Britain?s flagship photography museum is encouraging visitors to make donations but insists it is committed to free entry as Government-funded bodies nationwide face possible budget cuts.
The news comes as the future of the National Museums and Galleries service, which offers free entry to UK museums including the National Media Museum (NMM) in Bradford, has been thrown into doubt, according to The Daily Telegraph.
Last week the paper said it had obtained a Cabinet Office list of 94 quangos and other public bodies that face the chop or are in line for severe cuts to their budgets.
The National Museums and Galleries service was cited as one of the bodies whose future is under review.
Asked if the NMM would need to start charging visitors in the wake of any budget cuts, a spokesman for the museum told Amateur Photographer this morning: ?As a national museum we are essentially funded by Government and this Government has reiterated its commitment to free entry.
?Our operating grant is dependent on our continuing to offer free entry.
?We do hope, however, that we can encourage visitors to make donations, in the knowledge that any help they give goes straight through to improving the experience we offer.?
The NMM declined to comment on The Daily Telegraph?s claims that the National Museums and Galleries service is under review, as the Government has not made an official announcement on the matter.
