The board of trustees for Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft, which will not reopen in 2026 due to a “challenging economic context”, have extended their thanks to staff at the museum after they “sadly” lost their jobs.
In a statement, the board said: “The Board of Trustees have been undertaking emergency fundraising to stabilise the financial situation and prevent permanent closure.
“Grants have been received to safely close the museum and ensure the collection and building are secure, and to cover all creditor costs.
“With the closure likely to extend into 2027, an independent HR process has been undertaken and we have extended our thanks to all the staff who have sadly been made redundant, and to all volunteers for their work.”
The museum operates as a small independent charity and receives no public revenue funding.
It first closed temporarily in February and will now remain shut indefinitely while trustees attempt to make the museum’s business model financially stable.
Chair of trustees for the museum Jo Myles said: “Museums and cultural organisations across the country are facing increasing pressure as public funding reduces, costs rise and demand on generous donors increases.
“Ditchling Museum of Art and Craft has not been immune to those challenges.
“As a small independent museum, it takes only a couple of unsuccessful funding applications and slightly lower visitor numbers to tip the balance between viability and closure.
“Closing our doors to the public is a hard decision for any board to make, but by doing so at this point we hope to create a new, more resilient future for the museum.”
The museum is currently undergoing a “thorough review” of its financial and operating model, in the hope that it can eventually reopen.
Founded in 1985, the museum celebrates Ditchling’s legacy as a 20th-century art and craft hub.
Its collection includes more than 20,000 works of national significance, created by artists and makers associated with the village and its historic creative community.
The museum underwent a £2.3 million refurbishment in 2013 and was named a finalist for the ArtFund Museum of the Year award the following year.
