All staff at Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft made redundant

This article was first published by the Museums Association.

Ditchling Museum of Art + Craft’s “temporary” closure looks set to continue beyond 2026, with staff made redundant last week and trustees continuing to explore alternative business models.

The museum closed in February for a “period of reimagining” to plan a new business model. At the time, trustees told Museums Journal that the closure was a temporary measure and that no decisions had been made regarding redundancies.

But it has now confirmed that the closure is likely to extend beyond 2026. Following an independent HR process, all staff have been made redundant and volunteers have been released from their duties.

In a statement, the board of trustees said it has been undertaking emergency fundraising and developing a financial recovery plan since closing in February.