Forum Topic

Musical Museum survival appeal.

I'm a volunteer tour guide at the Musical Museum in Brentford, London. https://www.musicalmuseum.co.uk/It is a very satisfying role because I watch the delight and wonder on the visitors' faces when they see and hear the instruments used for music reproduction through the ages. We have musical boxes, polyphons (the precursors of juke boxes) self-playing organs and pianos including player pianos and reproducing pianos that play the actual performances of famous pianists of the past including Gershwin, Rachmaninoff and many others. There are phonographs, gramophones, juke boxes that play 78s and a mighty Wurlitzer Cinema organ in our concert hall. The collection is of national and international importance because it restores and preserves working examples of extremely rare instruments.Loss of income during the Covid shutdown followed by huge inflation in the museum's costs mean that the museum can no longer pay its way so this year, our 60th, might be the last. We have trimmed our costs to the bone but must find money urgently to keep the doors open as we change the way we operate.If you value a historic musical resource, you may wish to support the museum's survival crowdfunder but if it doesn't seem that important to you, I understand that and I apologise for the intrusion. Here's the crowdfunder link.https://gofund.me/5632515eIf you feel able to, it would be great if you can also pass on the appeal to anyone you think might be interested.

David Lusty ● 106d16 Comments

About half of the Brentford Riverside (north bank) is occupied by the Duke of Northumberland.It's just his second home too! He is reputed to be worth £500,000,000added to regularly by the many businesses on his land.A just 1% donation would equal £5 million. A 0.1% donation ...half a million.£50,000? Maybe peanuts for the gentleman.

Jim Lawes ● 85d

As Anne says, even £1 will help.  Very easy to donate and you can make it a Gift Aid donation, which means the Museum gets a little bit more at no cost to you.  I've lived in Brentford for 25 years and enjoy my visits to the Musical Museum.  We must cherish places like this, the Water and Steam Museum, Waterman's, our independent artists open days, etc.

Cathy Jones ● 85d

I've just looked at the Musical Museum site and they are, thankfully, on their way to about half of the target amount required to keep the museum going. There have been some very generous donations but every £1.00 counts.I just phoned to enquire about the Keep Fit class. This class (Movement for Wellbeing) takes place on a Tuesday morning 11.15-12.15. The class is largely chair based but with some standing using the chair for support.

Anne England ● 89d

There is limited car/coach parking at the Musical Museum and little advertising outside the premises about what events are in the pipeline ...or even clear if it's open at the moment ... with it's cafe & tours of the exhibites or samples of the great Wurlitzer  being played.I have been to several concerts in the past. The Rachmaninoff one was outstanding ... but only some 20 in the audience.I believe Keep Fit classes are held there too. Who would have known?

Jim Lawes ● 94d

The answer is Yes, going right back to when it was a Piano Museum and everything was covered in plastic sheeting to keep the damp out.There was a little box for donations and have every time since and for the Steam Museum and several others and gladly.But here we are decades later and nothing has really changed but the costs are way out of balance with income because so much has become distorted from the hawking of land - and who has aided and abetted that the most?

Raymond Havelock ● 96d

'Have any of you contributed a penny?'Or paid a visit even?Not to the loo, to the Musical Museum!

Anne England ● 102d

David - a volunteer who cares about his museum - puts a cry for support on to social media.I suggest people put their hands in their pocket, as I have.5 people who may or may not live locally or visit Brentford instead send out a series of complaints about the council in line with their particular hobbyhorse.Have any of you contributed a penny>

Guy Lambert ● 102d

It's noticeable that marketing of Brentford makes much of its Heritage assets, in particular the museums but when it comes to support it's not there.All Museums need a much wider field of visitors from further away, but the reality is that this town was never particularly accessible in the way others are and has got harder. A family of 4 or 5 coming any distance will not be walking or cycling.And the train is limited in connections and range radius and unreliable at weekends far too often. It's gotten worse not better.Occasional events might work but its everyday and every weekend that matters and not just for attractions but basic commerce and making a living without losing hours and hours to external meddling.

Raymond Havelock ● 102d

What is the problem that this initiative is addressing? Is Hounslow council a hotbed of inequality, uniformity and exclusion?  If so where is the evidence? If not this is a disgusting waste of tax payers money.Perhaps Guy would like to comment.

Andy Herrick ● 102d

What's the point of putting up to fund various initiatives when the local authorities go out of their way to devise as many ways of clawing anything they can get back with increases in all manner of things, ostracising people by making everything online and then only with the right app and the right software.Messed up roads, messed up parking, driving out employers large ands small and yet spending on all manner of initiatives internally that make no difference other than widening the burden of red tape and inability to get anything that might make a difference done.Just who is really out of touch with what is going on in this and other towns locally?

Raymond Havelock ● 103d

Another'reach around' job for the boys and girls in the bubble.

Keith Iddon ● 103d

Well Keith, Cllr. Lambert has to sing the praises of the Brentford development, I don't live there but I think it leaves a lot to be desired, and I think people have been short-changed by Ballymore. Brentford Voice are the watchdogs trying to keep the rich heritage of Brentford alive, and that includes the Musical Museum, I wonder what they make of the latest wheeze from Hounslow - below, I think many would rather see this money helping to keep the Museum than spent on more navel gazing?From Brentford Today & TVHOUNSLOW COUNCIL: £42,500 ALLOCATED FOR SENIOR LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN EQUALITY, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AWARENESS. Decision approved by Mandy Skinner, Assistant Chief Executive, after consultation with Cabinet member Cllr Samia Chaudhary.Council proposal says: "We have tested the market, through a transparent procurement process, and our preferred supplier to design and deliver the programme is Sea-Change Consultancy. They will develop a series of 3 workshops which will focus on inequity from a personal perspective, structural inequity, and achieving strategic change to address inequity."Our Staff Equality Network groups will be involved in the final design of the programme and will provide an additional input to reflect the experience of our own staff, ensuring action plans are appropriately focussed. The workshops will be attended by the whole senior leadership cohort (around 200 employees who are our Chief Officers and on Hounslow Management Grades) with follow up interventions planned to track progress on the action plans agreed. The cost for the development and implementation this work is £42,500." MORE HERE: https://democraticservices.hounslow.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=622&MId=13213

Vanessa Smith ● 103d

I can't see how the high street is busier.You  might percieve it to be busier because Morrison's has moved into it and that's where it ends.Half  of the high street is still being built,Goddard's is closed, as is the Chinese restaurant.Describing legitimate comments as 'mpaning' says it all really.

Keith Iddon ● 103d

Utter rubbish, I wonder whether some of the people who post here ever go to Brentford. The High Street is livelier than it's been for years.Rather than moaning here, put a few quid into their appeals:https://www.avivacommunityfund.co.uk/p/save-lmws#starthttps://www.gofundme.com/f/musicalmuseum

Guy Lambert ● 104d

I understand Brentford Voice have been doing a heck of a lot to get the future of Brentford cultural and industrial gems pushed to the forefront of issues.Problem is so much of the councils 'initiatives' has made Brentford a 'must avoid' area with traffic delays and created congestion form what are scandalous mismanagements of works throttling not just these major assets but small businesses and just about everything in between.

Raymond Havelock ● 105d

Millions being spent on the regeneration of Brentford yet there seems to be little interest in supporting the Music Museum or the Water and Steam Museum, surely Brentfords councillors should be involved?

Jan Porter ● 105d