reviewed."Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
BBC News
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Abbey House Museum showcases 200-year-old children's books
Children's books dating back more than 200 years have gone on display in Story Time exhibition at Abbey House Museum in Kirkstall features tales from the early 1800s, including The Mice And Their Picnic: A Moral Tale, published by Mary Belson Elliott in based on TV characters including Pinky and Perky, Bugs Bunny and The Wombles are also on display, alongside vintage games and jigsaws made by the Leeds firm Kitty Ross said the exhibition would "hopefully bring back some special memories for visitors". She said: "Storytelling, play and reading are truly timeless elements of our childhoods which span every generation and are such an integral part of our early years."What is fascinating is how our approach to these subjects has changed and evolved over time and how our enduring love of stories has been a driving force behind the creation of so many different genres of books, games, toys and entertainment." Among the Waddingtons collection is original artwork for the firm's circular jigsaws from the 1960s, which were rescued from a bin by a former company firm was responsible for devising Monopoly and Cluedo, among other family board City Council announced plans to close Abbey House Museum, which stands opposite the grounds of Kirkstall Abbey, at the end of last year. Shutting the museum, which is around 100 years old, was proposed to save the cash-strapped council money, though the authority insisted no final decision had been to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North or tell us a story you think we should be covering here.
