The council says it may be forced to make drastic budget cuts for the town’s art museum, putting staff jobs at risk.

In a report, discussing its medium-term financial strategy, the council says it could slash £250,000 from the gallery’s budget for the year 2024/2025.

Also included in the options appraisal for the gallery is a suggestion to cut the equivalent of eight full time staff members in the same period.

Bury Art Museum is included in the council’s cost reduction proposals following the announcement of a £29m budget deficit announced last month.

However, the report says the gallery will be included in the local authority's Bury Town Council Masterplan as a “Creatives” space.

The report said: “Bury Council recognises the important role that culture plays in community and economic development.

“It is intended that the current site of the Bury Art Museum will be included in the culture quarter of the Bury Town Centre Masterplan as a 'Creatives' space as part of the scope for a significantly expanded events offer which is central to regeneration plans in Radcliffe and Bury through the new public sector hubs and flexi hall buildings.”

However, the report notes that the Grade II listed building remains in a state of disrepair and admits visitor numbers have failed to recover post-Covid.

The building was opened in 1901 and designed by architects Woodhouse and Willoughby who won a competition to design the new gallery in 1897. 

The council is considering a budget reduction of £250,000 for the year 2024/2025, and a reduction of the equivalent of eight full time staff members.

No reduction in budget or staffing is being considered for the year 2023/2024 or 2020/2026.

Commenting on the report, Cllr Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture and the economy at the council, said: “Bury Art Museum is a treasured part of our heritage at the heart of the town’s culture quarter.

"We are considering creative ways through which we can reduce the running costs of the service and building, but which will also support our ambitions in a new culture strategy which will be published before the end of the year.

"The next step is an options appraisal to look at the current and future use of the building to understand how we can reduce costs and/or drive income, while also supporting creative talent in our borough to thrive.

“This is against a background of harsh financial reality. We are having to make savings of £29m, due in large part to soaring inflation and fuel bills, and increasing demand for services for the most vulnerable.

“This comes after a decade of austerity, during which the government has stripped more than £100m from our funding.

"This means we are having to look at every service we provide in order to balance the budget.

“We have launched a public consultation with local residents and businesses, because we want to hear their views before we set the budget next year.

I would urge everyone to take part in the survey - go to www.onecommunitybury.co.uk and have your say.”