WALTHAM FOREST: Jobs gone in cull of culture (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

WALTHAM FOREST: Jobs gone in cull of culture

8:43am Thursday 4th October 2007 in

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ONLY one of the specialists working at William Morris Gallery or Vestry House Museum will survive the council's restructuring of the service.

Neither world-renowned Morris expert and the gallery's keeper, Peter Cormack, who has been at the gallery for 30 years, or his deputy Amy Gaimster will have jobs after the reshuffle.

Similarly Vestry House Museum's local studies librarian David Pracy is on the way out, leaving the museum's archivist as the only remaining expert.

Staff posts disappeared when the council originally decided to cut hours to weekends only at the venues to save £43,000 this financial year. A further £13,000 was saved by getting the staff to clean the venues themselves.

Friends of William Morris Gallery chairman Martin Stutchfield said that, while there were a smaller number of jobs available in the new structure, the professionals would have to re-apply for roles which were not suited to their skills or experience.

"There will be nobody left who knows anything about the collections and the loss of Peter is incalculable," he said.

"There's also a risk to the collections in terms of their security and welfare."

After a huge public outcry the council compromised on opening hours at the Gallery in Lloyd Park, Walthamstow, and the museum in Vestry Road, Walthamstow Village, saying they would open on Thursday and Friday afternoons, and Wednesdays during school holidays.

Despite the compromise, staff cuts had always been planned, including the probable introduction of one overall manager for both gallery and museum, instead of a specialist curator for each.

Mr Stutchfield is appealing to anyone who cares about the gallery's future to attend a meeting on October 12 at the Greenleaf Road Baptist Church, Greenleaf Road, Walthamstow, at 7.30pm.

The cabinet member for leisure, arts and culture Cllr Geraldine Reardon and executive director of adult and community services, Mimi Konigsberg have confirmed they will attend, to outline their vision for the gallery and answer questions from the public.

A petition, held at www.petitionsonline.com, against the council cuts to William Morris Gallery has attracted 10,808 signatures.