THE FRIENDS OF THE BOWES MUSEUM

16th April 2025 – Statement from the Friends of The Bowes Museum 

The Friends of The Bowes Museum is to close after 75 years. At an extraordinary general meeting at the museum, in Barnard Castle, on 16 April 2025, 92% members present voted to close and wind up the affairs of the charity in response to falling numbers and income, and a lack of volunteers to run the organisation. 

Colin Hardy, Chair of the Friends of the Bowes Museum, said the decision to recommend dissolving the charity, which is independent of The Bowes Museum, had been difficult but was unanimously agreed upon by the Friends trustees following professional advice and much consideration and discussion. 

“This is a bitter-sweet moment,” said Mr Hardy. “We are celebrating 75 years of existence with a vote to close. It should be stressed this is not a time of regrets. While sad to say goodbye to Friends, our ‘friendship’ with the museum continues. Our 1,300 members, including 500 or so Life members, will be looked after by the museum and will be known as Friends Alumni. Our assets of £170,000 will be held in a Friends Legacy Fund by the museum and used to support the production of The Bowes Museum’s programmes. The Bowes Museum also intends to make an acquisition that can publicly celebrate the legacy of the Friends’ support over the past 75 years.” 

Friends Alumni will continue to enjoy unlimited access to the museum for the duration of their membership and will receive the Bowes Arts newsletter until its final issue in September this year. When annual Friends memberships expire, individuals will be invited to join the museum directly as Members. 

Last year, the Friends announced it was facing a ‘crossroads’ and, in common with many similar voluntary and charitable groups in the country, its ability to operate effectively was becoming increasingly impossible for various reasons. 

“Over several years, we have seen steadily declining memberships, a fall in income, a rising age profile of members, and increased difficulty recruiting volunteers to become trustees. These factors, set against a wider context of changing societal pressures and a post-covid shift in people’s leisure habits, prompted us to take independent advice from consultants experienced in the museum and heritage sector. They presented options, and we deemed the closure option to be in the best interests of our members. 

“The prospect of seeing Friends slide deeper and deeper into decline was not the way anyone of us would want the story of such an important group to end. This vote to close allows the group to wind up its affairs with dignity while honouring the achievements of the past 75 years. 

“Friends have played a significant part in the history of the museum. It is well documented that Friends kept the museum open when it was threatened with closure and we as a group have supported the museum in so many ways, both financially and practically, over the years. Although our chapter has now come to an end, we will forever be a part of the museum. Going forward, we will offer our support as individuals from within rather than as an independent group. It is now time to look ahead as friends – time to start writing a new chapter.” 

The Friends of the Bowes Museum will be in touch with members in due course. 

Contact 

Friends’ Office 

The Bowes Museum 

Barnard Castle, County Durham DL12 8NP 

Tel: 01833 690606 extension 233 (voicemail) 

E-mail: friends@thebowesmuseum.org.uk